Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons^™

Understanding The Perceptions Of Producers Regarding The Ogallala Aquifer Use: A Survey Report (2022), Jonathan Aguilar, Amariah Fischer, Matthew R. Sanderson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This survey asked producers in the Ogallala aquifer how they view their role in groundwater use, what they see as the consequences of groundwater depletion, and why they believe groundwater should be conserved. Producers were also asked about their worldviews and values. Together, these questions help provide an understanding of the cultural state of the Ogallala aquifer, especially as it pertains to groundwater use.

Laboratory Calibration Of The Spectrum Field Scout Tdr 300, W. Dyer, D. Bremer, P. Rossini, M. Stone, A. Patrignani

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soil moisture sensors (SMSs) are a useful tool that aid in data-driven water management decisions. However, default factory calibrations can be inaccurate and soil-specific calibrations are often required to obtain higher accuracy in the determination of soil water storage and plant available water. In this study, we conducted a lab calibration for the Field Scout TDR 300, which is a popular SMS used in the turfgrass industry. Five soils of different soil textural classes were packed in containers with known soil moisture for the laboratory calibration. The logarithmic model best fit the data for the course- and fine-textured soils, with …

Comparison Of Static And Active Downforce On Corn At The Kansas River Valley Experiment Field In 2020, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Uniformity of plant spacing and emergence have been shown to be significant contributing factors to increasing corn yields. Improved seed meters that offer very precise seed drop have been available on planters for a number of years. However, uniformity in plant emergence continues to be a challenge, especially with reduction of tillage and in fields with variable soils. Correct, consistent depth is critical for uniform corn emergence. By keeping the gauge wheels on the ground, consistent depth is achieved. An active downforce system, such as Precision Planting’s DeltaForce, applies hydraulic downforce or lift to the row unit. With a Precision …

Using A Sprayable Biodegradable Polymer To Reduce Soil Evaporation In Greenhouse Conditions, J. Flory, J. Grane, A. Patrignani

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sprayable biopolymer membranes (SBM) is an emerging mulching alternative to increase horticultural and agricultural productivity by reducing soil erosion and evapo­rative losses. The SBM is usually applied in liquid form directly to the soil surface where the polymer molecules form a thin biodegradable film. In order to test this technology, an experiment was performed in greenhouse conditions with the goal of quantifying the impact on soil evaporation rate and biomass accumulation in winter wheat.

Wastewater Denitrification Using Bhn-Probiotic Solutions As An Alternative External Carbon Source, Guadalupe Arreola

Kansas State University Undergraduate Research Conference

Wastewater Denitrification Using BHN-Probiotic Solutions as an Alternative External Carbon Source

Guadalupe Arreola, Evan Heronemus, Megan Lehman, and Dr. Prathap Parameswaran

Department of Civil Engineering

College of Engineering

Reducing the amount of Nitrogen found in wastewater is a crucial step for wastewater treatment plants, and denitrification is an essential biological step that could be rate-limiting. To reach the stringent nutrient discharge standards, treatment plants commonly use methanol as an external carbon source; however, there are many safety issues that can arise from using methanol. This problem prompted the study to find and compare other sustainable and environmentally-friendly carbon sources that …

Green Roofs Provide Heating And Cooling Sustainability Benefits In The Great Plains Environmental Climates, Melina Alferoff

Kansas State University Undergraduate Research Conference

This project seeks to improve the design and functionality of a vegetated green roof in the Great Plains area of the U.S. We are learning to manipulate several variables such as different growing media types and irrigation systems in resilient plant communities. By utilizing different types of vegetation, we can determine the proper way to water and care for the plants that are growing on the green roof. To be successful for this research project, we will precisely, in units such as degrees Celsius and milliliters, measure temperature and water usage of the vegetated pods. By observing those two aspects …

Characterization Of Claypan Soils In Southeastern Kansas, M. A. Mathis Ii, S. E. Tucker-Kulesza, G. F. Sassenrath

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soil erosion reduces topsoil depth. In areas with a claypan, removal of productive topsoil reduces crop yield where the claypan layer is near the surface. The topsoil and claypan layer each have unique characteristics that impact crop production and within-field variability. To better understand these differences, the soil from an area of low crop yield and high crop yield were collected and laboratory tests were performed to determine the soil classification and undrained shear strength. Understanding the soil properties and the interaction between the topsoil and claypan layers may aid in under­standing the process by which topsoil is being eroded.

Effects Of Varying Methodologies On Grain Particle Size Analysis, J. R. Kalivoda, C. K. Jones, C. R. Stark

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Particle size reduction is an important component of feed manufacturing that impacts pellet quality, feed flowability, and pig feed efficiency. The correct determination of particle size is important for feed manufacturers, nutritionists, and pork producers to meet target specifications. The current method for determining the geometric mean diameter (dgw) and geometric standard deviation (Sgw) of grains has been published by the ANSI/ASAE S319.4. This method controls many variables, including the suggested quantity of initial material and the type, number, and size of sieves. However, the method allows for variation in shake time, sieve agitators, and the use of a flow …

Irrigation Scheduling Based On Soil Moisture Sensors And Evapotranspiration, J. Aguilar, D. Rogers, I. Kisekka

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Irrigation scheduling is crucial to effectively manage water resources and optimize profitability of an irrigated operation. Tools that can be customized to a field’s characteristics can greatly facilitate irrigation scheduling decisions. Soil moisture sensors and the evapotranspiration (ET)-based KanSched are two of the tools that could be implemented in an irrigated farm. Focusing on the installation of soil moisture sensors, demonstration set-ups were established at the Southwest Research-Extension Center plots in Garden City, Kansas, and in a producer’s field, each with three types of moisture sensors at different depths. Among others, this project validates the importance of moisture sensors being …

Evaluating The Accuracy Of The 3-Sieve Particle Size Analysis Method Compared To The 12-Sieve Method, G. E. Bokelman, S. C. Stewart, A. L. Baldridge, J. C. Woodworth, S. S. Dritz, J. R. Kalivoda, C. R. Stark, C. K. Jones

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The 3-sieve particle size analysis method was developed to estimate the particle size of ground grain within feed mills without the time and expense required for a 12-sieve analysis. The 3-sieve method is more simplistic because it is hand-shaken and uses fewer sieves but has drawbacks because it is not as precise as the 12-sieve method. Because shaking is not automated, technician variation may impact results. Furthermore, the accuracy of the original 3-sieve method has been questioned because the method was developed for corn between 400 to 1,200 μm, and the industry now grinds various grains more finely. Some …

Response Of Drought Tolerant And Conventional Corn To Limited Irrigation, I. Kisekka, F. Lamm, J. D. Holman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

With declining water levels in the Ogallala aquifer, many wells cannot supply peak irrigation water needs for corn. Emerging drought-tolerant (DT) corn hybrids could help farmers maintain yield with limited capacity wells. A knowledge gap exists comparing transgenic DT and conventional corn hybrids in yield response to water level. The purpose of this study was to compare yield, yield components, water productivity, and irrigation water use efficiency response of DT corn with cspB (DKC 6267 DGVT- 2PRO) transgene trait and conventional corn hybrid (DKC 62-98 VT2PRO) with similar maturity to full and limited irrigation. Preliminary results from the 2014 growing …

Effects Of Feed Truck Rpm On Pellet Quality, Unloading Speed, And Feed Line Location On Pellet Quality And Nutrient Segregation, J. A. De Jong, J. M. Derouchey, B. Haberl, H. Williams, M. D. Tokach, R. D. Goodband, J. C. Woodworth, S. S. Dritz, C. R. Stark, C. K. Jones, L. Mckinney, D. Van Otterloo

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Two separate studies were conducted at one commercial feed mill and six commercial wean-to-finish pig sites in northwest Iowa to determine the effects of feed truck unloading auger RPM on pellet quality and unloading time (Exp. 1) and the effects of feed line location on pellet quality and nutrient concentration of intact pellets and their fines (Exp. 2).

For Exp. 1, feed samples were taken from each compartment of an 8-compartment, 24-ton Walinga (Walinga Inc., Guelph, Ontario) feed truck. Feed was unloaded using 3 unloading speeds as determined by the truck RPM of 900, 1,150, and 1,400. Each compartment was …