Life Sciences Commons^™

A Transition From Agriculture To Regenerative Food Systems, Kenneth Dahlberg

Kenneth Dahlberg

Evaluation Of Plastic And Mylar Flagging As Repellents For Snow Geese (Chen Caerulescens), J. Russell Mason, Larry Clark

Larry Clark

The effectiveness of white flags, black flags and Mylar streamers as visual repellents to snow geese (Chen caerulescens) was evaluated. Five farms in Cumberland and Salem counties, New Jersey served as test sites. At each farm, four 10.12 ha fields were selected randomly, and then assigned to four treatment conditions: (a) white plastic flags (one flag per 0.4 ha); (b) black plastic flags (one flag per 0.4 ha), (c) Mylar streamers (one streamer per 0.4 ha); and (d) stakes only (one stake per 0.4 ha). From 2 December 1992 to 24 March 1993, vegetation samples and goose droppings were collected …

Use Of Activated Charcoal And Other Particulate Substances As Feed Additives To Suppress Bird Feeding, J. Russell Mason, Larry Clark

Larry Clark

Osmotic strength is a function of particle number. The experiments described here were designed to test whether the consumption of a large number of small particles might induce strong osmotic effects that, in turn, could induce food avoidance learning. The experiments also evaluated whether the abrasiveness of fine particulates or their ability to act as organic adsorbants could mediate or contribute to the avoidance of adulterated diets. In experiment I. captive European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were given two-cup tests between plain chow and chow adulterated with activated charcoal or Anjan-activaid. a product containing large amounts of activated charcoal. Both adulterants …

Tests And Refinements Of A General Structure-Activity Model For Avian Repellents, Larry Clark, Pankaj Shah

Larry Clark

We tested the robustness of a structure-activity model for avian trigeminal chemoirritants. Fourteen benzoates and acetophenones were tested using European starlings Sturn us vulgaris as a bioassay. In general. the pre­ viously proposed model was a reasonable predictor of repellency (i.e., irritant potency). We found that the presence of a phenyl ring was critical to repel­ lency. Basicity of the molecule is the next most critical feature influencing repellency. The presence of an acidic function within the electron-withdrawing functionality seriously detracts from repellency. The presence or absence of an electron-withdrawing or -donating group may potentiate repellent effects, but its presence …

Using Hydrophilic Polymers To Control Nutrient Release, Robert Mikkelsen

Robert Mikkelsen

Using diverse technological approaches, many types of delivery devices have been used to supply plant nutrients at a controlled rate in the soil. One new approach is the use of hydrophilic polymers as carriers of plant nutrients. These polymers may be generally classified as 1) natural polymers derived from polysaccharides, 2) semi-synthetic polymers (primarily cellulose derivatives), and 3) synthetic polymers. By controlling the reaction conditions when forming the polymers, various degrees of cross-linking, anionic charge, and cationic charge can be added, thereby changing their effectiveness as fertilizer carriers. When fertilizer-containing solutions are mixed with hydrophilic polymers to form a "gel" …