Life Sciences Commons^™

Forage And Biomass Dual-Purpose Harvest System Using Native Warm-Season Grasses, David Weston Mcintosh

Masters Theses

There has been increasing interest in utilizing native warm-season grasses (NWSGs), especially switchgrass, as a biomass feedstock for cellulosic ethanol production. Millions of hectares of crop and pasture in the mid-South are forecast to potentially be planted with switchgrass for biomass feedstock production. This could have a substantial impact on the region’s cattle industry, reducing forage production hectares. This study was conducted to determine the effect of early season harvest timing on forage and biomass of NWSGs designed for use in cellulosic ethanol production. The over-all hypothesis was to determine if an early forage harvest can be included in a …

Alternative Poa Species As Permanent And Temporary Turfgrasses In The Transition Zone, Samuel Lucas Freshour

Masters Theses

As restrictions on water, fertilizer, and pesticide use increase, along with public pressure, turfgrass practitioners will need ways to meet the challenges of reduced inputs while still maintaining acceptable turf quality. Proper selection of turfgrass species and cultivars that are adapted to the climate, intended use, and level of expectation is the best and first line of defense for reduced input situations. The objective of this study was to evaluate alternative species from the bluegrass (Poa) genus for their performance as both permanent and temporary winter turfgrass species. In 2010 and 2011, 45 different treatments consisting of 37 different bluegrasses …

Comparison Of Roundup Ready And Conventional Soybean (Glycine Max L.) Weed Control Systems For Optimizing Yield And Economic Profitability, Brittany Lee Gaban

Masters Theses

Research was conducted in 2010, 2011 and 2012 at the East Tennessee Research and Education Center in Knoxville, TN, in order to compare differences in soybean yield among differing levels of weed control within Roundup Ready® [Glyphosate-resistant] (RR)and conventional soybean cultivars to gain a better understanding of the impact different intensities of weed control have on RR and conventional cropping systems. Results determined that after applying the weed control regimens, there was no significant difference (p

Glyphosate resistant weeds introduce new challenges and create a more costly weed control regimen, especially when using a RR based soybean cultivation operation. Therefore, …

Impacts Of Preemergence Herbicides On Hybrid Bermudagrass Morphology, Patrick Alan Jones

Masters Theses

Preemergence (PRE) herbicides were evaluated in multiple experiments to determine their impacts on hybrid bermudagrass morphology [(C. dactolyn (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis (Burtt Davy)]. First, indaziflam and prodiamine were applied to hybrid bermudagrass rooted to various depths in either sand or silt loam mini-rhizotrons. Results indicated that prodiamine (a mitiotic inhibitor) and indaziflam (a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor) both significantly reduced root length density compared to a non-treated control; however, indaziflam treated plants exhibited foliar injury (i.e., reddening, necrosis) while those treated with prodiamine did not.

The researchers surmised that reductions in root length density with indaziflam may compromise …