Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 3 of 3
Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
How Weeds Affect Insects In Mango Cultivation Of South Florida, Blaire Kleiman
How Weeds Affect Insects In Mango Cultivation Of South Florida, Blaire Kleiman
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The use of weeds as insectary plants is an emerging management tactic by agroecologists and entomologists to sustain beneficial insect species. Fallow lands have always been used by insects and are an important part of their diet in fragmented ecosystems. Weeds provide floral resources to beneficial insects such as pollinators, parasitoids, and predators and resources to keep them within a field in between crop flowering. Using weeds as a tool in tropical fruit production reliant on pollination like Mango (Mangifera indica) allows farmers to reduce herbicide use, increases the biodiversity of both plants and insects, and increases pollination of crops …
Influence Of Vermicompost Tea On Secondary Metabolites In Solanum Lycopersicum Within South Florida, Daphne K. Sugino Souffront
Influence Of Vermicompost Tea On Secondary Metabolites In Solanum Lycopersicum Within South Florida, Daphne K. Sugino Souffront
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Fresh Market Tomatoes provide a high revenue stream for Florida’s agricultural sector. To attain profitable yields, farmers introduce high inputs of pesticides to suppress pest invasion/damage. Heavy usage of pesticides has adverse effects on human and environmental health. A possible solution might be the incorporation of vermicompost in pest management. Typically used as a fertilizer, vermicompost has pest suppressant properties. Mechanisms influencing enhanced pest resistance are unknown. To identify such mechanisms, a study was conducted to evaluate physical and chemical changes of the BHN589 tomato plant following the addition of varying vermicompost tea treatments (T5%, T10%, and T20%) . Results …
Buckwheat As A Cover Crop In Florida: Mycorrhizal Status, Soil Analysis, And Economic Assessment, Daria Boglaienko
Buckwheat As A Cover Crop In Florida: Mycorrhizal Status, Soil Analysis, And Economic Assessment, Daria Boglaienko
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This thesis analyses buckwheat as a cover crop in Florida. The study was designed to demonstrate: soil enrichment with nutrients, mycorrhizal arbuscular fungi interactions, growth in different soil types, temperature limitations in Florida, and economic benefits for farmers. Buckwheat was planted at the FIU organic garden (Miami, FL) in early November and harvested in middle December. After incorporation of buckwheat residues, soil analyses indicated the ability of buckwheat to enrich soil with major nutrients, in particular, phosphorus. Symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi increased inorganic phosphorus uptake and plant growth. Regression analysis on aboveground buckwheat biomass weight and soil characteristics showed …