Life Sciences Commons^™

Talking Plants: Examining The Role Of Podcasts In Communicating Plant Pathology Knowledge, Melissa Lim, Rebecca Swenson

Journal of Applied Communications

Extension programs must constantly evaluate communication plans and platforms to determine if they are worth the investment of time, money, and resources. Podcasts are growing in popularity as a communication platform for education and entertainment. With the VARK model of learning styles and core plant pathology concepts as a guide, researchers evaluated the prevalence and type of plant pathology information in podcasts to better understand how podcasts could benefit Extension plant pathology programs. Using keywords related to plant pathology, researchers searched popular mobile podcast listening applications and evaluated relevant podcast episodes using content analysis methods. Results indicated few podcast shows …

Soils Laboratory Manual: K-State Edition, Version 2.0, Colby J. Moorberg, David A. Crouse

NPP eBooks

The Soils Laboratory Manual, K-State Edition is designed for students in undergraduate, introductory soil science courses. The manual highlights the multidisciplinary aspects of soil science with laboratories focused on soil formation, classification, and mapping; soil physics, soil biology; soil chemistry; and soil fertility and management. The lab manual includes 16 different laboratories, each one starting with an introduction and pre-lab assignment, followed by in-lab activities, and complimented by a post-lab assignment. In-lab activities involve field trips, experiments, observation stations, or problem sets. Post-lab assignments include online quizzes, problem sets, or laboratory summary reports.

Version 2 of the lab manual exhibits …

Precipitation Data, M. Knapp

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Precipitation data for Kansas Agricultural Experiment Stations and fields, 2019-2020.

2020 Kansas State University Industrial Hemp Dual-Purpose And Fiber Trial, Jason Griffin, Kraig Roozeboom, Lucas Haag, Andrew Euler, Michael Shelton, Tami Myers, Matthew Nielsen, Jared Petz, Clint Wilson

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Hemp is a broad term used to describe the many varieties ofCannabis sativaL. that produce less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The crop is globally significant, but only recently was allowed to be grown again in the United States. There are many uses for industrial hemp, which include oil, seed, and fiber, and the market for industrial hemp is rapidly growing as more states are legalizing its production. The market for industrial hemp is expected to grow from $5.33 billion in 2020 to 15.26 billion (15.8%) by 2027 as it gains more popularity (Grand View Research 2021, Valuates Reports …

Evaluation Of Long-Term Phosphorus Fertilizer Placement Effect On Soil Phosphorus And Crop Yield, M. J. Coelho, D. A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Phosphorus (P) accumulation in soil with long-term P fertilizer placements can result in a potentially large available reserve of this nutrient for subsequent crop production. This study investigated the effect of phosphorus fertilizer management (placement: broadcast versus deep band) after ten years on soil P, and yield response of crop rotation. Field studies were conducted for a period of ten years in Manhattan, KS. Three treatments were evaluated: 1) control with no P fertilizer application and two fertilizer treatments (80 lb P₂O₅/a); 2) surface broadcast; and 3) deep band at approximately 4- to 6-in. depth. All …

Effect Of Late Planting Dates On Corn Yield, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Planting date studies have been conducted for corn over many years. Often the focus has been to determine optimum planting date for maximizing yield. In some areas, planting early-maturing corn hybrids as early as possible has been a successful strategy for avoiding hot, dry conditions at the critical pollination and early grain fill stages. Planting later can be an alternative strategy that attempts to avoid the most intense heat by moving the critical growth stages for corn centered around pollination to later in the growing season. This strategy has been adopted by some growers in areas that often encounter heat …

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 …

Corn Grain Weight: Dependence Upon Nitrogen Supply And Source-Sink Relations, J. A. Fernandez, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

From a yield component perspective, final grain yield in corn (Zea maysL.) is the result of the number of grains per unit area and their final grain weight. The understanding of grain weight parameters, the rate and duration of grain growth, is critical to improve our rational design of management practices and breeding strategies. In this study, we attempted to determine the effect on grain weight and grain-filling parameters of source-sink modifications (i.e. the amount of assimilates available per grain) during linear grain fill under contrasting levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization in two commercially available US corn hybrids. …

Corn Tiller Yield Contributions And Ear Development In Low Plant Densities, R. Veenstra, C. D. Messina, D. Berning, S. Wallace, M. Legleiter, L. Haag, P. V. Prasad, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Research in modern corn (Zea maysL.) hybrids investigating tiller contributions and ear development at low plant densities is scarce, particularly in water-limited environments. To fill this research gap, a second season of replicated experiments was conducted in 2020 at 7 sites across Kansas (Keats, Buhler, Greensburg, Garden City, Goodland, and two sites in Colby) evaluating two common, tiller-prone corn hybrids (P0805AM and P0657AM) at three target plant density levels (10000, 17000, and 24000 plants/a). Five of the listed sites also considered a tillering factor (tiller removal at development stage V10 [tenth-leaf] or tiller maintenance). Seasonal phenology, partitioned grain …

Tillage Study For Corn And Soybeans: Comparing Vertical, Deep, And No-Tillage, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Trends from a tillage study conducted since 2011 have shown no clear differences between tillage systems for either corn or soybeans in lighter soils under irrigation. One year out of eight years has shown a yield advantage for either corn or soybeans for any tillage system, which appears to be related to environmental conditions experienced during the season. Averaged across all years of the study, the treatments with deep tillage either every or every-other year had about 3.5% higher corn yields, and soybeans had up to a 2.9% yield increase with some form of tillage.

Sorghum Grain Filling And Dry Down Dynamics For Hybrids Released Over The Past Six Decades In The Us, P. A. Demarco, L. Mayor, P. V. Prasad, C. D. Messina, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolorL. Moench) is mainly grown in the Great Plains region of the United States, with the state of Kansas as the premier cropland for its cultivation. Over time, improvements in sorghum have been related to genetic and management interactions, however, scarcity of information on the grain filling and the dry down processes have been reported. This study characterizes grain filling and dry down dynamics for hybrids with different released years. Field trials were conducted during the 2018 and 2019 seasons in Kansas, testing 20 commercially available grain sorghum hybrids released between 1963 and 2017. Grain dry …

Macronutrient Fertility On An Irrigated Corn/Soybean In Rotation, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilization on a corn/soybean cropping sequence were evaluated from 2013 to 2020 (corn planted in odd years) from a study initiated in 1983. Corn yield was near optimum at 160 lb/a N. Phosphorus and K fertilization alone increased corn yield 31 and 7 bu/a, respectively; and soybean yields 22 and 1.7 bu/a, respectively. As N fertilization increased, the response to P increased corn yield from 13 to 40 bu/a. The best return on fertilizer investment was when the N and P needs were met for both crops.

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.

Evaluating Traditional And Modern Laboratory Techniques For Determining Permanent Wilting Point, N. Parker, A. Patrignani

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The permanent wilting point is often considered the lower limit for plant available water and can be measured in the laboratory using a pressure plate apparatus (traditional method) or a dewpoint water potential meter (modern method). However, recent evidence suggests substantial discrepancy between the soil moisture at the permanent wilting points derived from these two laboratory techniques. This preliminary study investigated the magnitude of the discrepancy between permanent wilting points derived from traditional and modern laboratory techniques and the concomitant effects on plant available water estimations. For the analysis, a total of 21 undisturbed soil samples were collected from the …

Preliminary Classification Of Soil, Plant, And Residue Cover Using Convolutional Neural Networks, D. Nahitiya, M. N. Bisheh, R. P. Lollato, A. Patrignani

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

In agricultural fields, knowledge about the proportion of the soil surface covered with crop residue and vegetation canopy is key for improving soil and water conservation practices. In this study we trained a deep convolutional neural network to automate the classification of bare soil, crop stubble, and live vegetation from downward-facing images of agricultural fields. A comprehensive generic dataset, consisting of 3300 training and 645 test images, was collected from agricultural fields across Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Stations and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Material Center located near Manhattan, KS. Despite the intricate patterns and color textures resulting …

On-Farm Assessment Of Aquaspy Soil Moisture Sensors For Irrigation Scheduling, P. Rossini, A. Patrignani

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The aim of this study was to compare a commercially-available radio-frequency (RF) spectroscopy soil moisture sensor with an array of calibrated research-grade soil water reflectometers in a no-till irrigated corn field from June to September 2020. The RF probe consisted of 12 sensors spaced at 4-inch intervals across 48 inches in length, while the array of soil water reflectometers consisted of four sensors deployed along the soil profile at 4, 12, 20, and 28 in. depth. Soil moisture sensors were installed at approximately 30-ft apart in two different regions within the same field characterized by contrasting soil textural classes. Hourly …

Yield Response To Nitrogen Management In A Corn-Soybean Sequence In North Central Kansas, A. A. Correndo, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The aim of this study was to evaluate the response of corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield to nitrogen (N) fertilizer application and its residual effect on soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) seed yield. During the 2020 growing season, a corn-soybean rotation study was continued at Scandia, KS (USA), evaluating five N fertilizer rates in corn under both dryland and irrigated conditions. Average corn grain yields ranged from 110 to 206 bu/a for dryland, and from 198 to 221 bu/a for irrigated conditions. Under dryland, maximum corn yields were achieved with an apparent soil N supply level …

Co-Inoculation And Sulfur Fertilization In Soybeans, L. H. Moro Rosso, A. F. De Borja Reis, S. L. Naeve, I. A. Ciampitti

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Soybeans [Glycine max(L.) Merr.] rely on large nutrient uptake, especially nitrogen (N), to produce seeds with high nutritional value. Biological N fixation (BNF) supplies most of the plant N demand and enhancement of this process might improve cropping systems’ sustainability. Although seed inoculation withBradyrhizobiumspp. for soybean crop is a well-known management practice, co-inoculation with the freeliving N-fixerAzospirillum brasilensehas not been deeply investigated in the US, to our knowledge. Thus, this research explores the effect of co-inoculation withA. brasilenseon soybean yield and seed nutritional quality (protein, oil, essential and sulfur (S) amino acids …

Field Station Weather Reports, M. Knapp, E. A. Adee

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

This report includes the annual summary of precipitation from 2020 at the research locations represented in the 2021 field report and further details about the Kansas River Valley locations and the east central Kansas locations.

Foxtail Management In Smooth Brome Hay Meadows, S. R. Lancaster, S. R. Duncan

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Three different herbicides were applied at early bromegrass greenup and at post hay harvest to assess their effectiveness in controlling foxtail at two producer hay meadow sites in Pottawatomie (PT) and Dickinson (DK) counties. Pendimethalin applied early resulted in the greatest foxtail control, but control did not extend through the season to reduce late-summer infestations. Metsulfuron applied early resulted in approximately 30% visible brome injury. The injury was associated with 77 and 48% brome hay losses when compared to the untreated check, at the PT and DK sites, respectively. Injury from the early spring treatments was exacerbated by six freeze …

Efficacy Of Imiflex, Zest, And Assure Ii On Green Foxtail Control, V. Kumar, I. Effertz, T. Lambert, R. Liu, B. Bean

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Grass weeds pose a serious management challenge in grain sorghum. Recent development of three herbicide-tolerant grain sorghum technologies such as Inzen, Igrowth, and DoubleTeam will provide the opportunity for producers to use nicosulfuron (Zest), imazamox (Imiflex), and quizalofop-p-ethyl (FirstAct) for grass weed control, respectively. The main objectives of this research were to (1) determine the effectiveness of Imiflex applied preemergence (PRE) on green foxtail control in comparison to commonly used group 15 herbicides; (2) compare the efficacy of Zest, Imiflex, and Assure II applied early- or late-POST at two different rates; and (3) determine the tank-mix compatibility of Zest, Imiflex, …

Auxinic Herbicide Mixtures For Controlling Multiple Herbicide-Resistant Kochia In Fallow, V. Kumar, T. Lambert, R. Liu, R. S. Currie, P. W. Stahlman

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Kochia resistant to glyphosate (Roundup), chlorsulfuron (Glean), and dicamba (Banvel or Clarity) has become quite common in the U.S. Great Plains, whereas multiple resistance to additional herbicides, including fluroxypyr (Starane Ultra), atrazine (AAtrex), and metribuzin (Sencor) has also been reported recently. Effective management of these multiple herbicide-resistant (MHR) kochia populations warrants the need of alternative herbicide strategies. The main objective of this research was to investigate the efficacy of auxinic herbicides, including Duplosan (dichlorprop-p), Weedone (2,4-D), Clash (dicamba), and/or Pixxaro (premix of halauxifen and fluroxypyr) alone or in various combinations for controlling MHR kochia. Separate greenhouse and field experiments were …

Effect Of Tank-Mixing Glyphosate, Dicamba, And Graminicides On Grass Weed Control In Roundup Ready 2 Xtend Soybeans, R. Liu, I. Effertz, T. Lambert, A. Jhala, V. Kumar

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The adoption of Roundup Ready 2 Xtendsoybean allows growers to use dicamba (Xtendimax or Engenia) in mixtures with glyphosate (Roundup PowerMax) or graminicides (Select Max or Assure II) for broad spectrum weed control. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that Xtendimax may cause antagonism when applied with Select Max and/or Assure II herbicides. The main objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Roundup PowerMax, Select Max, and/or Assure II alone or in tank-mixtures with Xtendimax for grass weed control in Xtendsoybean. Field studies were conducted in 2020 at the Kansas State University Agricultural Research Center (KSU-ARC) near Hays, KS, …

Control Of Volunteer Enlist Corn In Enlist E3 Soybean, R. Liu, I. Effertz, T. Lambert, V. Kumar

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Recent development of Enlist corn allows the use of 2,4-D choline (Enlist One), glyphosate (Roundup PowerMax), glufosinate (Liberty), and aryloxyphenoxypropionate (FOPs) herbicides for controlling grass and broadleaf weeds. However, volunteer Enlist corn plants can cause infestation in subsequent Enlist E3 soybean (resistant to 2,4-D, glyphosate, and glufosinate) in areas where a corn-soybean rotation is commonly practiced. The main objective of this research was to determine the effectiveness of cyclohexanedione (DIMs) herbicides alone or in tank-mixtures with Enlist One for Enlist corn control in Enlist E3 soybean. A field study was conducted in the 2020 growing season at the Kansas State …

Winter Wheat Response To Different Fungicide Management (Products And Timing Of Application) During The 2019-2020 Growing Season, G. Cruppe, B. R. Jaenisch, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Foliar fungicides can improve wheat grain yield in Kansas, but there is limited information on the efficacy of different products as well as the timing of application. We conducted a field study in five Kansas locations to evaluate the yield, test weight, and protein responses of WB-Grainfield to different commercial fungicides applied at different times during the growing season. The trial was conducted in a randomized complete block design to evaluate (1) a non-treated control; Topguard applied at 5 ounces per acre at (2) jointing, (3) heading, and (4) jointing plus heading; (5) Delaro applied at 6 oz/a at jointing; …

Winter Wheat Variety Response To Flag Leaf Foliar Fungicide Application In 2019–2020, G. Cruppe, B. R. Jaenisch, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Foliar fungicide can be an important tool in improving wheat yields, but its effectiveness is season- and variety-dependent. To evaluate the yield, test weight, and protein responses of different commercial winter wheat varieties to one foliar fungicide application around heading, we conducted a trial combining four winter wheat varieties and two fungicide management treatments in Manhattan during 2019–2020. The control treatment consisted of no fungicide application, and the alternative treatment consisted of 5 oz/a Absolute Maxx + NIS applied at heading. Varieties evaluated were Bob Dole, Larry, WB4269, and Zenda. The study was conducted under no-tillage practices following a previous …

Wheat Variety-Specific Response To Seeding Rate Under Intensive Management Conditions In Western Kansas In 2019–2020, R. P. Lollato, B. R. Jaenisch

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Wheat response to seeding rate is variable and depends on resource availability during the growing season (e.g., fertility, moisture, and temperature). Our objective was to evaluate winter wheat population and grain yield responses to seeding rate and its interaction with variety in a highly-managed production system where manageable stresses were limited. One experiment evaluating the response of the wheat varieties Joe, WB-Grainfield, Langin, and LCS Revere to seeding rates ranging from 200,000 to 1,000,000 seeds per acre was established in a field managed by growers that consistently win state and national wheat yield contests near Leoti, KS. The trials were …

Wheat Grain Yield Response To Seed Cleaning And Seed Treatment As Affected By Seeding Rate During The 2019–2020 Growing Season In Kansas, R. P. Lollato, B. R. Jaenisch, L. Haag

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this project was to evaluate winter wheat stand count and grain yield responses to seeding rate and its interaction with seed cleaning and seed treatment in Kansas during the 2019–2020 growing season. Experiments evaluating the response of the wheat variety ‘SY Monument’ to three seeding rates (600,000, 900,000, and 1,200,000 seeds per acre), three seed cleaning intensities (none, air screen, and gravity table), and two seed treatments (none, and insecticide + fungicide) were established in a split-split plot design conducted in a complete factorial experiment in ten Kansas locations. In-season measurements included stand count and grain yield. …

Testing Efficacy Of Plant Growth Regulator Products For Enhanced Winter Wheat Grain Yield And Quality, R. M. Aiken

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Experimental plant growth regulator compounds are expected to improve wheat grain yield by extending the duration of green leaf area and altering remobilization of stored carbohydrates. In order to evaluate this, plant growth regulator materials supplied by a commercial third party were applied to Tatonka hard red winter wheat during the mid-grain fill development stage. Overall, crop productivity increased. Compared to the control treatment, two of the treatment combinations had increased grain yield (13%, machine harvest; 31%, hand harvest); increased above-ground biomass (AGB, 8%); and increased harvest index (HI, 22%). Yield components also increased, including seeds/a (21%) and seed mass …

Winter Wheat Variety Response To Timing And Number Of Fungicide Applications During The 2019–2020 Growing Season In Kansas, G. Cruppe, B. R. Jaenisch, B. Valent, R. P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The objective of this project was to evaluate the yield response of different winter wheat varieties to different fungicide management treatments during the 2019–2020 growing season in Kansas. Fourteen varieties were evaluated under four fungicide treatments (no fungicide, application either at jointing, heading, or at both stages) in five locations across Kansas in a split-plot design. Disease incidence was assessed approximately 20-d after each fungicide application. Septoria blotch and tan spot were the most prevalent early-season diseases at the studied fields, while stripe rust, leaf rust, and tan spot prevailed late in the season. Late-season diseases had a greater effect …