Life Sciences Commons^™

Comparison Of Private And Public Lab Fertilizer Recommendation Impacts On Field Crop Production And Soil Test Results, Megan Baker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

There are many sources that farmers utilize to determine fertilizer needs for crops such as private and public labs, crop advisors, and fertilizer dealers. In many cases, these sources provide recommendations for a specific crop that can vary greatly, which can lead to large differences in cost. An experiment was established in 2021 with 12 sites across the state of Utah in alfalfa, small grains, and corn to test and compare fertilizer recommendations from five labs. The recommendations tested were from two public labs (Utah State University and the University of Idaho) and three commercial labs located in the Western …

Sustainable Fertilizer Management Practices For Container Nursery Production, Saroj Burlakoti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Growing nursery plants in containers requires a timely supply of mineral nutrients for optimum growth. However, there is a misconception among growers that the application of higher doses of fertilizers hastens plant growth; instead, it can lead to runoff and leaching loss of nutrients. Reducing fertilizer application while sustaining healthy plants can not only negate environmental consequences but also save fertilizer costs. For example, two ground covers, Lysimachia nummularia (creeping jenny, moneywort) and Vinca minor 'Bowles' (periwinkle), can be grown for three months by applying 6 mg/L of phosphorus (P) as reduction of P to single application of 6 mg/L …

Nutrient Management Of Cannabis In Controlled Environments, Julie A. Hershkowitz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Cannabis has been cultivated for millennia as a multipurpose crop for food, fiber, and medicine. Secondary metabolites called cannabinoids, including cannabidiol (CBD) and the psychoactive Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9 THC), are responsible for the medicinal properties of cannabis. The intoxicating nature of THC resulted in legislation prohibiting the possession and production of cannabis within the United States during the 20^th century. As a result, research programs on cannabis production were halted at most institutions. In recent years, cannabis production has become widespread within the US as a result of increasing legalization. However, modern cannabis production nutrient management programs often include …

Partitioning Of Phosphorus In White Clover Populations With Different Nodulation Patterns, J R. Crush

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective of this study was to see if a white clover (Trifolium repens L.) population selected for development of relatively few, but large nodules, differed in the way it used absorbed phosphorus, compared to a white clover population selected for many small nodules. Plants of both populations were grown in minus-nitrogen sand culture and the dry weights and phosphorus contents of shoots, roots and nodules were measured. There were no differences in growth or partitioning of dry matter or phosphorus between the clover lines.

Research Programme To Improve The Utilization Of Home-Grown Forages In The Netherlands, A.M. Van Vuuren, A H. Bosma, G J. Kaspers, J.J. M.H. Ketelaars, E.N. Van Loo, H J.P. Marvin, H Valk, G.W.J. Van De Ven

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In The Netherlands a research programme has been initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries to increase the proportion of high-quality home-grown forage in rations for dairy cows. This should result in a more sustainable dairy husbandry by improving the efficiency of utilization of nitrogen and phosphorus from home-grown forages (mainly grass and maize) on farm level. Research disciplines involved are plant breeding, forage harvesting and conservation and nutrition.

Maize-Alfalfa Intercropping Promote Ecosystem Services Than Fertilized Single Crops, D. X. Tao, Y. Z. Gao

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Phosphorus is a non-renewable source of fertilization, which will challenge the future of food production and cropland sustainability worldwide. Crop diversity is known to promote food production, yet its capacity to alleviate the dependence of multiple ecosystem services on non-renewable fertilization remains virtually unknown. Here, we conducted a field experiment to quantify the contribution of maize-alfalfa intercropping to support multiple ecosystem services under contrasting levels of phosphorus fertilization. We showed that unfertilized intercropping systems can support larger levels of multiple ecosystem services such as soil microbial habitat, plant-soil mutualism, nutrient cycling, and soil carbon storage compared with phosphorus-fertilized single crops. …

Could Formononetin Of Red Clover (Trifolium Pratense L.) Be Enhanced By Phosphorus And Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Management?, Fernando Ortega-Klose, Andrés Quiroz, L. Bardehle, P. Aguilera

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Red clover is a forage legume of importance in the world with limited persistency; in Chile this is due mainly to the root borer (Hylastinus obscurus Marsham) infestation. Our previous studies have shown that there is a strong relationship between the root borer and the formononetin content in roots of the plants; therefore, studying factors that enhance the concentration of formononetin in the plant could help to decrease the negative effect of the root borer. The purpose of this research was to assess the relationship between phosphorus availability (P) in the soil interacting with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) over …

Phosphorus Transfer To River Water From Grassland Catchments In Ireland, H. Tunney, P. Jordan, G. Kiely, R. Moles, G. Morgan, P. Byrne, W. Menary, K. Daly

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In Ireland it is estimated that at least half of phosphorus (P) loss to water is from agricultural sources and National and European Union policy and legislation aim at reducing phosphorus (P) loss to water in order to reduce eutrophication. In Ireland, the average soil test P (STP) levels increased ten-fold, from less than 1 to over 8 mg Morgan P per l soil over the past 50 years, reflecting increased P inputs in fertiliser and animal feed. One of the main objectives of this three-year research programme, started in 2001, was to investigate P loss to water in grassland …

Grazing Management Impacts On The Riparian Zone And Water Quality, S. R. Aarons, A. Melland, C. J. P. Gourley

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Inappropriate farm management activities such as stock access to creeks, and poor fertiliser and effluent management can negatively impact riparian zones and waterways, contributing to increased in-stream nutrient, sediment and microbiological loads and loss of riparian biodiversity, amongst other impacts. Nutrient budgets for dairy systems indicate that on-farm nutrient accumulation and redistribution is common (Gourley 2004), which in large part is due to the uneven distribution of dairy cow dung and the nutrients they contain (Aarons et al., 2004). The 'Gippsland Dairy Riparian Project Environmental Monitoring module' was established in Jan. 2003 to monitor the impact of …

Influence Of P Fertility And Grazing On Plant Species In A Temperate Australian Pasture, Jacqueline O. Hill, R. J. Simpson, A. D. Moore, J. T. Wood, D. F. Chapman

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Graziers in temperate Australia are increasing their use of P fertiliser so they can run more stock and maintain profitability. However, intensification changes grassland botanical composition and perennial grass cover can be reduced. Perennial grasses are important because they improve production stability, reduce deep drainage and slow the rate of soil acidification. This study examined how P fertility and grazing affected the botanical composition of pasture based on Phalaris aquatica, a key perennial grass in south-eastern Australia.

Mechanical Aeration And Liquid Dairy Manure: Application Impacts On Grassland Runoff Water Quality And Yield, T. J. Basden, S. B. Shah, J. L. Miller

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Wet weather on heavy soils reduces oxygen availability in the root zone and reduces forage yields. Mechanical aeration can improve forage yield in these soil conditions. Research has shown that under certain conditions, mechanical aeration can increase yield by improving drainage and aeration (Davies et al., 1989); aeration can also increase depression, storage and infiltration thus reducing surface runoff and improving nutrient distribution in the root zone. Aeration on sloping, fertilised grassland can provide environmental (Douglas et al., 1995) and agronomic benefits. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the runoff water quality and agronomic impacts of …

Grazing Effects On Some Soil Characteristics In Lar Rangelands, S. A. Javadi, M. Jafari, Gh. Zahedi

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Heavy grazing pressures jeopardise the sustainability of the ecosystem by reducing soil fertility (Dormaar et al., 1998). Different results have been reported of grazing intensities on soil chemical properties, which stem from climate, soil, vegetation, management and kind of animal (Dormaar et al., 1998; Javadi, 2003; Sanadgool, 2002).

Investigating The Role Of Plant Traits And Interactions In Emergent Wetland Nutrient Removal, Andrew Ryan Sample

Theses and Dissertations

Increasing wetland restoration in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley has been identified as a method to reduce nutrient loading in the Gulf of Mexico. Wetlands have historically been used to treat water through processes facilitated by wetland plants, and relatively few species and plant traits have been identified as important in carrying out these processes. This study focuses on some of those species and traits and aims to identify species differences and plant traits that may be important for wetland nutrient mitigation. Chapter I provides background information on nutrient pollution, wetland biogeochemical mechanisms for nutrient sequestration, and the focal species …

Leaf Dry Matter Content Of Native Grassland Species Under Contrasting N And P Supply, P. Cruz, C. Jouany, Jérome M. Enjalbert, Michael Duru

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The management of native grasslands - herbaceous vegetation with a broad diversity of flora and a large range of uses - must meet the requirements of environmental conservation and improvement of the quality of agricultural production. For this purpose we need tools for diagnosing the state of the vegetation in order to design, evaluate, and apply management practices to attain these objectives. These tools must be simple and quick to use and should not require botanical skills. Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) has been proposed as a good indicator of both fertility gradients and species preference for habitats (Cruz et …

Potentialities Of Near Infrared Spectroscopy To Assess Nitrogen, Phosphorus And Potassium Nutrient Status Of Grasslands In The Reunion Island, Philippe Lecomte, Vincent Blanfort, Michael Duru, P. Thomas, P. Grimaud

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Controlled mineral fertilisation practices are an important component for sustainable management of grasslands. The assessment of available nutrients for plants and the general recommendations on the level of phosphorus and potassium to apply to grasslands are classically based on classical soil analysis and average regional levels. For nitrogen, mid or long term recommendations cannot easily be derived solely from soil composition, because it may be rapidly leached from the soil. Recent approaches tended to show that herbage plant N (Lemaire & Gastal, 1997), P, K (Duru & Huché, 1997) mineral analyses associated with actual biomass measurement could be useful for …

Heterogeneous Nutrient Distribution Across Dairy Grazing Systems In Southeastern Australia, C. J. P. Gourley, I. Awty, P. A. Durling, J. Collins, A. Melland, S. R. Aarons

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The Australian dairy industry is largely based on a grazed pasture system, although most cows also consume substantial amounts of imported feed (Fulkerson & Doyle 2001). This trend is expected to increase as the Australian dairy industry continues to intensify. Fertiliser inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) are still viewed as necessary to maintain adequate pasture and milk production despite the fact that most dairy farms are in net positive balance for all of these nutrients (Reuter 2001). Nutrient losses from dairy farming regions and eutrophication of waterways has gained strong public and political attention …

Reasons For The Premature Decline In Astragalus Adsurgens Stands In Kerqin Sandy Land, Qizhong Sun, Z. L. Wang, J. G. Han, Y. W. Wang, G. R. Liu

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Diseases partly account for reductions in Astragalus adsurgens stand longevity. The effect of some cultural practices on the control of pests and diseases have been reported (Hou, 1986; Nan, 1996), but few reports have detailed the relationship among soil fertiliser status, diseases and premature stand decline. This study was conducted to investigate these relationships in order to extend the longevity of Astragalus adsurgens stands.

Heterogeneous Nutrient Distribution Across Dairy Grazing Systems In Southeastern Australia, C. J. P. Gourley, I. Awty, P. A. Durling, J. Collins, A. Melland, S. R. Aarons

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The Australian dairy industry is largely based on a grazed pasture system, although most cows also consume substantial amounts of imported feed (Fulkerson & Doyle 2001). This trend is expected to increase as the Australian dairy industry continues to intensify. Fertiliser inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulphur (S) are still viewed as necessary to maintain adequate pasture and milk production despite the fact that most dairy farms are in net positive balance for all of these nutrients (Reuter 2001). Nutrient losses from dairy farming regions and eutrophication of waterways has gained strong public and political attention …

Reasons For The Premature Decline In Astragalus Adsurgens Stands In Kerqin Sandy Land, Qizhong Sun, Z. L. Wang, J. G. Han, Y. W. Wang, G. R. Liu

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Diseases partly account for reductions in Astragalus adsurgens stand longevity. The effect of some cultural practices on the control of pests and diseases have been reported (Hou, 1986; Nan, 1996), but few reports have detailed the relationship among soil fertiliser status, diseases and premature stand decline. This study was conducted to investigate these relationships in order to extend the longevity of Astragalus adsurgens stands.

Breeding Milestones Correspond With Changes To Wheat Rhizosphere Biogeochemistry That Affect P Acquisition, Rebecca Kay Mcgrail, David A. Van Sanford, David H. Mcnear Jr.

Plant and Soil Sciences Faculty Publications

Breeding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) has resulted in small gains in improved nutrient acquisition and use as numerous traits are involved. In this study, we evaluated the impact of breeding on P-acquisition and identified both plant and soil variables that could be used to inform the selection of germplasm with increased P acquisition efficiency. We previously screened a historic panel of winter wheat cultivars for root system architecture and root tip organic acid content when grown in P-deficient solution/agar and used these characteristics together with breeding history to develop a predicted P extraction potential (PEP). We tested the validity …

Better Dairy Farm Management Increases The Economic Return From Phosphorus, J. D. Morton

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Some 60% of New Zealand dairy farms on allophanic and sedimentary soils have soil Olsen phosphorus (P) levels to 75 mm depth above the target range for near-maximum pasture production of 20-30 µg/ml (Roberts & Morton 1999). For an economic response in milksolids (MS) production from high Olsen P, the pasture needs to be capable of high production, and the extra pasture grown be converted to milk. This paper seeks to justify this contention and outline some of the farm management practices required to achieve it.

Grassland Productivity And Water Quality: A 21st Century Issue, David M. Nash, P. M. Haygarth

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

1. Irrigation and other changes to the hydrological cycle can increase soil and water salinity.
2. Primary salinisation is a natural process that affects much of Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australia. Secondary salinisation is caused by human activities such as irrigation and land clearing that mobilise salt stored in the soil.
3. The critical water contaminants exported from grasslands are nitrogen, phosphorus, potential pathogens and sediment.
4. The mechanisms responsible for diffuse pollution from grasslands and mitigation strategies are most effectively investigated using a ‘source-mobilisation-transport’ framework.
5. There is a lack of coherent interaction across discipline boundaries that links pollutant sources to impact. …

Evaluation Of Plant Tissue Analysis To Assess Phosphorus Nutritional Status For Corn And Soybean, Gustavo A. Roa, Edmond B. Rutter, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Plant tissue samples can be used to assess nutrient concentrations and the response to phosphorus fertilization. This study aimed to identify critical phosphorus tissue concentrations for corn and soybean at different growing stages. The experiment was conducted at 23 locations for corn in 2021–2022 and 12 locations for soybean in 2017–2020 across Kansas. Tissue samples were collected from whole corn plants at the V6 stage, corn ear leaves at the R1 stage, and whole soybean plants at the V4 stage, and upper trifoliate leaves at the R2 soybean stage. Data from plots that received no phosphorus fertilization were used to …

Nutrient Management Strategies To Control Broomsedge Infestation And Improve Yield And Quality Of Tall Fescue Hayfields, Junior I. Yasuoka, Dale Helwig, Wendie Powell, Jaymelynn K. Farney, Gretchen F. Sassenrath, Bruno C. Pedreira

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

A study in tall fescue hayfields infested with broomsedge and bluestem was conducted at four locations in southeast Kansas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium fertilization affect yield, forage quality, and broomsedge/bluestem control in tall fescue hayfields. This trial will be repeated in 2023.

Nitrogen And Phosphorus Rates’ Impact On Different Varieties Of Alfalfa In Central Kansas, Mariana O. Mota, Luiz O. Pradella, Wallas M. Da Silva, Romulo P. Lollato

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The United States is the largest producer of alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) in the world, with a vast area grown under rainfed conditions. Under these conditions, and especially in a transition state such as Kansas, the alfalfa crop often suffers from water deficit stress. Environments under water-limited conditions promote a decrease in crop yield when inadequate water leads to an nitrogen deficiency and reduces crop biomass. This research aimed to investigate the production of different alfalfa varieties under different nitrogen and phosphorus rates in a rainfed environment. Three nitrogen application rates (0 lb/a; 200 lb/a; 400 lb/a) and three …

Evaluating The Impact Of Long-Term Phosphorus Placement On Corn And Soybean Rotation Under Minimum Tillage System, Gustavo A. Roa, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Phosphorus (P) management is typically done with a focus on the long term, given its impact on soil fertility. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of long-term P placement on corn and soybean yields under a minimum tillage system in Kansas. Long-term research trials were established in Scandia (irrigated field) and Ottawa (rainfed) in 2006. Fertilizer treatments were applied annually to corn, including broadcast, deep-band, and starter/deep-band at 40 lb/a of P₂O₅, with a control having no phosphorus fertilizer. Corn and soybean responded significantly to P fertilizer at both locations (compared …

An Evaluation On The Effects Of Additions And Deletions Of Specific Nutrient Management Strategies On Corn Yield At Different Plant Densities, James D. Dew

Theses and Dissertations

Improved management strategies are needed to increase yield production and quality. The study aimed to determine suitable cultural practices for improved corn production. Experiments were set up at Verona and Stoneville, Mississippi, from 2020 to 2022. Treatments included row configurations (single and twin-row), plant populations (79,000 and 99,000 seeds ha-1), and six combinations of nutrients with or without fungicide. The nutrients evaluated were two nitrogen rates 235 and 314 kg N ha-1, phosphorus 45 kg P ha-1, potassium 112 kg K ha-1, sulfur 22 kg S ha-1, and zinc 11 kg Zn ha-1, and fungicide at 272 ml ha-1. In …

Dust Deposition Changes Production, Chlorophyll-A And Community Composition In Mountain Lakes, Jiahao Wen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Increasing quantities of dust emitted from semi-arid soils, agricultural soils, and urban regions are blown to remote mountain lakes in the American West. Remote mountain lakes lacking local nutrient inputs and presenting simple food webs that are easily affected by climate changes. Dust can carry nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) to mountain lakes and potentially enhance algae growth and change algal communities. However, experimental tests of this hypothesis are lacking. Using in situ experiments, we investigated the effects of dust enrichment on the production, biomass, and primary algal species in three mountain lakes in the American West. We found that …

Reasons For The Premature Decline In Astragalus Adsurgens Stands In Kerqin Sandy Land, Q. Zh. Sun, Z. L. Wang, J. G. Han, Y. W. Wang, G. R. Liu

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Diseases partly account for reductions in Astragalus adsurgens, stand longevity. The effect of some cultural practices on the control of pests and diseases have been reported (Hou, 1986; Nan, 1996), but few reports have detailed the relationship among soil fertiliser status, diseases and premature stand decline. This study was conducted to investigate these relationships in order to extend the longevity of Astragalus adsurgens stands.

Mechanical Aeration And Liquid Dairy Manure: Application Impacts On Grassland Runoff Water Quality And Yield, T. J. Basden, S. B. Shah, J. L. Miller

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Wet weather on heavy soils reduces oxygen availability in the root zone and reduces forage yields. Mechanical aeration can improve forage yield in these soil conditions. Research has shown that under certain conditions, mechanical aeration can increase yield by improving drainage and aeration (Davies et al., 1989); aeration can also increase depression, storage and infiltration thus reducing surface runoff and improving nutrient distribution in the root zone. Aeration on sloping, fertilised grassland can provide environmental (Douglas et al., 1995) and agronomic benefits. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the runoff water quality and agronomic impacts of …