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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Evaluating Physiological Responses Of Ten Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata) Germplasm To Drought Treatments, Austin Hanson Jan 2015

Evaluating Physiological Responses Of Ten Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata) Germplasm To Drought Treatments, Austin Hanson

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Alfalfa is the most widely produced perennial forage legume in North America. However, its use in the semiarid northern Great Plains is limited due to poor stand establishment and persistence under drought condition. The development of drought-tolerant alfalfa cultivars is of great need. Some Medicago sativa subsp. falcata populations have demonstrated promising drought resistance when compared to M. sativa. Morphological and physiological mechanisms play a critical role in drought tolerance by influencing seedling survival, stand establishment and drought recovery. Assessment of variability in physiological responses to drought among germplasm lines to drought is necessary for developing cultivars with improved drought …


The Journal Of Undergraduate Research: Volume 12 Jan 2014

The Journal Of Undergraduate Research: Volume 12

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

This is the complete issue of the South Dakota State University Journal of Undergraduate Research, Volume 12.


Seedling Root Morphology Of Six Alfalfa Populations, Brianna J. Gaughan Jan 2012

Seedling Root Morphology Of Six Alfalfa Populations, Brianna J. Gaughan

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

Seedling root morphology plays a crucial role in seedling survival and stand establishment. Naturalized yellow-flowered alfalfa (YFA) (Medicago sativa subsp. falcata) has demonstrated adaptation to semiarid conditions of the Northern Great Plains and tolerance to grazing. Seedling stage root morphology is poorly defined. Our objective was to compare morphological traits of seedling roots for six alfalfa populations. Six entries were evaluated: one M. sativa population as a control, two M. falcata entries, with reported “spreading characteristics” and three naturalized YFA populations. Uniform seeds of each entry were scarified with 320 grade sand paper and inoculated with rhizobium before planting. A …


Long Term, Continuous Temperature Monitoring Of A Simple Anaerobic Digester And Open Manure Storage Pond In Eastern South Dakota, J. Darrington, E. Cortus Jan 2011

Long Term, Continuous Temperature Monitoring Of A Simple Anaerobic Digester And Open Manure Storage Pond In Eastern South Dakota, J. Darrington, E. Cortus

The Journal of Undergraduate Research

A two-cell manure storage system with a cover on the first cell was constructed in the late summer of 2009 in Eastern South Dakota. The covered cell acts as a simple anaerobic digester. Continuous temperature monitoring for 8 months shows the winter effluent temperature equilibrated to around 6°C, and that the effluent temperature trend lagged the ambient temperature trend by a month. Manure composition was also analyzed and was found to be relatively steady throughout the system. Volatile solids were the only component that dropped appreciably across the treatment cell, with an observed maximum of 50% reduction.