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Utilizing Soil Sensors To Assess Soil Health And Investigating Cover Crops Impact On Methane Emission, Shailesh Pandit Jan 2024

Utilizing Soil Sensors To Assess Soil Health And Investigating Cover Crops Impact On Methane Emission, Shailesh Pandit

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil health is influenced by climate change, cultural practices, topography, crop rotations, cover crops, soil parent materials, and soil biota. Interactions between these factors can improve or reduce soil health. This thesis investigates two topics, using soil sensors to provide a rapid assessment of soil health, and the impact of cover crops on soil biological activity and greenhouse gas emissions. Chapter 1 explores the use of two types of sensors to measure apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) and provides examples on the use of these sensors. Even though both sensors measure ECa using different processes, they provide useful information about temporal …


Nitrogen Application Timing And Cereal Rye (Secale Cereale L.) Cover Crop Influence Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Graig Reicks Jan 2024

Nitrogen Application Timing And Cereal Rye (Secale Cereale L.) Cover Crop Influence Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Graig Reicks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dryland contributions to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are increased by N fertilizer applications and high soil water contents. Fertilizer timing and spring growth of cover crops prior to cash crop planting were investigated in separate studies to examine impacts on overall GHG emissions using a near continuous measurement system. There was a significant interaction between N fertilizer rate (0 vs. 224 kg N ha-1 surface-applied as urea) and application date (p= 0.01) for CO2 emissions. This interaction occurred because N fertilizer increased CO2 emissions by 35% for the 21 d interval following early spring application. When application was delayed until …


Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry For Sensing Salinity And Sodicity In Glacial Northern Great Plains Soils With Machine Learning Models, Adam Devlin Jan 2024

Portable X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry For Sensing Salinity And Sodicity In Glacial Northern Great Plains Soils With Machine Learning Models, Adam Devlin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Saline and sodic soils are an increasing concern across the Northern Great Plains (NGP) due to factors of climate change and land management that are drawing geologically derived salts to the land surface. Traditional laboratory assessments, such as electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), are time and resource consumptive. Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) may be a viable proximal sensing alternative, as it is able to provide elemental data in minutes, in situ or ex situ, and can directly quantify salinity-associated elements like Ca, Mg, and S. PXRF paired with predictive models has proven useful for a range of …


Integrating Early Season Clover Cover Crops As A Living Mulch In Broccoli And Transitional Organic Winter Squash Production In Eastern South Dakota, Alexis Rose Barnes Jan 2024

Integrating Early Season Clover Cover Crops As A Living Mulch In Broccoli And Transitional Organic Winter Squash Production In Eastern South Dakota, Alexis Rose Barnes

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Managing weeds, improving soil health, and reducing the use of plastic mulch continue to be priorities for South Dakota vegetable farmers. Farmers have expressed an interest in integrating cover crops into their farm systems. Clover cover crops used as a living mulch within and along cash crop rows may aid in weed suppression, nitrogen fixation, and prevent soil erosion. However, prior research has shown challenges of incorporating living mulch due to yield decreases. Research conducted in 2022 and 2023 in eastern South Dakota investigated the effects of four clover and four in-row soil management treatments on broccoli and organic winter …


The Hutton Project: Long-Term Agricultural Impacts On Soil Loss And Carbon Dynamics In Eastern South Dakota, Eli Halverson Jan 2024

The Hutton Project: Long-Term Agricultural Impacts On Soil Loss And Carbon Dynamics In Eastern South Dakota, Eli Halverson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Long-term and intensified agricultural land management has resulted in increased rates of soil erosion and has altered much of the carbon cycle at regional and global scales. Anthropogenic degradation of soil resources is a barrier to sustainable production, soil functioning, and ecosystem services. It is difficult to quantify the scope of pedogenic changes due to the lack of legacy data and short temporal scales. This study utilized decades to century-old soil information to quantify historical soil erosion losses and changes in soil carbon pools of eastern South Dakota soils. The results show that soils in the region have been significantly …


Fungicide Sensitivity In P. Tritici-Repentis Diverse Population And Phenotyping Of Spelt Wheat For Multiple Diseases, Zunera Shabbir Jan 2023

Fungicide Sensitivity In P. Tritici-Repentis Diverse Population And Phenotyping Of Spelt Wheat For Multiple Diseases, Zunera Shabbir

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Pyraclostrobin, a QoI fungicide, is extensively used in the management of fungal leaf spot diseases. In this study, 215 P. tritici-repentis isolates collected from wheat fields in South Dakota were evaluated for their sensitivity to Pyraclostrobin. Of 215 isolates, 48 isolates (22%) exhibited insensitivity based on G143A mutation and EC50 values using spore germination assay. Our results indicate reduced sensitivity to insensitivity to pyraclostrobin in some isolates suggesting regular monitoring of the P. tritici-repentis population to QoI fungicides is essential to track the evolution of insensitive population. Spelt wheat (Triticum spelta L.) is an ancient cereal that is gaining small …


Genomics-Assisted Approaches To Improve Grain Yield And End-Use Quality In Hard Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Harsimardeep Singh Gill Jan 2023

Genomics-Assisted Approaches To Improve Grain Yield And End-Use Quality In Hard Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Harsimardeep Singh Gill

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Global wheat production needs to be increased by 60% to meet the future demand of feeding nine billion people by 2050. Simultaneously, it is important to improve the enduse quality to meet the requirements of producers, grain markets, processors, and consumers. Thus, the development of more productive wheat varieties with better enduse quality remains the primary focus for all wheat breeding programs. However, direct phenotypic selection for improving grain yield and end-use quality is difficult as it is highly influenced by environmental factors. This dissertation focuses on harnessing advancements in genomics applications, including genome-wide association studies (GWAS), for the genetic …


Fusarium Head Blight Resistance Assessment In Barley, Tasneem Fathima Jan 2023

Fusarium Head Blight Resistance Assessment In Barley, Tasneem Fathima

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Fusarium head blight (FHB), commonly called scab is the most devastating disease of wheat and barley caused by the ascomycete fungus, Fusarium graminearum. FHB affects both the quality and quantity of cereal grains affecting the supply chain of the food and feed industry and the marketability of the produce. Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is among the several crop species most vulnerable to FHB infection. An estimated 25% of Spring barley grain production in the United States is used to make malted beverages such as beer. Malting barley is a relatively high-value crop with high demands regarding grain quality. FHB directly …


The Effects Of Residue Amounts And Variety Selection On The Development Of Wheat Fungal Pathogens In South Dakota, Abrielle Tembreull Jan 2023

The Effects Of Residue Amounts And Variety Selection On The Development Of Wheat Fungal Pathogens In South Dakota, Abrielle Tembreull

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Roughly 50% of South Dakota cropland is under the practice of no-till, with large increases in acres of no-till in the last 20 or so years. No-till is beneficial for Great Plains states, such as South Dakota, as soil residues are withheld. Residues are shown to increase soil health through retention of moisture and increase of microorganisms, but residues can serve as a source of inoculum for fungal pathogens that can overwinter on them. As wheat is one of the most important food crops in the world, it is important to protect this vital crop from diseases. Diseases of wheat …


Effect Of Foliar And Preplant Sulfur Application On Soybean Nutrient Uptake, Yield, And Seed Protein And Oil Content, Gena Ram Mahato Jan 2023

Effect Of Foliar And Preplant Sulfur Application On Soybean Nutrient Uptake, Yield, And Seed Protein And Oil Content, Gena Ram Mahato

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, Sulfur (S) deficiency has been observed in soybean producing regions in the US and different parts of the world. The major factors behind the frequent occurrence of S deficiency are reduced atmospheric S deposition due to strict regulations on emissions from fossil fuels, large S removal from high yielding crops, less use of fertilizers containing S, and intensive cultivation practices. To test S limitations, I conducted two independent studies from 2019 to 2021 at two locations in Eastern South Dakota to determine the effect of foliar and preplant S application on soybean. The objectives of this research …


Soil Profile Properties And Greenhouse Gas Emissions As Influenced By Long-Term Cattle Manure And Inorganic Fertilizer Applications Under Corn-Soybean-Spring Wheat Rotation In Eastern South Dakota, Anuoluwa Ojonoka Sangotayo Jan 2023

Soil Profile Properties And Greenhouse Gas Emissions As Influenced By Long-Term Cattle Manure And Inorganic Fertilizer Applications Under Corn-Soybean-Spring Wheat Rotation In Eastern South Dakota, Anuoluwa Ojonoka Sangotayo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The application of manure and inorganic fertilizer in row crops may significantly influence soil and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Understanding the long-term influence of these management practices on soil pore characteristics, hydro-physical properties and greenhouse gas emission is essential in developing proper conservation practices. However, there is limited information on the impact of cattle manure and inorganic fertilizer application on soil hydro-physical properties, soil pore characteristics at lower depths and surface GHGs emissions. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to; (i) utilize X-ray computed tomography (XCT) technique to quantify the impact of manure and fertilizer amendments under a corn …


Tracking Nitrogen Mineralization In The Presence Of Biochar Utilizing Complementary-Method Assays In East Central South Dakota, Andrew Calvin Engel Jan 2023

Tracking Nitrogen Mineralization In The Presence Of Biochar Utilizing Complementary-Method Assays In East Central South Dakota, Andrew Calvin Engel

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Understanding soil N transformations in agricultural systems of the Northern Great Plains is crucial for guiding effective soil and nutrient management of this vital cropland. While the use of biochar in agriculture has attracted great attention recently, little has been reported on the seasonal dynamics of soil nitrogen (N) transformation and its response to biochar application. A field experiment was conducted over 2 seasons, spring (6/3/19-6/24/19) and summer (7/26/19-8/16/19), using four treatments or control soil, urea (224 kg N/ha), biochar (46,250 kg/ha), and urea+biochar (224 kg N/ha and 46,250 kg/ha, respectively). The results for both seasons showed biochar had no …


Phosphate2 And Pin-Likes7 Affect Symbiotic Nodule Phenotypes In Soybean, Bhawandeep Kaur Jan 2023

Phosphate2 And Pin-Likes7 Affect Symbiotic Nodule Phenotypes In Soybean, Bhawandeep Kaur

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Legumes and soil rhizobia share a symbiotic relationship, wherein rhizobia fix atmospheric dinitrogen in exchange for photosynthates from the host plant. This exchange of mutual benefits occurs in a specialized root structure called ‘nodule’. Soybean (Glycine max) nodules arise from root outer cortical cells. De novo cell differentiation of cortical cells during nodule development leads to the formation of two distinct nodule zones in the mature nodule: the central infection zone where nitrogen fixation occurs and the peripheral parenchyma zone that houses vascular bundles. Plant signaling mechanisms that dictate the development of these nodule zones are not known. To address …


Methods For Improving Potassium Fertilizer Recommendations For Corn In South Dakota, Andrew J. Ahlersmeyer Jan 2023

Methods For Improving Potassium Fertilizer Recommendations For Corn In South Dakota, Andrew J. Ahlersmeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Corn (Zea mays L.) is a vital commodity in South Dakota’s agricultural sector. Optimal corn production occurs when there are sufficient mineral nutrients in the soil, especially potassium (K). Applications of K fertilizer are used when soil test K (STK) levels are deficient. Therefore, producers need reliable, thoroughly tested fertilizer recommendations to make profitable decisions and maintain environmental stewardship. South Dakota K fertilizer recommendations have not been updated in nearly 20 years. Simultaneously, changes in corn genetics, management practices, and climate patterns suggest that the critical soil test value (CSTV) for STK may have shifted in that same time frame. …


Addressing Soil Carbon Sequestration Response From Multispecies Dairy Forage Systems And Modeling Rangeland Beef Cow Dry Matter Intake Using Precision Enteric Emissions Measurements, Lillian J. Mcfadden Jan 2023

Addressing Soil Carbon Sequestration Response From Multispecies Dairy Forage Systems And Modeling Rangeland Beef Cow Dry Matter Intake Using Precision Enteric Emissions Measurements, Lillian J. Mcfadden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Regenerative agriculture is a pressing matter for the dairy industry to address cropland sustainability and carbon sequestration. One regenerative management practice that has been identified to help with row crop sustainability for key metrics like soil organic carbon (SOC) is complex covers. When producers use complex covers one of the main challenges is that it takes time to detect a change in SOC. However, simulation models are a tool that can be used to help determine if a regenerative practice is a strategy that gives the best results (i.e., increased SOC) while aligning with long-term production goals. Therefore, our objectives …


Improving The Utility Of Precision Agriculture Through Machine Learning And Climate-Smart Practices, Skye Brugler Jan 2023

Improving The Utility Of Precision Agriculture Through Machine Learning And Climate-Smart Practices, Skye Brugler

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Climate Smart Practices are management strategies that focus on increasing soil and crop productivity, utilize site-specific strategies to increase resiliency against the effects of climate change, and mitigate these negative effects by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Decision Support Systems (DSSs) using machine learning (ML) can adjust models based on new information and help farmers make climate smart decisions within their operation. The 4R nutrient management model of right source, rate, location, and time also demonstrates a framework that may be considered climate smart by improving soil and crop productivity. However, when initially conceptualized, the 4R model did not consider …


Identifying Optimum Germination Temperatures And Analysis Weights In Seed Testing For Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago Rigida) And River Bulrush (Bolboschoenus Fluviatilis), Rachel Geary Jan 2023

Identifying Optimum Germination Temperatures And Analysis Weights In Seed Testing For Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago Rigida) And River Bulrush (Bolboschoenus Fluviatilis), Rachel Geary

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Federal and state seed laws require seed lots offered for sale to be tested and labeled with the appropriate information before they can be sold. Those tests are conducted in seed testing labs all around the world. In the United States, accredited seed testing labs follow the Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) Rules for Testing Seeds to provide information for labeling. The rules lack instructions for weights and germination for many native species. Stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida) and river bulrush (Bolboschoenus fluviatilis) are two species that lack any information required for testing. When seed testing labs use correct weights …


Expanding The Use Of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography For Varietal Identification Or Verification Of Selected Cereal Crops, Johnna Jorgensen Jan 2023

Expanding The Use Of High-Performance Liquid Chromatography For Varietal Identification Or Verification Of Selected Cereal Crops, Johnna Jorgensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a form of analytical chemistry where adsorption is a key factor in which the purpose is to separate, identify and quantify each component in a mixture. It is the optimal separation technique of chemical and biological compounds that are non-volatile including proteins and natural products (i.e., plant extracts). As each sample component interacts differently with the absorbent material within the column, the flow rates change leading to the separation of peaks, which are plotted via computer software. Most commonly HPLC analysis has been used for chemical manufacturing and pharmaceutical purposes. When using HPLC for crop …


Building No-Tillage Maize Nitrogen Recommendation Algorithm That Considers Improvements In Soil Health, Dwarika Bhattarai Jan 2023

Building No-Tillage Maize Nitrogen Recommendation Algorithm That Considers Improvements In Soil Health, Dwarika Bhattarai

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.


Machine-Learning And Meta-Analysis Techniques To Quantify And Predict Soil Organic Carbon, N2O-N And Co2-C Emissions In Cover Crop Systems, Deepak Raj Joshi Jan 2022

Machine-Learning And Meta-Analysis Techniques To Quantify And Predict Soil Organic Carbon, N2O-N And Co2-C Emissions In Cover Crop Systems, Deepak Raj Joshi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

People worldwide are challenged by multiple threats including climate change, growing populations, and soil degradation. Addressing these challenges requires understanding of the local environment, farming systems and modern technologies. These technologies include new ways to process information that include artificial intelligence, machine learning and meta-analysis. Models produced using these technologies may be useful for predicting the consequences of implementing conservation practices that reduce GHG emissions as well as for determining the carbon footprint of cropping systems that include environmentally friendly conservation technologies such as growing cover crop. Therefore, our objectives of this study were to: 1) provide an overview of …


Evaluating Fungicide Timing, Efficacy, And Sensitivity As Well As Candidate Resistance Genes Against Fungi Causing Phomopsis Stem Canker In Sunflower, Ruchika Kashyap Jan 2022

Evaluating Fungicide Timing, Efficacy, And Sensitivity As Well As Candidate Resistance Genes Against Fungi Causing Phomopsis Stem Canker In Sunflower, Ruchika Kashyap

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phomopsis stem canker is one of the major diseases of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) caused by complex of Diaporthe spp., in the U.S. This disease became of economic importance after 2010 epidemic in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota and since then the prevalence of this diseases has increased due to increased average precipitation in these major sunflower growing regions of the U.S. The two important disease management strategies involve the use of fungicides and partially resistant hybrids. However, over the years, researchers and growers have seen varied results on Phomopsis stem canker disease severity reduction and yield gains, when …


Efficacy Of Nanomaterials And Biorationals On The Bacterial Leaf Streak Management In Wheat, Abraham Hangamaisho Jan 2022

Efficacy Of Nanomaterials And Biorationals On The Bacterial Leaf Streak Management In Wheat, Abraham Hangamaisho

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important cereal crops in the United States. Most wheat varieties are susceptible to bacterial leaf streak (BLS), a major disease caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (Xtpvu). BLS is challenging to manage since common chemicals do not provide adequate control. Nanomaterials and plant extracts have shown potential to provide a sustainable environmentally friendly control of animal and plant diseases. However, limited data are available on the efficacy of plant extracts and nanomaterials controlling BLS in wheat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of plant extracts and …


Phomopsis Stem Canker Of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.): Etiology And Epidemiological Conditions Affecting Endophytic Population Of Diaporthe Spp., And Fungicide Efficacy, Nabin Kumar Dangal Jan 2022

Phomopsis Stem Canker Of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.): Etiology And Epidemiological Conditions Affecting Endophytic Population Of Diaporthe Spp., And Fungicide Efficacy, Nabin Kumar Dangal

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phomopsis stem canker (PSC), caused by species of Diaporthe, is a major disease of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) in the U.S., which can cause yield loss over 40%. The disease prevalence increased since 2010 in the major sunflower producing U.S. states of Nebraska, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Previous studies on the use of foliar fungicides in managing Phomopsis stem canker indicated mixed results on their efficacy in disease reduction and yield gain. Additionally, we do not have sufficient information on asymptomatic colonization by endophytic Diaporthe on sunflower tissue and how foliar fungicide and weather parameters affect the prevalence …


Phosphorus Use And Management Based On Fertilizer Placement, Rate Of Application, And Soil Biota In No-Till Situations, Brennan Alexander Bingham Lewis Jan 2022

Phosphorus Use And Management Based On Fertilizer Placement, Rate Of Application, And Soil Biota In No-Till Situations, Brennan Alexander Bingham Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Phosphorus (P) pollution has become a concern among multiple scientific organizations as it leads to eutrophication, an algal bloom that depletes lacustrine and marine ecosystems of native species. Multiple strategies can be implemented to reduce phosphorus loss from agriculture fields, which is often implicated as a cause of eutrophication. Soil phosphorus chemistry results in phosphate fertilizers absorbing to clay minerals over time. Soil phosphorus is lost from agricultural fields primarily through wind and water erosion. No-till practices prevent soil erosion, which reduces the phosphorus from loading into waterways. Fertilizer placement affects phosphorus loss. Surface application of phosphorus fertilizers increases the …


Combining Soil Health And Fertility Measurements To Improve The Accuracy Of Predicting Corn Grain Yield Responses To P And K Fertilization, Benjamin Groebner Jan 2022

Combining Soil Health And Fertility Measurements To Improve The Accuracy Of Predicting Corn Grain Yield Responses To P And K Fertilization, Benjamin Groebner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have pointed to changes in climate and land management practices to justify the need to reevaluate the accuracy of current South Dakota (SD) corn (Zea mays L.) P and K fertilizer recommendations. Also, an increase in soil health understanding has created the potential for soil health measurements to be used to improve the accuracy of these recommendations. The objectives for this study were to 1) evaluate the current P and K critical values and 2) determine the effect of including soil health indicators on improving fertilizer recommendation accuracy. This project was conducted throughout central and eastern SD from 2019-2021 …


Genome-Wide Association Mapping And Genomic Prediction For Enhancing Fhb Resistance In Hard Winter Wheat, Jinfeng Zhang Jan 2022

Genome-Wide Association Mapping And Genomic Prediction For Enhancing Fhb Resistance In Hard Winter Wheat, Jinfeng Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wheat is one of the most important staple crops providing 20% of energy for 35% of the world population. Fusarium head blight (FHB), primarily caused by the fugal Fusarium graminearum Schwabe, is a damaging disease in wheat that affects global wheat production every year and causes food safety issues. The disease not only reduces the grain yield and quality but also produces mycotoxin in the diseased kernels making them unsuitable for human consumption or as livestock feeds. Breeding FHB resistant cultivar is the most effective and economical approach to managing the disease. This study combines genome-wide association study (GWAS) and …


Study Of Root System Architectural Traits Of Oat And Response To Endophyte Inoculation And Drought Stress, Krishna Ghimire Jan 2022

Study Of Root System Architectural Traits Of Oat And Response To Endophyte Inoculation And Drought Stress, Krishna Ghimire

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Oat is an important cereal crop grown worldwide. Oats have the potential to contribute to human health due to their unique nutritional attributes. Developing oat cultivars with efficient root systems able to extract heterogeneously distributed soil resources can help maintain yield under drought conditions and in nutrient poor soil. Various root traits determine the soil volume that is explored by the root system for resource acquisition. Knowledge about the genetic control of oat root traits and response to biotic and abiotic environmental factors is lacking. Identifying quantitative trait loci associated with root traits and understanding the response of roots to …


Effect Of Essential Oils In The Control Of Fungal Diseases In Small Grains, Esneider Mahecha Bojaca Jan 2022

Effect Of Essential Oils In The Control Of Fungal Diseases In Small Grains, Esneider Mahecha Bojaca

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.) are important crops due to their high consumption in our daily diet worldwide. They are the main food of consumption per capita due to the high amino-acid content as well of vitamins. However, grain production is limited due to the negative impact of the diseases that cause significant yield loss. Diseases in oats, such as crown rust caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. avenae (Pca), and in wheat such as Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by the fungus Fusarium graminearum. Foliar diseases such as tan spot incited by the fungi …


Northern Great Plains Saline Sodic Soil Development, Classification, Remediation, And Management., Shaina Westhoff Jan 2022

Northern Great Plains Saline Sodic Soil Development, Classification, Remediation, And Management., Shaina Westhoff

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Soil salinity and sodicity are issues of growing concern in the United States (U.S.) and globally. Knowledge gaps for glaciated, dryland salt-affected soils exist because much original salinity and sodicity research focused on irrigated systems. Land managers are being asked to produce food, feed, fiber, and fuel for an expanding global population. The number of land managers and crop advisors who are affected by these soils is increasing. Addressing salinity and sodicity knowledge gaps will be critical for their success. Salinity and sodicity have been impeding crop productivity since the advent of cultivation. Saline and sodic soils form via multiple …


Soil Hydro-Physical Properties, Computed Tomography Measured Pore Parameters, And Soil Health Indicators As Influenced By Tillage And Crop Rotation Systems, Goutham Thotakuri Jan 2022

Soil Hydro-Physical Properties, Computed Tomography Measured Pore Parameters, And Soil Health Indicators As Influenced By Tillage And Crop Rotation Systems, Goutham Thotakuri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Long-term tillage and crop rotation systems are important agricultural management practices as these can have direct impact on the soil’s key properties. The objectives of this study were to (ⅰ) quantify the soil pore characteristics under long-term tillage and crop rotation using X-ray computed tomography (XCT) and to assess the relationships between XCT-measured pore parameters and soil hydro-physical properties; and (ⅱ) evaluate the impacts of long-term tillage and crop rotation on select soil health indicators. The objective (ⅰ) was carried out at Haskell Agricultural Laboratory (HAL), Concord, NE; and objective (ⅰi) was carried out at South Central Agricultural Laboratory (SCAL), …