Apiculture Commons^™

Soil Quality As Affected By Hemp And Grain Production Systems In Western Kentucky, Jack Eaker

Scholars Week

Since 2018, hemp cropping systems have become increasingly popular in Kentucky. However, there is limited data on soil’s behavior/changes under these management practices as compared to corn and soybean cultivation systems. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine soil characteristics including soil organic matter, bulk density, water holding capacity, macroporosity, and water at field capacity in hemp and grain cropping systems. The thirty undisturbed soil samples were collected from three different hemp fields and a corn, soybean, and a bare field adjacent to these hemp fields. Each field was located at Murray State University West Farm, Calloway County, …

The Effect Of Three Different Mulches On Weed Presence, Soil Characteristics, And Zinnia Growth, Anmar Muttaleb

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Organic and inorganic mulching helps to control weeds. Mulching helps cultivated plants to grow by inhibiting the growth of weeds, retaining soil moisture, and regulating the temperature of soil. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different organic mulches on weed presence, soil characteristics, and growth of Zinnia elegans. The mulches used in studying Zinnia elegans were wheat straw, non-shredded Miscanthus (M. × giganteus), and shredded Miscanthus (M. × giganteus) mulch. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) was used in the study, with different quantitative methods were used to …

A Performance Study Of Apis Mellifera With Dietary And Forage Restrictions During Spring Colony Establishment In Lyon County, Kentucky, Dominique Wood

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

One-third of our worldwide fruit, nut and vegetable production is completely dependent on the existence of pollinators. Commercial honey bees, Apis mellifera, have an annual economic value of $15 billion in the U.S. Additionally, their honey is valued at $150 million annually. In Fall 2006, commercial beekeepers observed sudden mass disappearances of whole colonies. By Spring 2007, the condition, dubbed Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), raised environmental and fiscal concerns while the cause(s) continued to be sought. Forensic examinations of hive samples did not reveal a singular cause of CCD. The results pointed to a collection of detrimental factors affecting …