Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Spotted Cotton Oligonucleotide Microarrays For Gene Expression Analysis, Joshua A. Udall, Lex E. Flagel, Foo Cheung, Andrew W. Woodard, Ran Hovav, Ryan Adam Rapp, Jordan M. Swanson, Jinsuk J. Lee, Alan R. Gingle, Dan Nettleton, Christopher D. Town, Z. Jeffrey Chen, Jonathan F. Wendel

Dan Nettleton

Microarrays offer a powerful tool for diverse applications plant biology and crop improvement. Recently, two comprehensive assemblies of cotton ESTs were constructed based on three Gossypium species. Using these assemblies as templates, we describe the design and creation and of a publicly available oligonucleotide array for cotton, useful for all four of the cultivated species. Synthetic oligonucleotide probes were generated from exemplar sequences of a global assembly of 211,397 cotton ESTs derived from >50 different cDNA libraries representing many different tissue types and tissue treatments. A total of 22,787 oligonucleotide probes are included on the arrays, optimized to target the …

A Regional Comparison Of Water Use Efficiency For Miscanthus, Switchgrass And Maize, Andy Vanloocke, Tracy E. Twine, Marcelo Zeri, Carl J. Bernacchi

Andy VanLoocke

The production of cellulosic feedstocks for renewable fuels will increase over the coming decades. However, it is uncertain which feedstocks will be best suited for bioenergy production. A key factor dictating feedstock selection for a given region is water use efficiency (WUE), the trade-off between evapotranspiration (ET) and carbon uptake or productivity. Using an ecosystem model, two of the top candidate cellulosic feedstocks, Miscanthus × giganteus (miscanthus) and Panicum virgatum(switchgrass) were compared to Zea mays L. (maize), the existing dominant bioenergy feedstock, with 0 and 25% residue removal for the Midwest US. We determined productivity in three ways: harvested yield …

Future Carbon Dioxide Concentration Decreases Canopy Evapotranspiration And Soil Water Depletion By Field-Grown Maize, Mir Zaman Hussain, Andy Vanloocke, Matthew H. Siebers, Ursula M. Ruiz-Vera, R. J. Cody Markelz, Donald R. Ort, Carl J. Bernacchi

Andy VanLoocke

Maize, in rotation with soybean, forms the largest continuous ecosystem in temperate North America, therefore changes to the biosphere-atmosphere exchange of water vapor and energy of these crops are likely to have an impact on the Midwestern US climate and hydrological cycle. As a C4 crop, maize photosynthesis is already CO2-saturated at current CO2 concentrations ([CO2]) and the primary response of maize to elevated [CO2] is decreased stomatal conductance (gs). If maize photosynthesis is not stimulated in elevated [CO2], then reduced gs is not offset by greater canopy leaf area, which could potentially result in a greater ET reduction relative …

Terrestrial Ecosystems In A Changing Environment: A Dominant Role For Water, Carl J. Bernacchi, Andy Vanloocke

Andy VanLoocke

Transpiration—the movement of water from the soil, through plants, and into the atmosphere—is the dominant water flux from the earth's terrestrial surface. The evolution of vascular plants, while increasing terrestrial primary productivity, led to higher transpiration rates and widespread alterations in the global climate system. Similarly, anthropogenic influences on transpiration rates are already influencing terrestrial hydrologic cycles, with an even greater potential for changes lying ahead. Intricate linkages among anthropogenic activities, terrestrial productivity, the hydrologic cycle, and global demand for ecosystem services will lead to increased pressures on ecosystem water demands. Here, we focus on identifying the key drivers of …

The Biophysical Link Between Climate, Water, And Vegetation In Bioenergy Agro-Ecosystems, Justin E. Bagley, Sarah C. Davis, Matei Georgescu, Mir Zaman Hussain, Jesse Miller, Stephen W. Nesbitt, Andy Vanloocke, Carl J. Bernacchi

Andy VanLoocke

Land use change for bioenergy feedstocks is likely to intensify as energy demand rises simultaneously with increased pressure to minimize greenhouse gas emissions. Initial assessments of the impact of adopting bioenergy crops as a significant energy source have largely focused on the potential for bioenergy agroecosystems to provide global-scale climate regulating ecosystem services via biogeochemical processes. Such as those processes associated with carbon uptake, conversion, and storage that have the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). However, the expansion of bioenergy crops can also lead to direct biophysical impacts on climate through water regulating services. Perturbations of processes …

The Biophysical Link Between Climate, Water, And Vegetation In Bioenergy Agro-Ecosystems, Andy Vanloocke, Justin E. Bagley, Sarah C. Davis, Mir Zaman Hussain, Jesse Miller, Stephen W. Nesbitt, Carl J. Bernacchi

Andy VanLoocke

Effectiveness Of Hand Removal For Small-Scale Management Of Japanese Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Paul V. Switzer, Ryan M. Cumming

Paul V. Switzer

Hand removal is often recommended as a method for small-scale control of Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica Newman). In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of daily hand removal for controlling damage by Japanese beetles on grape plants. We also investigated whether the timing of the removal (at 0800, 1400, or 1900 hours, or at all 3 periods) inßuenced the effectiveness of the technique. We found that hand removal signiÞcantly lowered the number of beetles on, and consequently the damage to, grape plants relative to nonremoval controls. Of the single removal treatments, removal of beetles at 1900 hours was most effective, …

Modelling C3 Photosynthesis From The Choroplast To The Ecosystem, Andy Vanloocke, Carl J. Bernacchi, Justin E. Bagley, Shawn P. Serbin, Ursula M. Ruiz-Vera, David M. Rosenthal

Andy VanLoocke

Future Carbon Dioxide Concentration Decreases Canopy Evapotranspiration And Soil Water Depletion By Field-Grown Maize, Andy Vanloocke, Mir Zaman Houssain, Matthew H. Siebers, Ursula M. Ruiz-Vera, R. J. Cody Markelz, Andrew D. B. Leakey, Donald R. Orr, Carl J. Bernacchi

Andy VanLoocke

A Regional Comparison Of Water Use Efficiency For Miscanthus, Switchgrass And Maize, Andy Vanloocke, Tracy E. Twine, Marcelo Zeri, Carl J. Bernacchi

Andy VanLoocke

Maize Radiation Use Efficiency Under Optimal Growth Conditions, John L. Lindquist, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Daniel T. Walters, Kenneth G. Cassman, Achim Dobermann

John L. Lindquist

Accurate measurement of crop growth and radiation use efficiency (RUE) under optimal growth conditions is required to predict plant dry matter accumulation and grain yield near the genetic growth potential. Research was conducted to quantify the biomass and leaf area index (LAI) accumulation, extinction coefficient, and RUE of maize (Zea mays L.) under conditions of optimal growth. Maize was grown in two environments over five growing seasons (1998–2002). Total aboveground biomass at maturity ranged from 2257 g m-2 in 1998 to 2916 g m-2 in 2001; values that are considerably greater than the biomass achieved in most previous studies on …

Comparative Ecophysiology Of Grain Sorghum And Abutilon Theophrasti In Monoculture And In Mixture, Samba Traoré, John L. Lindquist, Stephen Mason, Alex Martin, D. A. Mortensen

John L. Lindquist

Selection of crop genotypes that are more competitive with weeds for light interception may improve crop yield stability in the presence of weeds. The effects of interference on ecophysiological characteristics of Abutilon theophrasti Medic. and three morphologically diverse grain sorghum hybrids was evaluated to determine the relative tolerance and suppressive ability of the three hybrids and specific traits that may contribute to those differences. A tall hybrid was more tolerant to A. theophrasti interference than two medium stature hybrids. Early leaf area growth of two medium-stature sorghum hybrids was reduced by A. theophrasti interference, whereas early growth of a tall …

Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium Album) Interference With Corn Across The North-Central United States, David W. Fischer, R. Gordon Harvey, Thomas T. Bauman, Sam Phillips, Stephen E. Hart, Gregg A. Johnson, James J. Kells, Philip Westra, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Variation in crop–weed interference relationships has been shown for a number of crop–weed mixtures and may have an important influence on weed management decision-making. Field experiments were conducted at seven locations over 2 yr to evaluate variation in common lambsquarters interference in field corn and whether a single set of model parameters could be used to estimate corn grain yield loss throughout the north-central United States.

Influence Of Nitrogen And Duration Of Weed Interference On Corn Growth And Development, Sean P. Evans, Stevan Z. Knezevic, John L. Lindquist, Charles A. Shapiro

John L. Lindquist

An improved understanding of the effects of nitrogen (N) on crop–weed interactions is needed for the development of integrated weed management systems where responsible use of N fertilizers is considered. Field experiments conducted in 1999 and 2000 at two locations in eastern Nebraska quantify the effects of N and increasing duration of weed interference on corn growth and development. A naturally occurring population of weeds was allowed to compete with the corn crop for increasing lengths of time and at three rates of N application (0, 60, and 120 kg N ha-1). Weed interference and withholding applied N increased the …

Simulated Insect Defoliation And Duration Of Weed Interference Affected Soybean Growth, Travis C. Gustafson, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Thomas E. Hunt, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

An improved understanding of crop stress from multiple pests is needed for better implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Field studies were conducted in 2003 and 2004 at two locations in eastern Nebraska to describe the effects of simulated early-season insect defoliation of soybean and duration of weed interference on soybean growth. Three levels of simulated defoliation (undefoliated, 30, and 60%) and seven durations of weed interference (weedy and weed free; weed removal at V2, V4, V6, R3, and R5) were evaluated in a split-plot design. Defoliation significantly reduced soybean leaf-area index (LAI), total dry matter (TDM), and crop …

Light-Saturated Co2 Assimilation Rates Of Corn And Velvetleaf In Response To Leaf Nitrogen And Development Stage, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Single-leaf CO₂ assimilation rate under saturating light (C_A) varies as a function of leaf nitrogen content per unit leaf area (N_L). Measured C_A for many crop species also declines with developmental stage. Because these relationships may have strong implications for crop–weed competition, a field experiment was conducted to quantify corn and velvetleaf C_A as influenced by leaf N_L and stage of development. Crop and weed C_A were measured on the most recent fully expanded leaves of plants grown in four nitrogen (N) application treatments. Both corn and velvetleaf C_A increased …

Hybrid-Maize—A Maize Simulation Model That Combines Two Crop Modeling Approaches, H. S. Yang, A. Dobermann, John L. Lindquist, Daniel T. Walters, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Kenneth G. Cassman

John L. Lindquist

A new maize (Zea mays L.) simulation model, Hybrid-Maize, was developed by combining the strengths of two modeling approaches: the growth and development functions in maize-specific models represented by CERES- Maize, and the mechanistic formulation of photosynthesis and respiration in generic crop models such as INTERCOM and WOFOST. It features temperature-driven maize phenological development, vertical canopy integration of photosynthesis, organ-specific growth respiration, and temperature-sensitive maintenance respiration. The inclusion of gross assimilation, growth respiration and maintenance respiration makes the Hybrid- Maize model potentially more responsive to changes in environmental conditions than models such as CERES-Maize. Hybrid-Maize also requires fewer genotype-specific …

A Simulation Approach For Evaluating Maize Yield Potential In Different Environments, Haishun S. Yang, Achim R. Dobermann, Kenneth G. Cassman, Daniel T. Walters, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

What is yield potential? To achieve yield potential of an environment: Why yield potential important? Objectives: Nebraska (NE): To estimate yield potential across NE requires: How to estimate yield potential across NE? Choice of model: Hybrid-Maize Simulation of best yields under current practices Current practices: best yields Current practices: variation of best yields To achieving full yield potential: Optimal management: gain in season length Optimal management: gain in yield Optimal management: temporal (mean=14 y) variation of yields Conclusions

Performance Of Weedsoft For Predicting Soybean Yield Loss, Shawn M. Hock, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Alex Martin, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Decision support systems (DSSs) have been developed to assist producers and consultants with weed management decisions. WeedSOFT is a DSS currently used in several states in the northcentral region of the United States. Accurate estimates of crop yield loss due to weed interference are required for cost-effective weed management recommendations. WeedSOFT uses competitive indices (CIs) to predict crop yield loss under multiple weed species, weed densities, and relative times of weed emergence. Performance of several WeedSOFT versions to predict soybean yield loss from weed competition was evaluated using CI values in WeedSOFT version 9.0 compared to new CI values calculated …

The Influence Of Plant Population Spatial Arrangement On Individual Plant Yield, John L. Lindquist, D. Rhode, K. J. Puettmann, B. D. Maxwell

John L. Lindquist

Two greenhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the performance of individual oat (Avena sativa) target plants as influenced by neighbor oat plants with different spatial arrangements. Crop spatial arrangement was separated into three com- ponents: (I) population density, (2) distance between plants (distance dispersion, DD), and (3) angular arrangement of plants about one another (angular dispersion, AD). Distance dispersion was quantified using a weighted mean distance from a target individual to its neighbors. Angular dispersion of neighbors around the target was quantified using a measure of circular variance. DD and AD were combined to create a dispersion index (DI). At …

Critical Period For Weed Control: The Concept And Data Analysis, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Sean P. Evans, Erin E. Blankenship, Rene C. Van Acker, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

The critical period for weed control (CPWC) is a period in the crop growth cycle during which weeds must be controlled to prevent yield losses. Knowing the CPWC is useful in making decisions on the need for and timing of weed control and in achieving efficient herbicide use from both biological and economic perspectives. An increase in the use of herbicide-tolerant crops, especially soybean resistant to glyphosate, has stimulated interest in the concept of CPWC. Recently, several studies examined this concept in glyphosate-resistant corn and soybean across the midwestern United States. However, these studies presented various methods for data analysis …

Influence Of Planting Date And Weed Interference On Sweet Corn Growth And Development, Martin M. Williams Ii, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Crop planting date and canopy density influence interactions between weeds and sweet corn (Zea mays L.); however, little is known about sweet corn growth response to weed interference. Field studies were conducted in 2004 and 2005 near Urbana, IL, to quantify the influence of planting date and weed interference on growth of sweet corn height, leaf area, aboveground biomass, and phenological development. Crop growth response to weed interference (presence or absence) was determined for sweet corn planted early May (EARLY) and late June (LATE). Dominant weed species included barnyard-grass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv.], common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.), common purslane …

Comparison And Hybridization Of Two Approaches For Maize Simulation, Haishun Yang, Kenneth G. Cassman, Achim R. Dobermann, Daniel T. Walters, John L.. Lindquist, Timothy J. Arkebauer

John L. Lindquist

Two approaches dominate simulation modeling of maize growth: (1) a generic approach, represented by the family of crop models developed by Dutch scientists at the Wageningen University, e.g. SUCROS (Spitters et al, 1989), WOFOST (Diepen et al, 1989) and INTERCOM (Kropff and van Laar, 1993), and (2) a maize-specific approach, represented by CERES-Maize (Jones and Kiniry, 1986) and its derivatives such as the maize module in DSSAT, and the MSB model developed by Muchow et al. (Muchow et al, 1990). These two approaches differ in three aspects. First, maize development in generic models is driven primarily by availability of assimilate …

Effect Of Cultivation And Within-Field Differences In Soil Conditions On Feral Helianthus Annuus Growth In Ridge-Tillage Maize, Michael G. Burton, David A. Mortensen, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Differences in weed population dynamics with respect to within-field heterogeneity are not well documented despite increasing interest in site-specific management of agro-ecosystems. The focus of this study was to determine if mechanical weed management (cultivation) and/or soil factors help to explain observed within-field distributions of feral common sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L.). The ridges and furrows created by the ridge–tillage system adds additional microsites to existing spatial heterogeneity for soil characteristics such as soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration. Experimental areas were selected on the basis of naturally high or low SOC concentration. Cultivation resulted in 100% mortality of H. annuus …

Soybean Row Spacing And Weed Emergence Time Influence Weed Competitiveness And Competitive Indices, Shawn M. Hock, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Alex Martin, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Weed competitiveness can be quantified with the concept of competitive index (CI), a relative scale of weed competitiveness. Field studies were conducted in 2002 and 2003 in northeastern and southeastern Nebraska to evaluate the influence of soybean row spacing and relative weed emergence time on the competitiveness of major weed species in soybean. Ten weed species were seeded in soybean spaced 19 and 76 cm apart at the planting, emergence, and first trifoliate leaf stages of soybean. Total weed dry matter (TDM), weed plant volume, and percent soybean yield loss were arbitrarily selected as a base for determining the CI …

Effect Of Nitrogen Addition And Weed Interference On Soil Nitrogen And Corn Nitrogen Nutrition, John L. Lindquist, Sean P. Evans, Charles A. Shapiro, Stevan Z. Knezevic

John L. Lindquist

Weeds cause crop loss indirectly by reducing the quantity of resources available for growth. Quantifying the effects of weed interference on nitrogen (N) supply, crop growth, and N nutrition may assist in making both N and weed management decisions. Experiments were conducted to quantify the effect of N addition and weed interference on soil nitrate-N (NO₃- N) over time and the dependence of corn growth on NO3-N availability, determine the corn N nutrition index (NNI) at anthesis, and evaluate if relative chlorophyll content can be utilized as a reliable predictor of NNI. Urea was applied at 0, 60, …

Effect Of Nitrogen Addition On The Comparative Productivity Of Corn And Velvetleaf (Abutilon Theophrasti), Darren C. Barker, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Alex R. Martin, Daniel T. Walters, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Weeds that respond more to nitrogen fertilizer than crops may be more competitive under high nitrogen (N) conditions. Therefore, understanding the effects of nitrogen on crop and weed growth and competition is critical. Field experiments were conducted at two locations in 1999 and 2000 to determine the influence of varying levels of N addition on corn and velvetleaf height, leaf area, biomass accumulation, and yield. Nitrogen addition increased corn and velvetleaf height by a maximum of 15 and 68%, respectively. N addition increased corn and velvetleaf maximum leaf area index (LAI) by up to 51 and 90%. Corn and velvetleaf …

Understanding Corn Yield Potential In Different Environments, Achim R. Dobermann, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Kenneth G. Cassman, Rhae A. Drijber, John L. Lindquist, James E. Specht, Daniel T. Walters, Haishun Yang, Daniel N. Miller, Darren L. Binder, Gregory J. Teichmeier, Richard B. Ferguson, Charles S. Wortmann

John L. Lindquist

The UNL research program on Ecological intensification of irrigated maize-based cropping systems aims to (i) improve understanding of the yield potential of corn and soybean and how it is affected by management, (ii) develop a scientific basis for evaluating yield potential at different locations, (iii) develop practical technologies for managing intensive cropping systems at 70-80% of the yield potential, and (iv) conduct integrated assessment of productivity, profitability, input use efficiency, soil carbon sequestration, energy and carbon budgets, and trace gas emissions. Results of this work have been reported earlier (Arkebauer et al., 2001; Dobermann et al., 2002). In this paper …

Influence Of Soybean Row Width And Velvetleaf Emergence Time On Velvetleaf (Abutilon Theophrasti), Shawn M. Hock, Stevan Z. Knezevic, Alex R. Martin, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Row spacing and the relative time of velvetleaf emergence affects the time of soybean canopy closure relative to velvetleaf, influencing the growth and development of velvetleaf. Field studies were conducted in northeastern Nebraska in 2002 and 2003 to describe velvetleaf growth as influenced by soybean presence or absence (velvetleaf grown with soybean or in monoculture), soybean row spacing (19 and 76 cm), and relative time of velvetleaf emergence. Velvetleaf seed production, leaf area (LA), and total dry matter (TDM) were greater in 76-cm- than in 19-cm-wide soybean rows. LA, TDM, and seed production of velvetleaf were reduced with later emergence …

Corn–Velvetleaf (Abutilon Theophrasti ) Interference Is Affected By Sublethal Doses Of Postemergence Herbicides, Brescia R. M. Terra, Alexander R. Martin, John L. Lindquist

John L. Lindquist

Injury to weeds from sublethal doses of POST herbicides may reduce the effect of weed interference on crop yield. Information on how herbicide dose influences weed mortality, growth, and seed production is needed to assess the potential benefit of applying reduced herbicide doses. Field experiments were conducted at Mead, NE, in 2001 and 2002 to quantify velvetleaf mortality, growth, and corn–velvetleaf interference in response to varying doses of three POST herbicides. Untreated velvetleaf at six densities (0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 20 plants m-1 corn row) was grown in mixture with corn to establish a baseline corn–velvetleaf interference relationship. …