Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Degree Of Sedentarization Affects Risks And Conflicts For The Waso Boran In Northern Kenya, D. Layne Coppock, Abdullahi D. Jillo, Mark N. Mutinda, Abdilla A. Aboud

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The Waso Borana have lived for over a century in northern Kenya. In the last few decades, however, their ability to maintain their traditions has been severely challenged. Here we report survey results from 540 households in Isiolo District, stratified among three groups differing in terms of lifestyle: sedentary, semi-sedentary, and mobile. In some cases these groups vary with respect to important perceived risks, causes of natural-resource related conflict, and possible solutions to conflict. For example, sedentary respondents often noted concerns over land tenure problems, human diseases, and political incitement. Mobile respondents, in contrast, often noted primary concerns over drought, …

Agro-Pastoralists’ Wrath For The Prosopis Tree: The Case Of The Il Chamus Of Baringo District, Kenya, D. Layne Coppock, Abdillahi A. Aboud, Phillip K. Kisoyan

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

Indigenous to Peru, Chile, and Argentina, the woody plant called Prosopis juliflora (also known by the American common name of “Honey Mesquite”) has spread world-wide in recent decades, including rangelands throughout Latin America, North America, south and central Asia, Australia, and sub-Saharan Africa. A species known for rapid establishment, high adaptability, and fast rates of growth, its dispersal has primarily been a consequence of intentional introduction by well- meaning “technical experts” who wanted to provide a new source of fodder, fuel wood, or a means to combat desertification in arid and semi-arid lands. One problem, however, is that unless Prosopis …

Linking Pastoralists And Exporters In A Livestock Marketing Chain: Recent Experiences From Ethiopia, D. Layne Coppock, Solomon Desta, Getachew Gebru, Seyoum Tezera

Environment and Society Faculty Publications

The Boran of southern Ethiopia have been traditionally viewed as unwilling or unable to engage in large scale, commercialized livestock trade. Here we report on the creation of a new livestock marketing chain from the Borana Plateau to export outlets largely serving the Gulf States. Since 2003 various meetings and exchange tours were organized by collaborating agencies and PARIMA to directly link pastoral producers with livestock exporters and policy makers. This occurred against a backdrop of growing export demand for small ruminants, rapid development of private export industry, formation of well-trained pastoral marketing groups (often dominated by women), and provision …

Successful Cropping In The High Rainfall Zone Of Western Australia : Crop Research And Extension In The Zone, Narelle Hill, Heping Zhang Dr., Tim Trezise, John Young, Natahan Moyes, Laurence Carslake, Neil C. Turner Dr, Walter Anderson, Michael Poole

Bulletins 4000 -

This manual is a review of all the relevant and current information relating to cropping systems in the high rainfall cropping zone (HRZ) of Western Australia. It functions partly as the final report summarising research results and extension activities and discusses recommendations and potential outcomes of two 5-year GRDC-funded projects (DAW 673 and CSP 302), that aimed to increase the productivity of southern high rainfall cropping systems.

Ua3/9/5 Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (Crep), Wku President's Office

WKU Archives Records

Talking points used by WKU president Gary Ransdell regarding WKU's partnering with Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Potential Impacts Of Climate Change On Agricultural Land Use Suitability : Wheat, Dennis Van Gool, Luke Vernon

Resource management technical reports

This publication considers the impact of climate change on wheat crops. While a model was first used, it was only partially validated against real data, hence the model is now used as a decision support system that allows people with crop, land resource and climate knowledge to determine potential impacts of climate change on crop growth and production in Western Australia.

Sheep Updates 2005 - Part 6, Sarah Pugh, Giles Glasson, Ed Barrett-Lennard, Hayley Norman, Matt Wilmot, Meir Altman, Kelly Pearce, Sally Phelan, David Masters, Nadine Eva, Brad Wooldridge, Stephen Gherardi, Lucy Anderton, Gonzalo Mata, P. Sanford, J Young, Tim Wiley, Richard Quinlan, Chris Oldham, Mike Hyder, Mandy Curnow, Samantha Giles, Andrew Thompson

Sheep Updates

This session covers seven papers from different authors:

PASTURES/GRAZING

1. New annual pastures - quality and quantity for fodder conservation?, Sarah Pugh and Giles Glasson, Department of Agriculture Western Australia

2. Saltland Pastures: Dispelling some Myths, Ed Barrett-Lennard^1,3, Hayley Norman^2,3, Matt Wilmat^2,3, Meir Altman,³, Kelly Pearce^2,3, Sally Phelan⁴, David Masters^2,3, ^1. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, ² CSIRO Livestock Industries, Floreat, WA, ³. CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity ⁴. Saltland Pastures Association

3. Pastures: Putting profit back into sandplain, Nadine Eva, Department …

Fire-Induced Albedo Change And Its Radative Forcing At The Surface In Northern Austrailia, Y. Jin, David P. Roy

GSCE Faculty Publications

This paper investigates the impact of fire on surface albedo and the associated radiative forcing over 56% of continental Australia encompassing the fire-prone northern tropical savanna. Fire-affected areas and albedos are derived for the 2003 fire season using daily Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface reflectance data. Near-infrared and total shortwave albedos are observed to generally decrease after fire occurrence. Regionally, the total shortwave albedo drops by an average of 0.024, with increasing reductions as the dry season progresses and larger reductions in grasslands than woody savannas. These fire-induced albedo changes exert a positive forcing at the surface that increases …

Update On Ethanol Processing Residue Properties, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Kasiviswanathan Muthukumarappan, James Julson, Padmanaban Krishnan

Kurt A. Rosentrater

The production of corn-based ethanol in the U.S. is dramatically increasing, and consequently so is the amount of byproduct materials generated from this processing sector. These coproduct streams are currently solely utilized as livestock feed, which is a route that provides ethanol processors with a substantial revenue source and significantly increases the profitability of the production process. With the construction and operation of many new plants in recent years, these residuals do, however, have much potential for value-added processing and utilization in other sectors as well. This option holds promise of economic benefit for corn processors, especially if the livestock …

Major Eastern Wheatbelt Soils To Characterise Soil Moisture Availability, Jeffrey Jon Russell

Resource management technical reports

In the Eastern Wheatbelt of Western Australia, there are seven major soil groups (acid sands, good soilplain soils, gravelly sands, duplex soils, medium-heavy soils, heavy non-friable soils and heavy friable soils. This report considers the ability of various soils to store or retain water in an attempt to partially determine the yield potential of crops.

Grass Patch-Salmon Gums Area : Catchment Appraisal 2005, Angela Alderman

Resource management technical reports

Rapid catchment appraisal to assess the condition of, and future risks to, agricultural and natural resources within the Grass Patch-Salmon Gums area in Western Australia.

Crop Yield Response To Precision Deep Tillage, Larry G. Wells, Timothy S. Stombaugh, Scott A. Shearer

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Experimental precision deep tillage was applied at three sites in central Kentucky with relatively well-drained silt loam soils in no-till crop production. Fields were divided into 0.4 ha (1 ac) grid cells using DGPS mapping. Assessment of soil compaction by machinery traffic was made using multiple soil cone penetrometer measurements and expressed as cone index (CI). Corn, wheat, and soybean yields were depressed in grid cells with CI_avg ≥ 1.5 MPa (218 psi) prior to application of tillage treatments at sites 1 and 3, whereas at site 2, where most of the highest average CI values ranged from 1.44 …

Pastoral Stock Water Workbook, T M. Sincliar, F A. Bright

Agriculture reports

The Pastoral Stock Water Workbook has been developed to assist you to estimate the costs of maintaining stock water and make informed decisions about managing existing and proposed water points. The first half of the Workbook provides background information on stock water points, their usage, advantages and disadvantages. Whilst the second part contains a series of stepby- step exercises that should be completed as you progress through the Workbook. The latter part of the Workbook aims to: • Show a worked example of the annual costs of maintaining water; • Provide tools to calculate water costs for your business; • …

The Row-Column Confounded 2MX4N Factorial Design And Its Different Fractions, Md Shamsuddin, Mian A S Adnan

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The row-column confounded 2^mX4ⁿ factorial designs and its different fractions can be constructed and analyzed using pseudo factors in the 4n portion. (Examples are shown)

The Use Of Pseudo Factors In 4N, 8N, 2MX4N, 2NX8N Factorial Designs, Md Shamsuddin, Mian A S Adnan

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The confounded factorial designs of the experiments 4ⁿ, 2^mX4ⁿ, 8ⁿ, etc, and their different fractions can be constructed and analyzed using a suitable method of pseudo factors known as Rotation-Conversion Method. An example is shown.

The 3N Circular Factorial Designs: More Robust Estimate Of All Factorial Effects, Md Shamsuddin

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

A 3ⁿ circular factorial design which facilitates estimates of all factorial effects providing internal partial confounding with blocks within each of its diameters in different directions is constructed for use in analyzing the multi-directional data of different disciplines. The design possesses small error variance by eliminating the heterogeneity in different directions. An example is given.

Spatial Variability In Aggregation Based On Geostatistical Analysis, Shoufan Fang, George Z. Gertner, Guangxing Wang, Alan B. Anderson

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

This study derived the equations for computing the spatial variability in the aggregation of original maps of continuous attributes. The derivation of the equations is based on traditional statistical and geostatistical principles. The derived equations can be used to compute the variance, covariance, and spatial (auto-/cross-) covariance of the aggregated pixels and sub-areas in a given study area. Using the derived equations, the total uncertainty within a study area will not change after aggregation. For a case study, it has been shown that aggregation will reduce the values of variance/covariance and spatial covariance of the aggregated individual pixels. It was …

R2 Statistics For Mixed Models, Matthew Kramer

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The R² statistic, when used in a regression or ANOVA context, is appealing because it summarizes how well the model explains the data in an easy-to-understand way. R² statistics are also useful to gauge the effect of changing a model. Generalizing R² to mixed models is not obvious when there are correlated errors, as might occur if data are georeferenced or result from a designed experiment with blocking. Such an R² statistic might refer only to the explanation associated with the independent variables, or might capture the explanatory power of the whole model. In the latter …

A Bayesian And Covariate Approach To Combine Results From Multiple Microarray Studies, John R. Stevens, R. W. Doerge

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The growing popularity of microarray technology for testing changes in gene expression has resulted in multiple laboratories independently seeking to identify genes related to the same disease in the same organism. Despite the uniform nature of the technology, chance variation and fundamental differences between laboratories can result in considerable disagreement between the lists of significant candidate genes from each laboratory. By adjusting for known differences between laboratories through the use of covariates and employing a Bayesian framework to effectively account for between-laboratory variability, the results of multiple similar studies can be systematically combined via a meta-analysis. Meta-analyses yield additional information …

A Bayesian Random Coefficient Nonlinear Regression Model For A Split-Plot Experiment, Reid D. Landes, Trey Spencer, Ian A. Zelaya

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

In random coefficients regression, we are often interested in the mean of a certain para-meter particular to the experimental unit (EU). When the mean depends on some treatment regimen, we are then interested in comparing the means among the different treatments. When the EUs are repeatedly measured on a variable containing information about the EU parameter, a standard procedure is to estimate each EU parameter and treat the estimates as the response variables. This is especially true when the regression model for an EU is non-linear. Often, for designed experiments with a factorial treatment structure, the estimated EU parameters are …

Evaluating The Effects Of Monensin Overdose In Dairy Cattle, Rebecca R. Hozak, James T. Symanowski, David G. Mcclary, Meliton N. Novilla, John C. Kube, R. Ken Mcguffey, John I. D. Wilkinson, Howard B. Green, Elvin E. Thomas

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Monensin is approved as a feed additive by the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine to increase milk production efficiency in lactating dairy cattle. To assess the effects of a gross error in mixing monensin into cattle feed, a 10-fold overdose was given for three consecutive days to naïve cows as well as cows previously dosed with monensin within the label range. Cows were evaluated during the overdose and for a subsequent 4 week observation period. Physiological variables were analyzed, including dry matter intake, body weight, body condition score, and serum chemistry profile. Production variables were analyzed, including milk yield and …

The Effect Of Monensin On Lactation Dairy Cows: A Dose Response Evaluation, Zhanglin Cui, Daniel Mowrey, Alan G. Zimmermann, James T. Symanowski, Howard B. Green, John I. D. Wilkinson

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Monensin (Rumensin®) was fed at doses of 0, 8, 16, or 24 ppm to 966 dairy cows in nine different geographical locations in the USA and Canada. A dose response analysis was conducted on the primary variable, milk production efficiency, to determine the most appropriate dose response function, establish a minimum effective dose, and, when possible, determine a maximum effective dose. Linear mixed models (SAS® Proc Mixed v6.12) were fit to the data. Linear contrasts comparing the non-zero doses of monensin to the control were done to initially determine a minimum effective dose from the 3 non-zero design points. In …

Evaluating Clinical Mastitis In Dairy Cattle Fed Monensin, Meihua Qiao, Daniel Mowrey, Alan Zimmermann, James T. Symanowski, Howard B. Green, John I. D. Wilkinson

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The effect of Monensin on clinical mastitis in dairy cattle was evaluated from data collected at nine geographical clinical field trials using 966 Holstein cows and heifers in the United States and Canada. At each site, a randomized complete block design was conducted. Monensin (Rumensin®) was fed at concentrations of 0, 8, 16, or 24 ppm in a total mixed ration beginning 21 days before first calving for all nine sites, up to 7 days after second calving for six sites, and 203 days after second calving for three sites. Quarter milk samples were taken and cultured to determine the …

Modeling The Body Temperature Of Heat Stressed Holstein Lying Cows Under Two Different Cooling Processes, M. Zhou, A. M. Parkhurst, P. E. Hillman, C. N. Lee

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

Heat stressed cows produce less milk. Thus, a major challenge during hot summer months is to keep the dairy barn at a comfortable temperature. Use of fans is an economical solution but the combination of both spray and fans appears to be an even more effective way to cool cows and improve the milk production than using fans alone. The goal of this study is to recommend an appropriate method for comparing the dynamics of the cooling processes. The first step is to develop a nonlinear model to characterize the thermoregulatory responses of heat stressed dairy cows when they are …

Bayesian Analysis Of Dose-Response Calibration Curves, William J. Price, Bahman Shafii

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The statistical analysis of dose-response experiments typically models observed responses as a function of an applied dosage series. The estimated "dose-response curve" is used in predicting future responses, however, it is also commonly rewritten in an inverted form where dose is expressed as a function of the response. This modified "calibration curve" is useful in cases where observed responses are available, but their associated dosages are unknown. Traditional statistical techniques for the estimation of unknown doses from the dose-response curve are problematic, involving approximate solutions and methods. Alternatively, this type of inverse calibration problem naturally falls into the framework of …

Predicting Soil Temperatures In High Tunnels Using A Dynamic Model Based On Newtonian Law Of Cooling, Anil K. Jayaprakash, Kent M. Eskridge, Laurie Hodges, Daryl A. Travnicek

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

High tunnels are low cost temporary greenhouses that are often used to extend the growing season for high value crops such as tulips, muscari, sweet pea cultivars, and hyacinth beans. Profitability depends on selection and timing of crops to optimize use of these structures. Predicting soil temperatures in high tunnels as a function of outside temperature is a critical factor in crop selection and timing. However, predicting soil temperatures is difficult because air temperatures constantly change from hour to hour and day to day. We develop a model to account for temperature dynamics in high tunnels by modifying the fundamental …

Design And Analysis Of Biological Assays Of Mixtures, Nancy Ferry, Bruce H. Stanley, Gregory Armel

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

The simultaneous activity of multiple stimuli can be difficult to analyze, particularly on biological systems. However, these analyses are becoming increasingly important in drug or pesticide formulation for efficacy. This article will review techniques for the design and analysis of bioassays of mixtures. The two major techniques that will be reviewed are based upon the concepts of response and potency. Particular emphasis will be placed upon measuring levels of synergy, i.e., when the activity is greater than the sum of its parts, and antagonism, i.e., when the activity is less than would be expected. Theoretical examples will be given to …

Statistical Analysis Of Gene Expression Microarrays, Tanzy Love, Alicia Carriquiry

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

This manuscript is composed of two major sections. In the first section of the manuscript we introduce some of the biological principles that form the bases of cDNA microarrays and explain how the different analytical steps introduce variability and potential biases in gene expression measurements that can sometimes be dificult to properly address. We address statistical issues associated to the measurement of gene expression (e.g., image segmentation, spot identification), to the correction for back-ground fluorescence and to the normalization and re-scaling of data to remove effects of dye, print-tip and others on expression. In this section of the manuscript we …

Editor's Preface And Table Of Contents, John E. Boyer Jr.

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

These proceedings contain papers presented in the seventeenth annual Kansas State University Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture, held in Manhattan, Kansas, April 24-26, 2005.

Renewable Energy Alternatives: Current Status And Capacities, Kurt A. Rosentrater, Youakim Al-Kalaani

Kurt A. Rosentrater

A key to the United States’ economic growth is an ever-increasing demand for energy, which has traditionally been met primarily by combusting the hydrocarbons found in fossil fuels. As environmental concerns grow, renewable energy resources are gaining increasing attention. To aid both researchers as well as educators, this paper examines historical energy data for both traditional as well as alternative energy sources. Even with the progressive developments of non-traditional energy sources over the years, the U.S. still receives more than 90% of its energy from fossil and nuclear fuels. Explicit examination of the alternative energy sector has revealed that hydroelectric …