Digital Commons Network^™

Resilience To Large, “Catastrophic” Wildfires In North America's Grassland Biome, Victoria M. Donovan, Dirac Twidwell, Daniel R. Uden, Tsegaye Tadesse, Brian D. Wardlow, Christine H. Bielski, Matthew O. Jones, Brady W. Allred, David E. Naugle, Craig R. Allen

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Wildfires are ecosystem‐level drivers of structure and function in many vegetated biomes. While numerous studies have emphasized the benefits of fire to ecosystems, large wildfires have also been associated with the loss of ecosystem services and shifts in vegetation abundance. The size and number of wildfires are increasing across a number of regions, and yet the outcomes of large wildfire on vegetation at large‐scales are still largely unknown. We introduce an exhaustive analysis of wildfire‐scale vegetation response to large wildfires across North America's grassland biome. We use 18 years of a newly released vegetation data set combined with 1,390 geospatial …

Midseason Nitrogen Sufficiency Guidelines For Corn Production In Arkansas Based On Tissue Analysis And Remote Sensing, Caio Luiz Dos Santos

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are a lack of tools to assess midseason nitrogen (N) status in corn (Zea mays L.) production systems and identify the need for additional N fertilization. This study was conducted to determine the ability of leaf N concentration (LN) and the Dark Green Color Index (DGCI) at the 10th collared leaf stage (V10), the 12th collared leaf stage (V12), and tasseling (VT) to predict if midseason N is required to maximize corn grain yield. From 2017 to 2019, eight field studies with 11 N treatments ranging from 0 to 258 kg N ha-1 were conducted on silt loam soils …

An Evaluation Of Biopesticide Combinations On Yield Performance And Disease/Arthropod Control Of Strawberries Grown In High Tunnel Plasticulture Production Systems In Arkansas., Karlee B. Pruitt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This two-year study investigated combinations of biopesticides to determine impacts on strawberry fruit marketable fruit yields, and effectiveness in controlling strawberry pests in a high tunnel production system at the University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Two strawberry cultivars Fragaria × ananassa (Duch.), Camino Real and Sweet Sensation were grown in a high tunnel from early-October to mid-May for two consecutive growing seasons, (2017-18 and 2018-19) with six treatment combinations of biopesticides including an untreated (water) control, nutrient spray and selected biological based fungicides and insecticides, arranged into a split-plot randomized block design. …

Control Of Volunteer Corn In Enlist Corn And Economics Of Herbicide Programs For Weed Control In Conventional And Multiple Herbicide-Resistant Soybean Across Nebraska, Adam Michael Striegel

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

With commercialization of multiple herbicide-resistant corn and soybean cultivars, producers have new management options for controlling herbicide-resistant weeds and volunteer corn. Corn-on-corn production systems are common in irrigated fields in southcentral Nebraska which can create issues with volunteer corn management in corn fields. Enlist corn contains a new multiple herbicide-resistant trait providing resistance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate, and the aryloxyphenoxypropionate (FOPs). Field experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 at South Central Agricultural Laboratory near Clay Center, Nebraska with the objective to evaluate ACCase-inhibiting herbicides and herbicide application timing on volunteer corn control, Enlist corn injury, and yield. Glyphosate/glufosinate-resistant corn …

Buffalograss Diversity Assessment, Jesse Collin Marshall

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Buffalograss [Buchloë dactylodes (Nutt.) Engelm. syn. Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) Columbus] is a low input alternative turfgrass for the Great Plains region. Buffalograss is a dioecious stoloniferous warm season grass with wide variation of valuable traits and is well adapted for use in minimal maintenance landscapes. The obligate outcrossing nature of the species and wide variation of potentially valuable traits make buffalograss a prime candidate for cultivar improvement and genetic study. Limited information is available regarding buffalograss genetics. In effort to expand genetic resources around buffalograss, we developed buffalograss derived simple sequence repeat markers from previously available transcriptomes of buffalograss …

Use Of Acetolactate Synthase-Inhibiting Herbicides In Inzen Grain Sorghum (Sorghum Bicolor L. Moench Ssp. Bicolor), Hunter Bowman

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Grain sorghum is typically grown as a rotational crop in Arkansas because of its many benefits, one being the effective control of Palmer amaranth through the use of atrazine. However, limited options exist for postemergence (POST) control of weedy grasses within the crop. Inzen™ grain sorghum is the result of a nicosulfuron resistant weedy sorghum biotype cross-bred with a commercial line of grain sorghum. Inzen™ allows for safe use of over-the-top applications of nicosulfuron within the crop. Nicosulfuron is an acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide, which has historically been used in corn for control of weedy grasses. Experiments were conducted in …

The Australian Pastures Genebank, Steve Hughes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Australian grazing enterprises, including all food and fibre productions, as well as crop rotation, are worth $42 billion per annum to the Australian economy, employing around 693,000 Australian workers. Australia has been a major beneficiary from the introduction and utilization of genetic resources in pasture and forages. Assured access to plant genetic diversity underpins Australia’s ability to maintain agricultural productivity in the face of environmental and economic challenges.

Australia is custodian of potentially the world’s largest and globally significant collection of pasture and forage genetic resources. Much of this is unique and held in state-based collections and represents an invaluable …

The Landscape As A Unit For Rangeland Inventory In Arid And Semi-Arid Regions Of Iran (Case Studies: Touran Biosphere Reserve And Behkadaye Rajinia Development Project), Mansour Mesdaghi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Severe land fragmentation, degradation, and pollution problems will force us to think about a rural community and research group in Iran to combine our experiences and skills to deal with the challenges of improving land use sustainability (Bosch at el.1995; Mesdaghi, 1993). Planning rangeland inventory requiring recognition of the ecological processes operating at different scales and their particular characteristics (Friedel and Laycock, 1995).

In ancient countries like Persia (Iran), past land use suggests that rangelands exploitation by local herders was co-adapted with natural environments (Nyerges, 1980; Mesdaghi, 1993). Iranian rangelands, however, were nationalized through the land reforming and the …

Livestock Grazing In India: Policy Issues, M. M. Roy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The grazing/range lands have been very important in India since ancient times when cattle breeding and milk production was regarded as the second most important profession, next only to agriculture. However, during last five decades increasing domestic animal population has placed enormous grazing pressure on such lands, leading to grassland deterioration and desertification especially in arid and semiarid regions (GOI, 2007; Kala, 2009).

Still, grazing based livestock play an important role in rural economy of the as well over 50 per cent of them depend on grazing (of varying degrees) in forests, community lands and other lands in many parts …

Cplr And Water Resource Utilization By Livestock Farmers In Different Ecosystems Of India, Purushottam Sharma, Sadhna Pandey, R. K. Sharma, J. P. Upadhyay, Satyapriya, A. K. Ray, Nagaratna Biradar, S. Radotra

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The common property resources comprises of all such resources that are meant for common use of the villagers including all resources. The National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO), 1999 in its report defines CPRs as “Resources accessible to and collectively owned\held\managed by an identifiable community and on which no individual has exclusive property rights are called common property resources”. Over the time, there has been gradual decline in CPRs availability to the villagers. The CPRs play an important role in the livelihood of resource poor farmers. According to NSSO, 1999, the percentage of Common Property Land Resources in total geographical area, …

Livestock And Local Development: Going To A New Human-Animal Relationship, Jean François Tourrand, Laurent Dobremez, Benoit Dedieu, Guillaume Duteurtre, Marie Gabrielle Piketty, Philippe Lescoat, Bernard Hubert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Along the last ten years, the French National Agency for Research (ANR) has financed several projects regarding livestock at local and global scale. Five of these projects decided to gather their results in order to better understand the long-term livestock dynamics and the scenarios for the future. Research actions have been developed in fifteen sites in diverse biomes located in seven countries of Europe, Africa, America and Asia. Review of literature and preliminary data collected in the sites showed the high complexity of the livestock dynamics. For example, in some cases, intensification of the livestock farming systems regards land. In …

Community Pasture Development As An Approach To Common Property Resources Management In Rajasthan, India, Jayprakash Sharma

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Semiarid areas of the state of Rajasthan have community lands in almost every village. Most of them are grouped under wastelands and are usually covered with coarse grasses such as Dichanthium, Cenchrus and Lasiurus. Grass growth on these lands faces constraints such as extreme temperatures, steep slope, variable precipitation and scarcity of water in general. Land degradation has created tremendous pressure on increasing livestock, especially the goat population. As pasture management and enhancement of productivity of improved grasses were key factors to sustain livestock through common property resource management, BAIF Development Research Foundation, a rural development organization, implemented projects …

Conservation Prioritization Of Semi-Arid Savannas In India: A Multi-Scale Landscape Approach, Abi Tamim Vanak

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The semi-arid savanna grasslands of peninsular India are unique habitats that support a vast proportion of Indiaís agropastoralist community. They are also home to critically endangered species such as the Great Indian bustard and other endangered and endemic species such as the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) and blackbuck antelope (Antilope cervicapra). Unfortunately, savanna grasslands have not received the attention of conservationists or policy makers, resulting in a lack of protection for both the endangered and endemic wildlife as well as the habitat. Given the high human-dependence on these biomes, traditional conservation measures such as large protected areas are not …

Enhancing The Productivity Of Grassland And Wasteland Through Management In Hills, Jaideep Kumar Bisht

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Total area available for grazing in the country is about 40% of the land area. Pasture lands constitute the main grazing resources of the country, available over an area of 12 million ha (3.94% of the geographical area). An idea of the meager fodder availability can be had from the fact that about 50% of the cattle population, depending largely upon free rangeland grazing in forests, pastures, village commons and the like, end up getting only about 1.5 kg of dry fodder/ day/ ACU (Adult Cattle Unit) as against the healthy fodder requirement norm of 3% body weight. The grasslands …

Fungicide Sensitivity Of Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum Isolates From Five States With Different Fungicide Treatments, Cristian Wulkop Gil, Edgar Nieto-Lopez, Sydney Everhart

UCARE: Research Products

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a plant pathogenic fungus that causes a disease called white mold that can infect more than 450 plant species including soybeans, dry beans, green beans, canola, and sunflower. This pathogen is capable of up to $252M in losses every year (U.S. Canola Association, 2014). Fungicides are widely used in developed agricultural systems to control disease. However, resistance to the most effective fungicides has emerged and spread in pathogen populations and there have been multiple reports of S. sclerotiorum isolates becoming resistant to certain fungicides. Since different fields in different states use different fungicide treatments on plants and …

Participatory Pasture Development In Hot Arid Region Of India, Arun Kumar Misra, R. P. Singh, Ram Narayan Kumawat, Mavji Patidar, M. M. Roy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock production is one of the main occupations of resource-poor and resource-rich people living in India’s arid regions, and common grazing lands have always played a major role in livestock based livelihood systems, as around 50% of animals depend on grazing (Misra et al, 2015). According to the National Sample Survey Organization, common property land resources constitute about 15% of the total geographical area of India, of which 23% is community pasture and grazing lands and 16% have been classified as village forests and woodlots (NSSO, 1999). At another level, India has the largest livestock population in the world, …

Feasibility Of Buffalo Rearing On Pasture In Tropical Climate Of Andaman And Nicobar Islands, M. S. Kundu, A. Kundu, S. Dam Roy

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Andaman and Nicobar group of Islands form the Southern most tip of the Indian subcontinent, located (6-14° N latitude and 92-94°E longitude) in the South Eastern part of the Bay of Bengal .There are 572 Islands of which only 37 are currently inhabited. The Islands are beautiful and unique. The indigenous plants, animals, livestock, and marine life contribute to uniqueness of these Islands. The total livestock population has increased to many fold from meager 38.6 thousand in 1961 to 154.75 thousand in 2012. The buffalo constitute 5.08 per cent of the livestock of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The buffaloes …

Landscape-Scale Patterns Of Fire And Drought On The High Plains, Usa, Paulette L. Ford, Charles Jackson, Matthew Reeves, Benjamin Bird, David Turner

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

We examine 31 years (1982-2012) of temperature, precipitation and natural wildfire occurrence data for Federal and Tribal lands to determine landscape-scale patterns of drought and fire on the southern and central High Plains of the western United States. The High Plains states of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming have been in the midst of ongoing extreme drought, experiencing below normal precipitation and above normal temperatures for the past several years. Climate change is predicted to have multiple effects on fire regimes. Longer periods of drought conditions, coupled with hot, dry and windy weather, provide …

Traditional Conservation Of Buffalo Breed By Pastoralists Through Maintaining Of Grassland Ecosystem, Banni-Kachchh, Gujarat-India, P. N. Joshi, Ramesh Bhatti, Sabyasachi Das

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Banni region, situated at 23019’N to 23052’N to 68056’E to70032’E, comprises around 25,00 sq.km area under Bhuj taluka of Kutch district of Gujarat state, is home of Muslim nomadic pastoralists and Meghwal Hindus. Banni is situated in Arid climate, with high temperature in most of time which reached maximum up to 480C -500C during May June. Pastoral community, call themselves Maldhari, in Banni region depends on Banni Grassland for the raring of their livestock mainly Banni Buffalo which registered as 11th buffalo breed of India in 2011. Maldharis even rearing unique Kankarej Cattle for Milk Production and selling bullocks …

Amritmahal: Need For Conserving The Living Pastoral Heritage Of Karnataka, Jahnavi G. Pai, Manohar Patel, Vinay K. Sreeniva

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Karnataka is home to the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats with its range of habitats spanning from scrub forest in the lower elevations to the wet evergreen forests in the higher elevations. In stark visual contrast, the Deccan Plateau is blanketed by arid plains dominated by scrub jungles and dry grasslands. These plains are a melting pot of rich biodiversity, culture and associated traditional knowledge. They have also been important centres for breeding livestock and have supported local livelihoods. In spite of this cultural and ecological importance, these arid plains, especially grasslands with sparse woody vegetation, are increasingly being termed as wastelands. …

The Significance Of Nomadic Pastoralism For Sustaining Soil Fertility In Northern Karnataka, India, Athani B., Gopikrishna, N. Kuruba

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pastoralist groups in India, including the Raika of Rajasthan, Pullikulum cattle breeders in Tamil Nadu, and groups such as the Dhangar, Kuruba and Kuruma of the Deccan Plateau realize a major proportion of their income from penning their herds and flocks on farmers’ fields. Focusing on shepherds from Northern Karnataka, this paper makes a first attempt at calculating the impact of penning on livelihoods, soil fertility and the national economy.

Golla--The Semi Nomadic Pastoralists And Small Animal Bioconservationists Of Odisha, India Produce Animal Proteins From Minimum To Maximum For Many, Balaram Sahu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Golla, the nomadic pastoralists of Odisha, is one of the ancient nomadic pastoralists of southeastern part of India. In the state of Odisha, Golla are found in districts of Ganjam, Gajapati and to some extent in Nayagrah district. In Ganjam and Gajapati, the Golla are mostly present in different villages, locally called as “Golla Gaon” means Golla village.

The Golla rears goats and sheep by practicing migration through natural grass and pasturelands. The people of Golla community are generally illiterate, hard working, enduring, brave and efficient traditional healers of small ruminants. The practice of migration, not only …

Mitigating Policy Measures To Increase Fodder Availabilty In Natural Calamities Situations, Om Singh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Though the availability of feed and fodder has improved in the last decade, still there exists a substantial gap between demand and availability of fodder in the country, particularly during the lean periods and at the time of natural calamities including droughts and or flood situations. Availability of adequate quantity of feed and fodder for livestock is essential for improving livestock productivity. Under the Rasthriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY), the States have sufficient funds and autonomy to undertake development of feed and fodder besides other agricultural and allied activities. There is a need to disseminate the benefits of using high …

Policy Perspective For Grassland Based Integrated Farming System: Innovation & Challenges In Indian Context, Kamal Kumar Datta, Soumitra Chowdhury, Madhu Mohini

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Indian agriculture is increasingly getting influenced more and more by economic factors. This needs not be surprising because irrigation expansion, infrastructure development, penetration of rural markets, development and spread of short duration and drought resistant crop technologies have all contributed to minimizing the role of non-economic factors in crop choice for even small farmers. Both at micro and macro level, the picture of livestock sector is very much disintegrated where growth is mainly from fishery and meat production and not from milk production. The common perception that animal rearing is not as remunerative as poultry or fishery seems to be …

Factors Influencing Current And Future Prospects For Intensive Dairy Production In Rwanda, Mupenzi Mutimura, Cyprian Ebong, Idupulapati M. Rao, Ignatius V. Nsahlai

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Intensive mixed crop-dairy systems dominate smallholder agriculture in Rwanda. However, factors that influence the intensification and crop-dairy integration in Rwanda have not been examined. The objective of this study was to determine factors that are influencing the current and future prospects for intensification and mixed crop-dairy production systems in Rwanda.

Cultivating The Next Generation Of Pasture Scientists In Australia, Sarita Jane Bennett

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Current students coming through agricultural faculties in Australian universities have grown up in an era of low wool and meat prices, the introduction and acceptance of no-till farming as the norm and a general decrease in mixed farming landscapes in favour of continuous cropping. Since the collapse of the wool reserve price scheme in 1991, wool prices declined and income on wool producing farms followed suit. R & D during this period has also declined from 5-4% agricultural GDP in 1986 to only 3% in 2005 and has favoured research related to cropping rather than that related to pastures and …

Career Management For Early Career Scientists In Developing Countries--A South African Experience, Luthando Dziba, Xolisa Ngwadla, Ndeke Musee

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This paper discusses career development and options for growth for young scientists in developing countries. We also identify and address some of the common challenges early career scientists face, and apply key principles learned from years of research and experience in the South African context as a basis for our discussion. Early career scientists are more likely to succeed in their career if they understand from the start what they need to do in order to grow to the next level and ultimately to the pinnacle of their careers. Strategically, planning one’s individual career development is critical to success in …

Empowering The Next Generation Of Tropical Forage Researchers: A New E-Journal For The 21St Century, Rainer Schultze-Kraft, Lyle Winks, Changjun Bai, Robert J. Clements, Asamoah Larbi, Michael Peters, Cacilda Borges Do Valle

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland researchers in the 21^st Century need 21^st Century publication opportunities. A new, open-access online journal, Tropical Grasslands–Forrajes Tropicales, to continue the tradition of the former Tropical Grasslands (published by the Tropical Grassland Society of Australia Inc. during 1967-2010) and the former CIAT journal Pasturas Tropicales (1984-2006), is presented. It is published by CIAT in Cali, Colombia, and sponsored by CATAS, China, and ACIAR, Australia. Articles appear in English or Spanish with abstracts in both languages, and include research papers, short communications, review papers and farmer communications.

Realising The Potential Of Youth In The Development Of Sustainable Grasslands, J. C. Bidogeza, Ralph Von Kaufmann

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The declining interest of youth worldwide to remain in rural areas and pursue careers in agriculture and grasslands is a threat to all human welfare. Ways and means must be found to redress the decreasing interest of youths in grassland development. Ironically there is a lot of untapped potential for rewarding careers but the youths do not have the skills needed to exploit it. This cannot be corrected by providing occasional and piecemeal training opportunities. The perilous consequences of allowing the rangelands to degenerate are sufficiently serious to warrant a comprehensive approach to developing the wide range of skills needed …

Will Intergenerational Succession And Our Current Educational Systems Be Sufficient To Provide The Next Generation Of Farmers And Researchers?, Brian J. Revell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This paper reviews the implications of the age structure in farming and an aging farm population on productivity and innovation. It discusses the factors determining opportunities for new entrants, including those on family farms, and also those affecting outflow and retirement. The implications of recent international trends in agricultural graduate and post-graduate numbers are considered. Finally, issues and recent initiatives needed to address the problems of attracting new blood and expertise to the industry are outlined.