Digital Commons Network^™

Organic Fertilizer Abrasive Grits Increase Soil Available Nitrogen, Plant Height, And Biomass, Michael Carlson, Frank Forcella, Samuel E. Wortman, David Clay, Sharon A. Clay

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

In organic cropping systems, air-propelled abrasive grits can be used to control in-row weeds. If the applied abrasive grit is an approved organic fertilizer, these applications may serve a dual purpose of weed control and crop fertility. Laboratory soil incubations examined the N mineralization rates of several grit types with differing C/N ratios (Agra Grit [crushed walnut shells, 170:1], corncob grit [91:1], Sustane [composted turkey litter, 5.0:1], Phytaboost Plant Food [crushed and pelletized soybean meal, 5.0:1]). A greenhouse study determined plant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), kale (Brassica napus pabluaria DC), and velvetleaf (Abu- tilon theophrasti Medik.) growth response in soils …

Does Cover Crop Grazing Damage Soils And Reduce Crop Yields?, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, Mary E. Drewnoski, Jim C. Macdonald, Daren Redfearn, Jay Parsons, Gary W. Lesoing, Tyler Williams

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Cover crop (CC) grazing can be a potential strategy to support livestock and crop production while enhancing soil ecosystem services, but research on this potential multi-functionality of CCs is limited. We assessed 3-yr cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) CC grazing impacts on soil compaction, structure, water infiltration, fertility, and crop yields on an on-farm irrigated strip-till continuous corn (Zea mays L.) silage experiment on a sandy loam with <1% slope in west-central Nebraska. Treatments were: (a) non-grazed CC, (b) grazed CC, and (c) no CC. Across the 3 yr, cattle grazed CCs at 5.9 AUM ha−1 with grazing occurring over a 4-mo period during winter and/or spring, depending on the year. We measured soil properties within 5 d after grazing ended in spring before tilling and plant- ing corn. Cattle grazing resulted in a 92% decrease of CC biomass, compared with non-grazed CCs. Grazing did not affect soil penetration resistance (com- paction parameter), bulk density, aggregate stability, pH, and concentration of organic matter and nutrients except in the 2nd yr where it reduced cumulative infiltration by 80% and increased penetration resistance from 1.23 to 1.72 MPa but such increase was below root growth thresholds (<2 MPa). Cover crop grazing had no negative effect on corn silage yields although data were variable. Overall, CC grazing for 3 yr had small and variable effects on soils and crop yields, indi- cating that it can be a management option to support livestock production but more long-term data from different tillage and cropping systems, and climates are needed to further understand CC grazing implications.

Transformative Education In Agroecology: Student, Teacher, And Client Involvement In Co-Learning, Charles A. Francis, Anna Marie Nicolaysen, Geir Lieblein, Tor Arvid Breland

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Educational methods have evolved rapidly in agroecology, which is a complex and holistic field without a long history or the formal tradition of any single academic discipline. Definitions of agroecology have evolved from its initial conception as a marriage of agriculture with ecology, to an aggregation of different paths including science, practices, and movements, and recently as a broad appreciation of the ecology of food systems. In contrast with traditional courses that begin with a history of the discipline and review the contributions of early leaders, we have embraced phenomenology to firmly establish roots in students’ learning through their experiences …

Calibrating Soybean Parameters In Jules 5.0 From The Us-Ne2/3 Fluxnet Sites And The Soyface-O3 Experiment, Felix Leung, Karina Williams, Stephen Sitch, Amos P.K. Tai, Andy Wiltshire, Jemma Gornall, Elizabeth A. Ainsworth, Timothy J. Arkebauer, David Scoby

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Abstract. Tropospheric ozone (O3) is the third most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas. O3 is detrimental to plant productivity, and it has a significant impact on crop yield. Currently, the Joint UK Land Environment Simula- tor (JULES) land surface model includes a representation of global crops (JULES-crop) but does not have crop-specific O3 damage parameters and applies default C3 grass O3 pa- rameters for soybean that underestimate O3 damage. Physiological parameters for O3 damage in soybean in JULES- crop were calibrated against leaf gas-exchange measure- ments from the Soybean Free Air Concentration Enrichment (SoyFACE) with O3 experiment in Illinois, USA. Other …

Insufficient Nitrogen Supply From Symbiotic Fixation Reduces Seasonal Crop Growth And Nitrogen Mobilization To Seed In Highly Productive Soybean Crops, Nicolas Cafaro La Menza, Juan Pablo Monzon, John L. Lindquist, Timothy J. Arkebauer, Johannes M.H. Knops, Murray Unkovich, James E. Specht, Patricio Grassini

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Nitrogen (N) supply can limit the yields of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in highly productive environments. To explore the physiological mechanisms underlying this limitation, seasonal changes in N dynamics, aboveground dry matter (ADM) accumula- tion, leaf area index (LAI) and fraction of absorbed radiation (fAPAR) were compared in crops relying only on biological N2 fixation and available soil N (zero-N treatment) versus crops receiving N fertilizer (full-N treatment). Experiments were conducted in seven high-yield environments without water limitation, where crops received optimal management. In the zero-N treatment, biological N2 fixation was not sufficient to meet the N demand of …

Continuous Cropping Alters Multiple Biotic And Abiotic Indicators Of Soil Health, Pervaiz Ahmad, Javed Iqbal, Qingming Zhang, Dima Chen, Hui Wei, Muhammad Saleem

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The continuous cropping (CC) of major agricultural, horticultural, and industrial crops is an established practice worldwide, though it has significant soil health-related concerns. However, a combined review of the effects of CC on soil health indicators, in particular omics ones, remains missing. The CC may negatively impact multiple biotic and abiotic indicators of soil health, fertility, and crop yield. It could potentially alter the soil biotic indicators, which include but are not limited to the composition, abundance, diversity, and functioning of soil micro- and macro-organisms, microbial networks, enzyme activities, and soil food web interactions. Moreover, it could also alter various …

Use Of Family Structure Information In Interaction With Environments For Leveraging Genomic Prediction Models, Reyna Persa, Hiroyoshi Iwata, Diego Jarquin

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The characterization of genomes with great detail offered by the modern genotyping platforms have opened a venue for accurately predicting the genotype-by-environment interaction (GE) effects of untested genotypes in different environmental conditions. Already developed statistical models have shown the advantages of including the GE interaction component in the prediction context using molecular markers, pedigree, or both. In order to leverage the family information of highly structured populations when pedigree data is not available, we developed a model that uses the family membership instead. The proposed model extends the reaction norm model by including the interaction between families and environments (FE). …

Simultaneous Cognate Epitope Recognition By Bovine Cd4 And Cd8 T Cells Is Essential For Primary Expansion Of Antigen-Specific Cytotoxic T-Cells Following Ex Vivo Stimulation With A Candidate Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis Peptide Vaccine, Gaber S. Abdellrazeq, Lindsay M. Fry, Mahmoud M. Elnaggar, J. P. Bannantine, David A. Schneider, William M. Chamberlin, Asmaa H.A. Mahmoud, Kun-Taek Park, Victoria Hulubei, William C. Davis

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Studies in cattle show CD8 cytotoxic T cells (CTL), with the ability to kill intracellular bacteria, develop following stimulation of monocyte-depleted peripheral blood mononuclear cells (mdPBMC) with antigen-presenting cells (APC, i.e. conventional dendritic cells [cDC] and monocyte-derived DC [MoDC]) pulsed with MMP, a membrane protein from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) encoded byMAP2121c. CTL activity was diminished if CD4 T cells were depleted from mdPBMC before antigen (Ag) presentation by APC, suggesting simultaneous cognate recognition of MMP epitopes presented by MHC I and MHC II molecules to CD4 and CD8 T cells is essential for development of CTL activity. To …

Allelic Variation In Rice Fertilization Independent Endosperm 1 Contributes To Grain Width Under High Night Temperature Stress, Balpreet K. Dhatt, Puneet Paul, Jaspreet Sandhu, Waseem Hussain, Larissa Irvin, Feiyu Zhu, Maria Arlene Adviento-Borbe, Argelia Lorence, Paul Staswick, Hongfeng Yu, Gota Morota, Harkamal Walia

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

A higher minimum (night-time) temperature is considered a greater limiting factor for reduced rice yield than a similar increase in maximum (daytime) temperature. While the physiological impact of high night temperature (HNT) has been studied, the genetic and molecular basis of HNT stress response remains unexplored.

We examined the phenotypic variation for mature grain size (length and width) in a diverse set of rice accessions under HNT stress. Genome-wide association analysis identified several HNT-specific loci regulating grain size as well as loci that are common for optimal and HNT stress conditions.

A novel locus contributing to grain width under HNT …

Leveraging Genome-Enabled Growth Models To Study Shoot Growth Responses To Water Deficit In Rice, Malachy T. Campbell, Alexandre Grondin, Harkamal Walia, Gota Morota

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

lucidating genotype-by-environment interactions and partitioning its contribution to phenotypic variation remains a challenge for plant scientists. We propose a framework that utilizes genome-wide markers to model genotype-specific shoot growth trajectories as a function of time and soil water availability. A rice diversity panel was phenotyped daily for 21 d using an automated, high-throughput image-based, phenotyping platform that enabled estimation of daily shoot biomass and soil water content. Using these data, we modeled shoot growth as a function of time and soil water content, and were able to determine the time point where an inflection in the growth trajectory occurred. We …

Cover Crops And Cover Crop Mixes: Stratification Of Biological Effects, Landon M. Gibbs

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

The potential nutrient cycling benefits from legumes (e.g. N₂-fixation) and the high biomass potential of cereal rye are well known. Further studies are warranted to evaluate bi-culture mixtures and their effects on soil nutrient stratification and microbial enzyme activity because these two properties may be differently expressed (enhanced) by legume/grass mixes. The objectives of this study were: (1) show different cover crops and cover crop mixes containing grasses and legumes differentially stratify carbon and N; (2) show the change in microbial enzyme activity in soils planted with individual cover crops relative to cover crop mixes; 3) determine the …

Forage Systems For The Temperate Subhumid And Semiarid Areas, John R. Hendrickson, Corey Moffet

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Using Bioenergetics And Radar-Derived Bird Abundance To Assess The Impact Of A Blackbird Roost On Seasonal Sunflower Damage, Bonne A. Clark, Page E. Klug, Phillip M. Stepanian, Jeffrey F. Kelly

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Methods aimed at reducing avian damage to agricultural crops are routinely implemented in situations where efficacy can be assessed by quantifying blackbird (Icteridae) abundance relative to environmental variables and extrapolating to ensuing crop damage. Concomitantly, Weather Surveillance Radar (WSR) data may have potential to enhance crop damage mitigation through improved monitoring of nuisance wildlife populations. We used WSR to derive daily abundance estimates of blackbirds at a fall roost in North Dakota, USA from 2012 to 2019. We integrated these estimates with previously developed bioenergetics-economic models to estimate local sunflower (Helianthus annuus) damage. The greatest losses usually occurred …

Burning With Potential: Understanding The Relationship Between Biochar And Agriculture Of The Northern Glaciated Plains Ecoregion, Kaitlyn Abrahamson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Achieving global sustainable agriculture is one of the most incredible challenges of this century, yet many continue to try to solve this problem through the development of precision technologies. Biotechnologies, such as biochar, can perform like a precision technology while protecting agricultural land from soil erosion and fertility loss. The Northern Glaciated Plains ecoregion of the United States is little researched in the benefits from the use of biochar through improved soil nutrient capture and water retention, crop health improvements, and yield increases. The study plot has four sections of corn stover biochar and eight sections of control sections. This …

Toward A Holistic Agricultural Student Recruitment Model: A National Analysis Of The Factors Affecting Students’ Decision To Pursue An Agricultural Related Degree, Antoine J. Alston, Richie Roberts, Chastity W. English

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Currently, the agricultural industry struggles to fill positions with qualified agricultural workers. Therefore, it is critical to attract high caliber individuals to agricultural degree programs that are prepared to enter the workforce with the skills needed to navigate complex issues and problems. The purpose of this national study was to identify key factors that influence the recruitment of agriculture students at land-grant and non-land-grant universities. Using Chapman’s model of student success as our conceptual lens, we tested 66 factors identified in the literature as successful recruitment strategies for colleges of agriculture based on students’ personal characteristics as well as key …

Biophysical And Socioeconomic Impacts Of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration In Burkina Faso, Basnewende Brice Fulgence Zoungrana

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Human actions such as overgrazing, the development of cities at the expense of forests, high intensity and poor agricultural management, and so forth, reduce the resources available for future generations. Because Earth has limited resources, it is important to judiciously use and manage natural resources. Human actions towards nature are the focus of my research in Africa. Increased demands for grazing, agriculture, and ecosystem services led some farmers in developing countries to use unsustainable practices, which may lead to low incomes and poor food nutrition for households. Farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) may be a solution to these issues. FMNR …

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2020), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

This issue contains the SDSU Extension 2019 Annual Report

[Page] 2-3 South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
[Page] 4 SDSU Extension
[Page] 4 From the Director of Extension Karla Trautman
[Page] 5 2019 USDA Risk Management Agency Crop Indemnities
[Page] 6-8 SDSU Extension Responds to Mother Nature in 2019
[Page] 9 Successful Energize! Conference Buoys Community Efforts in Lemmon & Beyond
[Page] 10-11 Helping Loved Ones Transition Smoothly
[Page] 12 AmeriCorps VISTA Members Expand Extension Programming
[Page] 13 South Dakota Wellness Coalitions Make Big Impacts in Small Communities [Page] 14-16 Extension Programs in Our Own …

The Public Wet Market System Of Iloilo City, Philippines, Joshua Cedric I. Carmen, Edsel Francis T. Lima, Joseph Joshua U. Te, Austin Nathaniel T. Toledo, Christine Mae D. Hernando

Journal of Public Affairs and Development

In the Philippines, public wet markets are an integral part of the country’s history, culture, and economy. Wet markets are the primary trading centers in towns all over the Philippines since the Spanish colonial times. However, with globalization, the increasing hypermarketization in Iloilo City threatens the viability of wet markets. This paper sought to find out the external environment, resources, enterprise components, and business outputs of the wet markets in Iloilo City. It also explored various local governance initiatives to assist the business growth and development of these wet markets. Using a descriptive design and interviews with 100 wet market …

Impact Of Teacher Training Programs In Georgia On The Self-Efficacy Of Agricultural Education Teachers In Their First Year, Catrina Pollard, Catrina Pollard

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Teacher self-efficacy is directly tied to teacher longevity. The researcher conducted a causal comparative study to determine self-efficacy in three domains: classroom, FFA, SAE and compared them with demographic characteristics, along with where teachers obtained their teacher training/certification. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between agricultural teacher self-efficacy and the teacher preparation programs that they completed. This surveyed first-year teachers within the state of Georgia that teach agricultural education. The Beginning Agriculture Teacher Assessment determined that there was no connection between teacher self-efficacy and the teacher preparation program. The Beginning Agriculture Teacher Assessment did conclude that …

High Tensile Permanent Electric Fence, Electrifying The Fence, Matthew Palmer, Eric Thacker, Shannon Cromwell, Kevin Heaton, Kohl Carter

All Current Publications

This fact sheet discusses the proper way to energize or power the high tensile fence so livestock will respect its boundaries.

High Tensile Permanent Electric Fence, Installation, Matthew Palmer, Eric Thacker, Shannon Cromwell, Kevin Heaton, Kohl Carter

All Current Publications

This fact sheet details important installation steps to follow to ensure a durable and long-lasting high-tensile electric fence..

Shrub Management Handbook For Utah Rangelands, Rebecca Mann, Tom Monaco, Kari E. Veblen, Eric Thacker, Elizabeth A. Burritt

All Current Publications

This handbook is a guide to developing realistic project plans and implementing appropriate management strategies by enhancing your understanding of basic shrub biology, ecological concepts,and management principles.

Spatiotemporal Partitioning Of Mammalian Mesopredators In Response To Drought And Urbanization In California's Central Valley, Chad W. Moura

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Mammalian mesopredators commonly associated with human dominated landscapes often exhibit generalist diets, behavioral plasticity, and relatively high reproductive rates. Because of this wide range of adaptive traits, ecologists have been speculative of what conditions may drive species to change their activity and behavior to avoid or mitigate against resource competition, intraguild predation, and human disturbance. I investigated a community of common mesopredators within the Sacramento Metropolitan Area of California’s Central Valley to address whether species are spatially and/or temporally partitioning due to a defacto apex predator, coyotes (Canis latrans), and humans alongside large landscape altering disturbances: urbanization and drought. I …

Weather Information Needs Of Displaced Artisanal Fishermen In Bakassi Pennisula Nigeria, Friday O. Idiku, Kalu Iroha Ogbonna, Patrick Ogar Ogar, Goodness Mosiokpahe David

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Abstract

Information on weather forecast is necessary to guide fishermen on their fishing adventure. The purpose of this study was assessed the weather information needs of displaced fishermen in Bakassi Pennisula, Nigeria. This study was conducted in Bakassi which is a peninsula on the Gulf of Guinea that lies between latitudes 4°25′ and 5°10′N and longitudes 8°20′ and 9°08′E. It has an area of 665 km² (257 sq mi) with displaced Fishermen settling in the area who were the main respondents. It was a descriptive study. One hundred and five (105) displaced fishermen were randomly selected as respondents using snowball …

Incorporation Of Hempseed In The Broiler Chicken Diet, Mallorie Alexzandra Snider

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Hempseed has become a popular supplement alternative due to the confounding nutritional benefits it possesses; however, the legality of hempseed, and other hemp products, prevents the use in animal feeds. Particularly, broiler chickens that grow fairly quickly in a short amount of time. Evaluation of hempseed in the broiler chicken diet is needed to conclude if it is a possible replacement for other broiler nutrient sources, such as soybean meal (SBM). Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of hempseed (HS) on the growth, feed conversion and carcass yield of broilers. This study consisted of 48 …

New Approach To Health And The Environment To Avoid Future Pandemics, Serge Morand

Animal Sentience

This commentary expands Wiebers & Feigin’s target article by pinpointing how declining wildlife, expanding livestock and globalisation contribute to the increase in epidemics of zoonotic diseases, the COVID-19 crisis and future health crises. Epidemics and the emergence of zoonoses are manifestations of dysfunctional links with animals, both wild and domestic, requiring a new approach to health and the environment.

Urban Horticulture, From Local Initiatives To Global Success Stories, Roland Ebel, Esmaeil Fallahi, John L. Griffis Jr., Dilip Nandwani, Donielle Nolan, Ross H. Penhallegon, Mary Rogers

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Urban horticulture describes economically viable horticultural production activities conducted in a city or suburb. It is a growing segment of horticulture in the United States as well as in developing countries, where the enormous growth of megalopolis is not backed by a simultaneous increase of farmland or agricultural productivity. Today, urban horticulture includes food sovereignty in underprivileged neighborhoods, increased availability of vegetables and fruits in big cities, healthy and diverse diets, improved food safety, low transportation costs, efficient resource use, and the mitigation of environmental impacts of horticultural production such as the emission of greenhouse gases. The workshop “Urban horticulture: …

Establishment Of Wildflower Islands To Enhance Roadside Health And Aesthetics, Walter Schacht, Judy Wu-Smart

Nebraska Department of Transportation: Research Reports

Wildflowers are crucial in the ecological function of the low-input roadside plant communities in terms of water andnutrient cycling, nutrient inputs such as nitrogen, total plant canopy cover, stand longevity, and provision of habitat for numerous small animals. Further, wildflowers provide critical foraging and nesting resources for birds, insects, and other wildlife. Unfortunately, habitat loss from agricultural and urban development has led to rapid population declines in wild bees and other pollinators across the US, thereby jeopardizing not only food production but also the sustainability of our natural landscapes (Kearns & Inouye, 1997). One way to mitigate wild bee decline …

Effect Of High Temperature Treatment On Beef Fatty Acid And Fat Oxidation, Ke Hairui, Kang Huaibin, Cheng Weiwei, Cai Chaoqi

Food and Machinery

Fresh cattle longissimus dorsi muscle was heated at 110, 115 and 121 ℃ for 5, 10, 15, 20 min respectively. The effects of high temperature on fatty acid composition and fat oxidation in cattle longissimus dorsi muscle were researched by gas chromatography. The results showed that: at 121 ℃, the oxidation rate of intramuscular fat was significantly higher than that at 110 ℃ and 115 ℃ (P<0.05); the content of saturated fatty acid (SFA) increased significantly (P<0.05), and the content of unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) decreased (P<0.05); SFA was not significantly affected by high temperature treatment temperature (110, 115 ℃) (P>0.05), and was significantly affected by treatment time (P<0.05), while heat treatment temperature and time had significant effects on UFA content (P<0.05); the content of short chain and medium chain fatty acids increased due to the fracture and degradation of long chain saturated fatty acids.

Dictection Of Special Spoilage Organisms Of Chicken Breast In Different Storage Conditions, Zhang Li, Yin Defeng, Zhang Dawen, Luo Linguang

Food and Machinery

In order to explore the special spoilage organisms (SSO) of the chicken breast in different storage conditions, the fresh chicken breast of Ningdu Yellow chicken was used as the experimental material. Three preservation methods were used to preserve the chicken breast, including the tray aerobic packaging preservation under 4 ℃ and 25 ℃, vacuum packaging preservation under 4 ℃. The total number of colonies and TVB-N value of the chicken breast were measured during these preservation processes and their surface bacterial diversity was analyzed. The results showed that when the aerobic packaging chicken was stored for 7 days under 4 …