Digital Commons Network^™

Ua12/13 Big Red, Small Planet, Christian Ryan-Downing , Editor, Leslie North , Editor

Sustainability Publications and Resources

At WKU, “The Spirit Makes the Master”. Our commitment to continuous improvement is clearly reflected in our sustainability efforts. WKU’s commitment to sustainability, whether demonstrated in campus operations or in educational programs, helps to ensure that our graduates are prepared to address the complicated environmental, social and economic issues we face today. They will be able to think critically, solve problems creatively and be engaged citizens. If that’s all we accomplish then we will have achieved great success. But our sustainability commitment pays dividends, as it also leads us to reduce our environmental footprint, practice social responsibility, and conserve natural …

Nebline, January 2013

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Feature: 4-H School Enrichment Programs Bring Hands-On Learning to Local Classrooms

Farm Views

Urban Agriculture

Food & Fitness

Home & Family Living

Horticulture

Environmental Focus

4-H & Youth

Community Focus

Extension Calendar

Nutrition Education Program

Family and Community Education (FCE) Clubs

and other extension news and events

2012 Annual Report Special Pullout Section

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Farmer Training In Ghanaian Cocoa Farming, Mike Norton

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

While billions of dollars flow into low-income countries each year to ease poverty, assessing their effectiveness beyond the life of a development program proves challengin. In 2009, the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) undertook the Cocoa Livelihoods Program (CLP) to strengthen cocoa-growing communities with training and credit programs. Using primary 2010-2011 production data collected in Ghana, this study estimates the net present value (NPV) change associated with CLP training over 50 years (two cocoa tree life cycles), assuming producers can utilize what they have learned well after the courses are completed. Applying regression analyses to determine the effect of CLP on …

Cultivate Summer 2013, Utah State University

Cultivate Magazine

No abstract provided.

Consequences Of Climate Change For The Soil Climate In Central Europe And The Central Plains Of The United States, Miroslav Trnka, Kurt Christian Kersebaum, Josef Eitzinger, Michael Hayes, Petr Hlavinka, Mark Svoboda, Martin Dubrovský, Daniela Semerádová, Brian D. Wardlow, Eduard Pokorný, Martin Možný, Donald A. Wilhite, Zdeněk Žalud

National Drought Mitigation Center: Faculty Publications

This study aims to evaluate soil climate quantitatively under present and projected climatic conditions across Central Europe (12.1°–18.9° E and 46.8°–51.1° N) and the U.S. Central Plains (90°–104° W and 37°–49° N), with a special focus on soil temperature, hydric regime, drought risk and potential productivity (assessed as a period suitable for crop growth). The analysis was completed for the baselines (1961–1990 for Europe and 1985–2005 for the U.S.) and time horizons of 2025, 2050 and 2100 based on the outputs of three global circulation models using two levels of climate sensitivity. The results indicate that the soil climate (soil …

Contents, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences - Volume 14 2013, Several Authors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Letter From The Dean, Michael Vayda

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Native Warm-Season Perennial Grasses For Drought Management In Forage Production, Jason P. De Koff

Extension Publications

No abstract provided.

Late Gestation Supplementation Of Beef Cows Differing In Body Condition Score: Effects On Cow And Calf Performance, D. W. Bohnert, L. A. Stalker, R. R. Mills, A. Nyman, S. J. Falck, R. F. Cooke

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

A 2-yr study utilizing 120 mature, crossbred (Angus × Herford) cows/year, evaluated the influence of cow BCS and dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) supplementation during late gestation on cow performance and productivity of subsequent offspring. Treatments were arranged as a 2 × 2 factorial in a randomized complete block design with 2 BCS and with or without DDGS supplementation. Cows were nutritionally managed to enter the last trimester of gestation with a BCS of approximately 4 (LBCS) or 6 (HBCS) and were thereafter managed in a single herd (initial BCS were 4.4 and 5.7 for LBCS and HBCS treatments, …

Accounting For Product Substitution In The Analysis Of Food Taxes Targeting Obesity, Zhen Miao, John C. Beghin, Helen H. Jensen

Department of Agricultural Economics: Faculty Publications

We extend the existing literature on food taxes targeting obesity. We systematically incorporate the implicit substitution between added sugars and solid fats into a comprehensive food demand system and evaluate the effect of taxes on sugars and fats. The approach conditions how food and obesity taxes affect total calorie intake. The proposed methodology accounts for the ability of consumers to substitute leaner low-fat and low-sugar items for rich food items within the same food group. This substitution is integrated into a calibrated demand system in addition to the substitution among food groups, using recent food intake data and existing demand …

Range Beef Cow Symposium Xxiii: Program & Brochure

Range Beef Cow Symposium

Registration Information

Lodging Information

General Information

Bull Pen Sessions

Commercial Booth Displays

Advance Registration

Program: Tuesday, December 3 -- Thursday, December 5

Effects Of Forage Species Or Concentrate Finishing On Animal Performance, Carcass And Meat Quality, S. K. Duckett, J. P.S. Neel, Ronald M. Lewis, J. P. Fontenot, W M. Clapham

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Angus-cross steers (n = 128; initial BW = 270 ± 3.8 kg) were used in a 3-yr study to assess effects of forage species grazed before slaughter versus concentrate finishing on carcass and meat quality. At the completion of the stockering phase, steers were randomly allotted to mixed pasture (MP; n = 36/yr) or corn-silage concentrate (CON; n = 12/yr) finishing treatments. At 40 d before harvest, MP steers were randomly divided into 3 forage species treatments: alfalfa (AL), pearl millet (PM), or mixed pasture (MP). Average daily BW gain was greater (P = 0.001) for CON than …

Index Selection In Terminal Sires Improves Lamb Performance At Finishing, G. C. Márquez, W. Haresign, M. H. Davies, Rainer Roehe, L. Bünger, G. Simm, Ronald M. Lewis

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Lamb meat is often perceived by consumers as fatty, and consumption has decreased in recent decades. A lean growth index was developed in the UK for terminal sire breeds to increase carcass lean content and constrain fat content at a constant age end point. The purposes of this study were 1) to evaluate the effects of index selection of terminal sires on their crossbred offspring at finishing and 2) to evaluate its effectiveness within terminal sire breeds. Approximately 70% of lambs marketed in the UK have been sired by rams of breeds typically thought of as specialized terminal sires. The …

Live Weight Parameters In Dorper, Damara And Australian Merino Lambs Subjected To Restricted Feeding, Tim Scanlon, Andre M. Almeida, Andrew Van Burgel, Tanya Kilminster, John Milton, Johan C. Greeff, Chris Oldham

Journal articles

Seasonal weight loss (SWL) is a serious constraint to ruminant production in tropical and Mediterranean climates. SWL is controlled using supplementation, costly and difficult to implement in extensive production systems; or alternatively, using breeds with a natural adaptation to tropical climates, namely hair and fat tailed sheep. Albeit a 15-year presence in Australia, little is known on how Dorper and Damara sheep compared to the most widely used sheep breed in Australia, the Australian Merino. In this trial, the responses of the Damara, Dorper and Merino breeds to nutritional stress were compared during a 42-day trial. Seventy-two ram lambs, 24 …

The Buzz On Bees, Rebecca Ruiz

Lewis Honors College Capstone Collection

Apis mellifera, more commonly known as the honeybee, plays a pivotal role in the ecosystem and in the survival of the planet. Many do not understand, nor realize, that the honeybee offers a wide array of products and services besides sweet honey. Honeybees have become endangered at a time when their presence is vital and evidence indicates that they can be the means to a more sustainable future for our planet. Particularly focused on in this research are the ideas of honeybees’ essential presence in medical advances, their participation in global economics, and their involvement in the development of …

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Differ In Their Ability To Regulate The Expression Of Phosphate Transporters In Maize (Zea Mays L.), Hui Tian, Rhae A. Drijber, Xiaolin Li, Daniel N. Miller, Brian J. Wienhold

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Previous studies have found that some phosphate (Pi) starvation inducible transporter genes are downregulated and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) inducible Pi transporter genes are upregulated in maize roots associated with the fungus Glomus intraradices. However, little is known about the functional diversity of different AM fungal species in influencing the expression of Pi transporters in maize roots. Here, we studied the expression of two Pi transporter genes ZEAma:Pht1;3 (Pi starvation inducible) and ZEAma:Pht1;6 (AM inducible) in maize root colonized by different AM fungal inoculants. Non-mycorrhizal maize, maize colonized by Glomus deserticola (CA113), Glomus intraradices (IA506), Glomus mosseae (CA201), Gigaspora gigantea …

Biology And Ecology Of Glyphosate-Resistant Giant Ragweed, Kabelo Segobye

Open Access Theses

Giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida L.) is a competitive annual plant found in disturbed landscapes and is the most troublesome weed in Indiana and the US Corn Belt. It is one of the most common and problematic weeds in corn and soybean production. The introduction of herbicide glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine in early 1970's provided farmers with a better and low-cost tool to control weeds. The use of glyphosate drastically increased after the development of glyphosate resistant agronomic crops in 1996 and was use as a post-emergence selective herbicide. This led to overreliance and repeated use of glyphosate for weed control especially …

Role Of Foliar Feeding Of Micronutrients In Yield Maximization Of Cotton In Punjab, Muhammad Yaseen, Wazir Ahmed, Muhammad Shahbaz

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Deficiency of micronutrients, particularly of zinc, boron, and iron, in calcareous soils is of great concern. Results indicate a reduction in yield of seed-cotton due to an imbalance of nutrients, particularly micronutrients, on calcareous soils in the last decade. About 90% of Pakistani soils are deficient in micronutrients, particularly zinc, boron, and iron. This paper highlights efforts to overcome these deficiencies in cotton through foliar feeding of micronutrients. The results of this study indicated a marked improvement in seed-cotton yield with foliar application of a spray containing Zn, B, Mn, Cu, and Fe on cotton crops grown on calcareous soils …

Grain Yield Production Of Sudan Grass (Sorghum Sudanense (Piper) Stapf) As Influenced By Cutting Numbers, Potassium Rates, And Intrarow Spacing In A Semiarid Environment, Ahmed Awad, Salah Hafiz, Mohammed Sabry Hammada, Azza El-Nouby, Salah El-Hendawy

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The seed scarcity of Sudan grass plagues the pasture industry in the livestock sector, especially in arid and semiarid regions. The current study was initiated to tackle this challenge. The study evaluates the response of the grain yield and yield components of Sudan grass to cutting numbers, potassium rates, and intrarow spacing over 2 years. A field experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block split-split design with 2 cutting numbers (no cutting and cut 1 time), 2 potassium rates (60 and 120 kg K_2O ha^{-1}), and 3 intrarow spacings (15, 20, and 25 cm between hills) as the main …

Salinity-Induced Structural And Functional Changes In 3 Cultivars Of Alternanthera Bettzickiana (Regel) G.Nicholson, Adnan Younis, Atif Riaz, Sana Ikram, Tahira Nawaz, Mansoor Hameed, Sana Fatima, Riffat Batool, Farooq Ahmad

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Three cultivars of Alternanthera bettzickiana (Regel) G.Nicholson have been evaluated for their tolerance and adaptability potential to salt stress. During the experiment, 5 salt regimes were maintained: 18 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM NaCl. Salinity adversely affected all growth shoot length and leaves per plant. Root fresh and dry weight decreased with an increase in salinity levels in all 3 cultivars. A. bettzickiana 'Green' was the most tolerant among the cultivars under study, with relatively lower ion leakage through roots, larger vascular region area, and wide metaxylem vessel in roots and stems recorded. Also observed were greater phloem …

Effect Of Pulsed Electric Field Treatment On Polyphenol Oxidase, Total Phenolic Compounds, And Microbial Growth Of Apple Juice, Mustafa Fati̇h Ertugay, Mehmet Başlar, Fati̇h Ortakci

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

A pulsed electric field (PEF) process was applied to unclarified apple juices at 30 and 40 kV cm^{-1} for 50, 100, 150, and 200 pulses after preheating to 40 °C. Afterwards, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzyme levels, loss of total phenolic (TP) compounds, and alterations of the physiochemical parameters of the apple juice were determined. Total yeast/mold and mesophilic bacteria loads were periodically evaluated during storage at 25 °C for a 3-month period and the cloud quality of the apple juice was analyzed after storage. The results of the present study have indicated that total yeast/mold and mesophilic bacterial activity could …

Land Suitability Assessment For Rice Cultivation Based On Gis Modeling, Orhan Dengi̇z

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The main objective of this study was to develop a spatial model for land suitability assessment for rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation using geographic information system (GIS) techniques. The land mapping units, resulting from the overlay of the selected theme layers, have unique land quality information, on which land suitability is based. Results showed that 55.5% of the study area is highly or moderately suitable for rice cultivation, whereas 34% of that area is unsuitable for rice cultivation due to soil and topographic conditions. The model was also validated with field studies. According to the statistical analysis, there was a …

Performance Of Dacryodes Edulis Mycorrhized Layers Under Different Cropping Conditions In Makenene, Cameroon, Martin Mbeuyo, Nehemie Donfagsiteli Tchinda, Emmanuel Youmbi, Hubert Jean Claude Mbita Messi, Akoa Amougou

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Dacryodes edulis, with its potential dietary and medicinal uses, is an aging member of the agroforestry system and is classified among the priority species for domestication in Central Africa. Reliable techniques for producing quality planting materials other than seeds are urgently needed. The aims of this study were to produce D. edulis layers and integrate them into the cropping system. To promote rooting and the survival rates of layers, 4 treatments were used. The layers produced were inoculated with mycorrhiza and introduced into cropping systems for the evaluation of morphobiochemical parameters. The results show that 67.91% of D. edulis trees …

Louisiana Agriculture Winter, 2013

Louisiana Agriculture

No abstract provided.

Aspen Status Report And Recommendation For The Book Cliffs, Paul C. Rogers, Cody M. Mittanck, Ronald J. Ryel

Aspen Bibliography

Regionally quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forests are experiencing numerous impediments to resilience. In the West, recent drought, fire suppression, insects, diseases, climate trends, inappropriate management, and ungulate herbivory are impacting these high biodiversity forests. We conducted a landscape assessment of aspen communities in the Book Cliffs region, Vernal Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management, for the purposes of determining landscape-level status of aspen and making recommendations for future management of these forests. The study area consists of 268 distinct aspen polygons totaling approximately 70 ha (174 acres) of aspen forest surrounded by much larger tracts of …

High-Impact Animal Health Research Conducted At The Usda’S National Animal Disease Center, J. P. Bannantine, Steven C. Olsen, Marcus E. Kehrli Jr., Thad B. Stanton, Eduardo Casas, Diana L. Whipple, Kurt A. Zuelke

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

Commissioned by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958 and opened with a dedication ceremony in December 1961, the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), National Animal Disease Center (NADC) celebrated its 50-year anniversary in November 2011. Over these 50 years, the NADC established itself among the world’s premier animal health research centers. Its historic mission has been to conduct basic and applied research on selected endemic diseases of economic importance to the U.S. livestock and poultry industries. Research from NADC has impacted control or management efforts on nearly every major animal disease in the United States since 1961. For example, diagnostic tests …

Analysis Of Sources Of Variation And Relationships Among Sow Productivity Traits, Richard L. Cutshaw

Open Access Theses

The swine industry has witnessed major changes in the past three decades in terms of selection tools and implementation of effective selection. As the pork industry continues to consolidate, it is increasingly important to be able to accurately predict and direct future performance toward increased overall profitability. Overall, sow productivity greatly affects a pork producer's ability to be profitable in the industry and have sufficient knowledge of production levels to improve the likelihood of remaining profitable into the future.

The relationships among sow productivity traits including total number born, litter birth weight, number weaned, preweaning survival, mean piglet birth weight, …

Effects Of Housing And Calcium-Deficient Diet On Health And Egg Production In Bovans Brown Hens., Jiaying Hu

Open Access Theses

Public concern about the welfare of hens kept in conventional cages has become an important issue worldwide. The conventional cage system has been banned by the European Union since 2012. Several housing systems, including free range, have been developed as welfare friendly alternatives to the conventional cage system. Experiment 1, the study examined the effects of housing environment, conventional cages vs. floor pens, on hens' health and egg production. A total of 84 19-wk-old Bovans Brown hens were randomly assigned into 2-bird cage with 12 replications (n=12), providing 968 cm2 floor space per hen or 10-bird floor pen with 6 …