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A Land Data Assimilation System (Ldas) Based Dataset For Regional Agro-Climatic Assessments, Xing Liu

Open Access Theses

This study is part of a USDA sponsored project ----Useful to Usable (U2U): "Transforming Climate Variability and Change Information for Cereal Crop Producers". The broader objective includes improving farm resilience and profitability in the U.S. Corn Belt region by transforming existing climate/weather data into usable knowledge and tools for the agricultural community.

The specific tasks of this research are: (1) Build a high-resolution (4 km, daily) agro-climatic dataset using a Land Data Assimilation System (LDAS). (2) Estimate regional corn yield across the Corn Belt with crop models and the agro-climatic dataset. (3) Evaluate the impacts of climate variability due to …

Rheological Properties Of Gluten Free Dough Systems, Stephany Aurea Tandazo

Open Access Theses

Bread is the one of the oldest processed foods and a major wheat based product. The basic process involves mixing of ingredients until the flour is converted into dough, followed by baking the dough into a loaf. A very important step in breadmaking is to know how to make good quality dough. However, the increasing knowledge of people being diagnosed with celiac disease (gluten intolerance) has encouraged scientists to develop healthier and better quality gluten-free products that would greatly improve the quality of life of celiac patients. The main objective of this study was to create a dough system composed …

Dry Matter Accumulation And Forage Quality Characteristics Of Different Soybean Genotypes, Esvet Açikgöz, Mehmet Si̇nci̇k, Gary Wietgrefe, Mustafa Sürmen, Semi̇ha Çeçen, Tamer Yavuz, Cengi̇z Erdurmuş, Abdurrahi̇m Tanju Göksoy

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Three different soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivars (A-3127, Derry, and Yemsoy) were evaluated for dry matter (DM) yield, plant components, and crop growth rate (CGR) at different row spacings and harvesting stages in 3 locations with Mediterranean-type climate in a split-split plot design with 3 replications in 2009 and 2010. In addition, crude protein (CP), crude protein yield (CPY), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), total digestible nutrients (TDN), and relative feed value (RFV) of harvested forage soybeans were determined at the Bursa (Turkey) location. Increased row spacings significantly reduced DM yield at all locations. Combined over …

Multiple Shoot Regeneration Of Plumular Apices Of Chickpea, Muhammad Aasim, Si̇bel Day, Fereshteh Rezaei, Mortaza Hajyzadeh

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is an important grain legume used almost all over the world. Development of new repeatable and reliable tissue culture protocols is very important for improvement of breeding and genetic transformation studies. It is a highly recalcitrant plant and there is an urgent need to develop a regeneration protocol that can ensure easy multiple and qualitative superior shoots that could be rooted and yield fertile plants. Unconditioned plumular apices and plumular apices preconditioned with 10 mg L^{-1} benzylaminopurine (BA) for 10 days were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0.25-2.00 mg L^{-1} BA with …

Changes In Mycorrhizal Spore And Root Colonization Of Coastal Dune Vegetation Of The Seyhan Delta In The Postcultivation Phase, Özlem Aytok, Kemal Tulühan Yilmaz, İbrahi̇m Ortaş, Hali̇l Çakan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Changes in the abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) spores and root colonization that occurred in the postcultivation phase were investigated in the coastal dunes of the Seyhan Delta, Turkey. A sampling method was used to obtain community-level information, which is essential for the evaluation of relations between plant communities and AM colonization. Eight quadrats of 10 × 10 m were selected to describe floristic composition of different plant communities. TWINSPAN was applied to identify the plant communities. In addition, DECORANA was employed to put forward a clear ordination of the communities. Soil samples were collected at depths of 0-20 cm …

Online Tomato Sorting Based On Shape, Maturity, Size, And Surface Defects Using Machine Vision, Omid Omidi Arjenaki, Parviz Ahmadi Moghaddam, Asad Moddares Motlagh

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Online sorting of tomatoes according to their features is an important postharvest procedure. The purpose of this research was to develop an efficient machine vision-based experimental sorting system for tomatoes. Relevant sorting parameters included shape (oblong and circular), size (small and large), maturity (color), and defects. The variables defining shape, maturity, and size of the tomatoes were eccentricity, average of color components, and 2-D pixel area, respectively. Tomato defects include color disorders, growth cracks, sunscald, and early blight. The sorting system involved the use of a CCD camera, a microcontroller, sensors, and a computer. Images were analyzed with an algorithm …

Changes In The Forage Yield And Quality Of Legume–Grass Mixtures Throughout A Vegetation Period, Sebahatti̇n Albayrak, Mevlüt Türk

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The aim of the present study was to determine the changes in the forage yield and quality of binary and ternary mixtures of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leys.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.) throughout a vegetation period. Plots were established in 2008 in Isparta, Turkey, in a randomized complete block design with 3 replicates. Four cuttings were done during the 2009 and 2010 vegetative periods. The levels of crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and relative feed value (RFV) were determined …

Chitosan Coating Improves The Shelf Life And Postharvest Quality Of Table Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Cultivar Shahroudi, Mohammad Ali Shiri, Davood Bakhshi, Mahmood Ghasemnezhad, Monad Dadi, Alexandros Papachatzis, Helen Kalorizou

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Table grapes (Vitis vinifera) of the cultivar Shahroudi were coated with 0.5% or 1% chitosan and then stored at 0 °C for 60 days. Shelf-life qualitative traits including rachis and berry appearance and berry cracking, shattering, decay, browning, acceptability, and flavor were evaluated. Treated berries showed less weight loss, decay, browning, shattering, and cracking. Flavor-related factors such as total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and TSS/TA ratio levels were higher in treated fruits; however, there was no significant difference between the fruits treated with 0.5% and 1% chitosan. Changes of the total phenolics, catechin, and antioxidant capacity of the …

Toxicity Of Native Bacillus Thuringiensis Isolates On The Larval Stages Of Pine Processionary Moth Thaumetopoea Wilkinsoni At Different Temperatures, Semi̇h Yilmaz, Sali̇h Karabörklü, Uğur Azi̇zoğlu, Abdurrahman Ayvaz, Mi̇kai̇l Akbulut, Musa Yildiz

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Pine processionary moth, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni Tams, is an important defoliating lepidopteran pest of pine trees. The aim of this study was to determine the required spore-crystal concentration of local Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) isolates, optimal ambient temperature, and larval stage to control this troublesome forest pest. The susceptibility of T. wilkinsoni larvae decreased with older stage and lower temperatures. The optimum temperature was found to be 15 °C or higher for the control of early larval stages. At the highest spore-crystal concentration (500 µg g^{-1}), the most effective isolate (SY49.1) caused 83% mortality for the second-stage larvae at 5 °C. However, …

Interactions Of Meloidogyne Incognita, Xanthomonas Campestris, And Rhizobium Sp. In The Disease Complex Of Chickpea, Zaki Anwar Siddiqui, Munavvar Fatima, Subha Alam

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The effects of Meloidogyne incognita, Xanthomonas campestris, and Rhizobium sp., alone or in combination, on the disease complex in chickpea were examined. Individual inoculation with M. incognita and X. campestris caused significant reductions in plant growth, while inoculation with Rhizobium sp. resulted in a significant increase in plant growth. Inoculation with M. incognita and X. campestris together caused a greater reduction in plant growth than the damage caused by each of them alone. Application of M. incognita or X. campestris prior to Rhizobium sp. caused a greater reduction in plant growth than Rhizobium sp. applied prior to M. incognita or …

Mitigation Effects Of Glycinebetaine On Oxidative Stress And Some Key Growth Parameters Of Maize Exposed To Salt Stress, Cengi̇z Kaya, Osman Sönmez, Sali̇h Aydemi̇r, Murat Di̇ki̇li̇taş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of glycinebetaine (GB) on oxidative stress and some key growth parameters in maize (Zea mays L. 'DK 647 F1') grown under saline conditions. Maize seedlings were grown in pots containing perlite. The experiment was designed in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 levels (0 and 100 mM) of sodium chloride (NaCl) and 2 levels (25 and 50 mM) of GB sprayed onto leaves of maize seedlings. Saline stress caused a considerable decline in total dry matter, chlorophyll content, relative water content (RWC), peroxidase (POD; EC. 1.11.1.7), and …

Selection Of Potential Autochthonous Starter Cultures From Shalgam, A Traditional Turkish Lactic Acid-Fermented Beverage, Hasan Tangüler, Hüseyi̇n Erten

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The present study was done to select the potential autochthonous lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for the production of shalgam, which is a traditional Turkish lactic acid-fermented beverage. Eighteen LAB belonging to the genera Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Pediococcus, and Leuconostoc isolated previously from shalgam samples produced in the university laboratory and by small- and large-scale producers in industry were used. Pasteurized black carrot juice was inoculated individually with these selected LAB strains and fermented for 10 days. The strains of Lb. plantarum gave the highest numbers during fermentations with a range of 9.40-9.16 log cfu mL^{-1}. Lb. plantarum^{bx} produced the highest total …

Control Of Lodging And Reduction In Plant Length In Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) With The Treatment Of Trinexapac-Ethyl And Sowing Density, Rasi̇m Ünan, İsmai̇l Sezer, Mevlüt Şahi̇n, Luis A. J. Mur

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

In this study, the effects of the plant growth regulator trinexapac-ethyl (TE) combined with different sowing densities on field-grown rice (Oryza sativa L.) plant length, lodging, and grain yield were evaluated over 2 growing seasons. Two different rice cultivars (Karadeniz and Osmancik-97), 3 different sowing densities (400, 500, and 600 seeds m^{-2}), and 4 different doses of TE (0, 100, 200, and 300 g ai ha^{-1}) were compared. The experiments were designed in a randomized block design in factorial ordering with 3 replicates. An increase in sowing density led to an increase of lodging, but it did not have a …

Effects Of Organic Manures And Non-Chemical Weed Control On Wheat. Ii. Grain Quality, Sancar Bulut, Ali̇ Öztürk, Mehmet Murat Karaoğlu, Nesri̇n Yildiz

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Deficit plant nutrients, especially nitrogen, and weed competition are the most critical problems in organic farming. This research was carried out on research plots of the Agricultural Research and Extension Center of Atatürk University Agricultural Faculty during the cropping seasons of 2006-07, 2007-08, and 2008-09 under dry farming conditions. A factorial experimental design with 4 replications was used to set up the experimental plots. The factors were 2 wheat cultivars (Kırik and Doğu-88), 3 weed control practices (weedy control, hand weeding, dense sowing), and 7 fertilizer sources [control, standard inorganic (NP), Bio-Organic (Bio), Bio-SR Organic (Bio SR), Leonardite, Organic fertilizer …

Effects Of Winter Green Manuring On Organic Cucumber Production In Unheated Greenhouse Conditions, Yüksel Tüzel, Hale Duyar, Gölgen Bahar Özteki̇n, Özlem Kiliç, Di̇lek Anaç, Ni̇lgün Madanlar, Zeynep Yoldaş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The effects of winter green manure crops on organic cucumber production were determined in unheated greenhouse conditions in order to integrate soil building and conservation practices, which are critically important in greenhouse production without crop rotation. The study was conducted between 2006 and 2008 to compare (1) pea (Pisum sativum L.), (2) Italian rye-grass (Lolium multiflorum L.), and (3) common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) as winter green manure plants. These treatments were compared with a control without green manuring (4). All of the plots were divided into halves, and poultry manure was applied as 0 (-PM) and 0.75 kg m^{-2} …

Changes In Phenolic Content Of Wild And Greenhouse-Grown Hypericum Triquetrifolium During Plant Development, Cüneyt Çirak, Jolita Radusiene, Birute Kapraviciene, Necdet Çamaş, Mehmet Serhat Odabaş

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Hypericum triquetrifolium is a promising medicinal plant from eastern Europe and the Mediterranean area. The present study was conducted to determine ontogenetic and morphogenetic variation of chlorogenic acid, rutin, hyperoside, isoquercetin, quercitrin, and quercetin content in this species. The wild-growing and greenhouse-grown plants were harvested at vegetative, floral budding, full flowering, fresh fruiting, and mature fruiting stages and were dissected into stem, leaf, and reproductive tissues, which were dried separately and subsequently assayed for bioactive compounds by high performance liquid chromatography. Chemical contents in whole plants increased during plant phenology and, generally, higher accumulation levels were observed in wild plants. …

Effects Of Microbial Inoculants Enterococcus Faecium Ef2/3s And Ef26/42 On Microbial, Chemical, And Fermentation Parameters In Grass Silage, Zora Varadyova, Dusan Jalc, Andrea Laukova, Katarina Mihalikova, Petr Homolka

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Survival of inoculants in grass silages may enable them to improve the quality of silages through enrichment with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The effects of 2 inoculants, Enterococcus faecium 2/3s (EF2/3s) and E. faecium 26/42 (EF26/42), on nutrient composition, fermentation parameters, and fatty acid content in grass silages during ensiling (111 days) of fresh grass (G) were examined under laboratory conditions. The G [285 g of dry matter (DM) kg^{-1}] was ensiled in 36 polyethylene jars (1 L) divided into 3 × 12 sets per treatment and ensiled at 21 °C for 111 days. The 3 silage treatments used were: …

Tolerance And Avoidance Responses To Salinity And Water Stresses In Calotropis Procera And Suaeda Aegyptiaca, Ali Hassan Ibrahim

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study was designed to evaluate the response of 2 wild shrubs, Calotropis procera and Suaeda aegyptiaca, to salinity (100% seawater), drought, and waterlogging stresses. The 90-day-old plants were subjected to the stress treatments for 3 weeks, and growth and some physiological parameters were evaluated. The total plant dry mass of C. procera plants was reduced by 40%, whereas S. aegyptiaca was not significantly affected by salinity stress. Water deficit and waterlogging stresses significantly reduced the total dry mass of both species. Under all conditions, the root/shoot ratio in C. procera was 3-fold higher than in S. aegyptiaca. All applied …

Biomass Production And Nutritional Quality Of Moringa Oleifera As A Field Crop, Wasif Nouman, Muhammad Tahir Siddiqui, Shahzad Maqsood Ahmed Basra, Hasnain Farooq, Muhammad Zubair, Tehseen Gull

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Dairy and meat production are very complex in dry regions due to shortages and the low quality of fodder, especially in dry months. Livestock scientists are enthusiastic to explore and investigate good quality fodder that can boost milk and meat production in an economical way. Moringa oleifera is known as one of the best fodder crops for dry regions with scanty amounts of water. Hence, the present study was designed to evaluate the potential of Moringa oleifera as a field crop by harvesting at different cutting heights (30, 90, and 150 cm). The nutritional quality (minerals like P, K, Ca, …

Essential Oil Composition Of Sweet Basil Cultivars As Affected By Nitrogen And Potassium Fertilization, Renata Nurzynska-Wierdak, Bartlomiej Borowski, Katarzyna Dzida, Grazyna Zawislak, Radoslaw Kowalski

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

This study was designed to find correlations between the rate of nitrogen and potassium and basil herb quality resulting from essential oil content and composition. An increase in the amount of nitrogen in the nutritional environment of the plants resulted in the enhanced accumulation of essential oil, as well as in a rise in linalool and germacrene D concentration. The present study also showed increased content of essential oil in the herb, as well as an increase of 1,8-cineole in the oil under the influence of the increased rate of potassium. The studied basil cultivars Kasia and Wala were characterized …

Phytochemical Characteristics Of Grafted Watermelon On Different Bottle Gourds (Lagenaria Siceraria) Collected From Mediterranean Region Of Turkey, Eli̇f Çandir, Hali̇t Yeti̇şi̇r, Fati̇h Karaca, Durmuş Üstün

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The objective of this study is to determine the sugar, organic acid, and carotenoid content of Crimson Tide watermelons grafted onto bottle gourd genotypes collected from the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The experiment was carried out during the 2008 and 2009 growing season. Grafting on the local bottle gourd rootstocks improved the total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS/TA ratio, sugar, organic acid, and carotenoid (beta-carotene and lycopene) contents of Crimson Tide fruits. Grafting also altered the ratios among the sugars of Crimson Tide watermelon fruits. Among the Crimson Tide/rootstock (CT/rootstock) combinations, the CT/09-01 and CT/07-06 graft combinations with …

Physicochemical And Rheological Characteristics Of Alcohol Free Probiotic Boza Produced Using Lactobacillus Casei Shirota: Estimation Of Apparent Viscosity Of Boza Using Non-Linear Modeling Techniques, İsmet Öztürk, Safa Karaman, Fati̇h Törnük, Osman Sağdiç

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The effects of fermentation with 2 different starter culture mixtures composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on some physicochemical, microbiological, sensorial, and rheological characteristics of boza, a traditional fermented Turkish beverage, during storage for 10 days at 8 ^°C were investigated. Lb. casei Shirota adapted in boza well and provided the boza with a probiotic property. At the beginning of storage, the Lb. casei Shirota count of boza was 6.83 log cfu mL^{-1}, while total LAB counts were 8.01 and 8.11 log cfu mL-1 for S1 and S2 samples, respectively. A decrease in pH values was observed when the counts …

Rice Cultures And Nitrogen Rate Effects On Yield And Quality Of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.), Muhammad Maqsood, Muhammad Asif Shehzad, Syed N. Azam Ali, Munawar Iqbal

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Field studies in 2010 and 2011 were conducted to evaluate the effect of variable nitrogen rates (0-100 kg N ha^{-1}) and culture methods (transplanted and direct) on chlorophyll contents, yield, grain quality, and economics in rice crop (Oryza sativa L. 'Basmati-385'). Transplanted rice gave a significantly higher paddy yield of 19.18% versus direct-seeded crop. Nitrogen application at 100 kg N ha^{-1} provided a maximum paddy yield (4.39 and 4.67 t ha^{-1}) in both years. The rice kernel characteristics were also affected by culture methods and nitrogen levels. In addition, return variable cost in the transplanted rice increased by 22.27% over …

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Associated With Tree Peony In 3 Geographic Locations In China, Zhaoyong Shi, Yinglong Chen, Xiaogai Hou, Shuangcheng Gao, Fayuan Wang

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is of great interest because of their potential function in ecosystems. Tree peony is an important traditional ornamental and medicinal plant with economic significance. We examined the mycorrhizal status of the rhizosphere of 14 common cultivars of tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa) in 3 different geographic locations in China. Root samples of all cultivars were colonized by AMF. The mean percentage of root length colonization, vesicles, and arbuscules were 39%, 3.6%, and 6.0%, respectively. AMF species richness varied from 5 to 11, and spore density ranged from 20 to 61 per 50 g of …

Evaluation Of Efficiency Parameters Of Phosphorous-Solubilizing And N-Fixing Bacteria Inoculations In Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Sancar Bulut

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Chemical fertilizers play a significant role in increasing plant production; however, they may have a negative impact on soil fertility and cause environmental degradation in cases of excessive use. In addition, the highest levels in chemical fertilizer use have already been reached, and further yield increases do not seem possible. Due to their negative impact on soils and the environment, alternatives to chemical fertilizers are needed. Today, biological alternatives are yielding promising outcomes. Biological nitrogen fixation may constitute a significant alternative in organic farming. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of single, dual, and triple combinations of phosphorus-solubilizing [Bacillus …

Physicochemical And Sensory Properties Of Mulberry Products: Gümüşhane Pestil And Köme, Oktay Yildiz

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

'Pestil' and 'köme', well known as traditional Turkish foods, are prepared from a mulberry, honey, walnut, hazelnut, and flour mixture. Although they have been produced for the last few decades on an industrial scale, the production methods and properties of the products are not standardized yet. Gümüşhane pestil and köme have been registered and attained Geographical Registration Certificates from the Turkish Patent Institute with their unique production methods and properties, among many similar products in the world markets. Thus, some biochemical, physical, and sensory properties of pestil and köme were investigated. In addition, the main raw material (mulberry) and semifinished …

Heifer Calving Date Positively Influences Calf Weaning Weights Through Six Parturitions, R. A. Cushman, L. H. Kill, Richard N. Funston, E. M. Mousel, G. A. Perry

West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte

Longevity and lifetime productivity are important factors influencing profitability for the cowcalf producer. Heifers that conceive earlier in the breeding season will calve earlier in the calving season and have a longer interval to rebreeding. Calves born earlier in the calving season will also be older and heavier at weaning. Longevity data were collected on 2,195 heifers from producers in South Dakota Integrated Resource Management groups. Longevity and weaning weight data were collected on 16,549 individual heifers at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC). Data were limited to heifers that conceived during their first breeding season. Heifers were grouped …

Analyzing Healthy, Local Food Systems: A Case Study Of Owensboro, Kentucky, Callie Hayden

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Across the US, support is ever-growing for the local food movement. This growing trend promotes food security, supports farming families, ensures universal access to safe and healthy food products, enhances local economies, and encourages environmental and social well-being. People around the US are implementing sustainable local food systems as a means of meeting their individual community’s needs. While this movement is being popularized dramatically around the world, many cities and regions have yet to address it. This study reviews the existing literature on local food system models in an effort to answer the research question: What are the “ingredients” of …

Investigation Of Media Ingredients And Water Sources For Algae Co2 Capture At Different Scales To Demonstrate The Correlations Between Lab-Scale And Large-Scale Growth, Tabitha Graham

Theses and Dissertations--Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering

As energy use increases globally the environmental burdens increase alike. Many accusations have been made that carbon dioxide is a culprit of climate change. The University of Kentucky and Duke Energy Power have partnered to test carbon capture technology in a large scale project. To this end, the objective of this thesis is to investigate potential water media sources and nutrient sources at different volume scales for algae cultivation to help create a more environmentally viable and economically feasible solution. This work will conduct a life cycle assessment of water media sources and the effects of the inputs and outputs …

Selective Utilization Of Microhabitats By Web-Building Spiders, Kelton D. Welch

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Natural enemies are members of complex ecological communities, and their ability to contribute to the biological control of pest organisms is strongly influenced by a convoluted network of ecological interactions with many other organisms within these communities. Researchers must develop an understanding of the mechanisms that shape trophic webs to predict and promote top-down effects of predators. The behavior of predators can have a strong influence on their potential as biological control agents.

Web-building spiders are a useful example organism for the study of natural enemy behavior because of the experimentally tractable nature of their foraging behavior. Specifically, patterns in …