Digital Commons Network^™

Economic Contribution Of The Agricultural Sector To The Arkansas Economy In 2010, Katherine Mcgraw, Jennie Popp, Wayne Miller

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

This report is the seventh in a series of reports examining agriculture’s economic contribution on the Arkansas economy. Utilizing data from the United States Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), and Minnesota IMPLAN Group, Inc. (MIG), the economic contribution of agriculture on the Arkansas economy was estimated for the most recent year available, 2010. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by State information for Arkansas in 2010 was compared with those of other states in the Southeast U.S. to give a measure of the relative importance of agriculture in Arkansas.2 The total …

Marketing Contracts, Overconfidence, And Timing In The Canadian Wheat Market, Fabio L. Mattos, Stefanie A. Fryza

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

This paper investigates factors that impact marketing performance in the Canadian wheat market. Using data provided by the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) for six crop years, results indicate that producers were not able to profitably use all marketing contracts offered by the CWB, earlier pricing tended to generate better performance, there was a negative relationship between activeness and performance (suggesting overconfidence in marketing skills), and performance was generally worse in volatile crop years. Further analysis reveals some of these findings differ when outperforming and underperforming producers are investigated separately, particularly with respect to activeness and volatility.

Summaries Of Arkansas Cotton Research 2011, Derrick M. Oosterhuis

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.

Survey Of Endosymbionts In The Diaphorina Citri Metagenome And Assembly Of A Wolbachia Wdi Draft Genome, Surya Saha, Wayne B. Hunter, Justin Reese, J. Kent Morgan, Mizuri Marutani-Hert, Hong Huang, Magdalen Lindeberg

School of Information Faculty Publications

Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), the Asian citrus psyllid, is the insect vector of Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus, the causal agent of citrus greening disease. Sequencing of the D. citrimetagenome has been initiated to gain better understanding of the biology of this organism and the potential roles of its bacterial endosymbionts. To corroborate candidate endosymbionts previously identified by rDNA amplification, raw reads from the D. citri metagenome sequence were mapped to reference genome sequences. Results of the read mapping provided the most support for Wolbachia and an enteric bacterium most similar to Salmonella. Wolbachia-derived reads were extracted using …

Amelioration Of Root Disease Of Subterranean Clover (Trifolium Subterraneum) By Mineral Nutrients, Tim Scanlon, Tiernan A. O’Rourke, Megan H. Ryan, Martin J. Barbetti, Krishnapillai Sivasithamparam

Journal articles

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) is a key pasture legume across southern Australia and elsewhere. Decline in subterranean clover pastures was first recognised in Australia during the 1960s and manifests as an increase in weeds and a decrease in desirable legume species. While both root disease and poor nutrition contribute to subterranean clover pasture decline, the relationships between root disease and nutrition have not been determined. The objective of this study was to define these relationships. Field experiments were undertaken to determine the nutritional and pathogen status of soils and subterranean clover from three Western Australian field sites. Subsequently, …

Studies Of Drought Tolerance Of Hard Red Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) Cultivars In Nebraska, Sumardi Bin Abdul Hamid

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

In Nebraska, about 75% of the wheat production is in the western half of the state, and about 92% of the winter wheat acreage is in dryland production, where productivity is limited by low and/or uncertain rainfall. We have investigated the effects of water stress on few established winter wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) cultivars, which are known for their superior adaptation to either rainfed or irrigated wheat production systems in western Nebraska. We also began a study to investigate the variation in the root system architecture to confer drought tolerance in winter wheat. The objectives of this study were …

Effects Of Meloidogyne Incognita, Soil Physical Parameters, And Thielaviopsis Basicola On Cotton Root Architecture And Plant Growth, Jianbing Ma

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, and the seedling pathogen, Thielaviopsis basicola, commonly co-exist in Arkansas cotton fields and may interact resulting in increased losses. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of soil physical parameters on these soilborne pathogens and cotton growth in controlled environmental, field, and microplot studies. Controlled environmental experiments used two soil bulk densities and four pathogen treatments: non-infested soil, soil infested with M. incognita or T. basicola and soil infested with both pathogens. The results indicated bulk density generally did not affect seedling growth or disease since soils had low penetration resistance …

The Evolution Of Natural Plant Communities Through Crop Migration And Crop-To-Weed Gene Flow, Meredith G. Schafer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With the rising demand for food and biofuels, the efficiency of crop production has become vital to assuring food security. Genetically engineered (GE) crop varieties are broadly thought to be a solution for improving the efficiency of crop production, but concerns regarding their release have heightened as more discoveries have focused on the influence of genetically engineered crops on native and weedy plant species. Risk assessment of GE crop varieties focuses on two main areas: feralization of crop systems and crop-weed hybridization. Risks include naturalization, transgene introgression, and the formation of novel genotypes in natural systems. In this study, roadside …

The Identification Of Quantitative Trait Loci For Sucrose And Stachyose Content In Soybean Seed, Ailan Zeng

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sucrose is a desirable sugar in soybean seed that affects the quality and taste of soyfoods, while stachyose is a non-digestible sugar that induces flatulence in non-ruminant animals. Therefore, soybean cultivars with high sucrose and/or low stachyose would be valuable for soyfood and meal markets. The objectives of this study were to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) or genes associated with seed sucrose and stachyose content using simple sequence repeat (SSR) or single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A low sucrose line, MFS-553, was crossed with a high sucrose plant introduction, PI 243545, to develop the sucrose QTL mapping population. A …

Soybean Maturity Group Tradeoffs: Irrigation, Weed Control, And Nitrogen Fixation, Ryan Wegerer

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is divided into four chapters. Chapter I introduces the rationale behind the study and gives a brief overview of the overall study covering weed control, irrigation needs and nitrogen fixation amounts across soybean maturity group. Chapter II will go into further detail outlining the first applied experiment dealing with weed control and irrigation issues. Alternative weed control methods are analyzed in conjunction with irrigation risk analysis across soybean maturity group in response to agricultural issues of glyphosate resistance and declining ground water supply in the Arkansas delta region. Chapter III will jointly examine irrigation application amounts and nitrogen …

Evaluation Of Isothiocyanates And Herbicide Programs As Methyl Bromide Alternatives For Weed Control In Polyethylene-Mulched Tomato And Bell Pepper, Pratap Devkota

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Methyl bromide (MeBr), a Class I ozone –depleting substance, has been banned for ordinary agricultural uses. In the absence of an effective MeBr alternative, weed control is a major challenge for commercial tomato and bell pepper production. Field trials were conducted at Fayetteville, AR, to compare allyl isothiocyanate (ITC), metam sodium, and herbicide programs with the standard MeBr application (mixture of MeBr plus chloropicrin at 67% plus 33%, respectively, hereafter referred to as MeBr) for crop injury, weed control, viable yellow nutsedge tubers, and marketable yield in low–density polyethylene (LDPE) mulched tomato and bell pepper production. In addition, herbicide programs …

The Impact Of Selected Forage Legumes On Cattle Performance, Forage Production, And Soil Quality, And Evaluation Of Legume Persistence Under Grazing, Bradley Edward Briggs

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Interest in substituting legumes for N fertilizer in beef cattle grazing systems has recently increased with rising fertilizer prices. Legumes are well known for their ability to fix atmospheric N and decrease dependence on input of N fertilizer. However, there are still difficulties associated with legume utilization including establishment and persistence. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate legume performance under herbivory. The objective of Experiment 1 was to compare forage production and beef cattle gains from annual ryegrass [Lolium multiflorum (L.)] and bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pastures fertilized with N or overseeded with legumes. Gelbvieh × Angus …

The Potential Environmental Benefits Of Hybrid Rice Varieties, Haxhire Myrteza

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

With water insufficiency being already a major issue and potential carbon policies on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, Arkansas rice producers may need to undergo some changes in regards to rice cultivar selection. The purpose of this study is to estimate the environmental benefits of cultivating hybrid rice varieties as opposed to conventional and Clearfield rice varieties. To accomplish this goal, water use and GHG emissions were estimated on per acre (ac) and per bushel (bu) basis for most commonly cultivated rice varieties in Arkansas. The study focuses particularly on six main rice stations in the State of Arkansas. The hypothesis …

B.R. Wells Rice Research Studies 2011, R. J. Norman, K.A. K. Moldenhauer

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.

Susceptibility Of The Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), At Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, To Different Insecticides, Difabachew K. Belay, Randy M. Huckaba, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), is a polyphagous migratory pest, which is endemic to the Western Hemisphere and attacks more than 80 plant species including maize, sorghum, cotton, rice, millet, peanut, alfalfa, and other cultivated and wild plant species. Presence of multiple generations and the ability to migrate and feed on a wide range of host plants makes FAW one of the most severe economic pests throughout the Western Hemisphere. In corn, yield losses due to FAW damage can reach up to 32% in the United States and 45–60% in Nicaragua. Insecticides are used as major …

Composting Manure And Other Organic Materials, Charles S. Wortmann, Charles A. Shapiro

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The Composting Process

Composting is the aerobic decomposition of manure or other organic materials in the thermophilic temperature range (104-149oF). Composted material is odorless, fine-textured, and low-moisture. It can be bagged and sold for use in gardens or nurseries, or used as fertilizer on cropland with little odor or fly breeding potential. Composting improves the handling characteristics of any organic residue by reducing its volume and weight. Composting can kill pathogens and weed seeds.

Disadvantages of composting organic residues include loss of nitrogen and other nutrients, time for processing, cost for handling equipment, available land for composting, odors, marketing, diversion …

Escape From Preferential Retention Following Repeated Whole Genome Duplications In Plants, James C. Schnable, Xiaowu Wang, J. Chris Pires, Michael Freeling

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The well supported gene dosage hypothesis predicts that genes encoding proteins engaged in dose–sensitive interactions cannot be reduced back to single copies once all interacting partners are simultaneously duplicated in a whole genome duplication. The genomes of extant flowering plants are the result of many sequential rounds of whole genome duplication, yet the fraction of genomes devoted to encoding complex molecular machines does not increase as fast as expected through multiple rounds of whole genome duplications. Using parallel interspecies genomic comparisons in the grasses and crucifers, we demonstrate that genes retained as duplicates following a whole genome duplication have only …

Establishment Method And Cultural Practice Effects On Sports Turf, Josh Anderson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The use of soil-based sod on sand-based rootzones for the establishment of sports fields and golf courses is a common occurrence. Furthermore, the use of soil-based sod on sand-based rootzones can lead to potential problems associated with decreased water infiltration, gas exchange, rooting, and turfgrass quality caused by soil layering. Core-aerification and sand topdressing may help alleviate the problems associated with soil layering from the use of soil-based sod on sand-based rootzones. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to evaluate the effects of sod establishment methods and post- establishment cultural practices on the infiltration rate, moisture content, divot resistance, …

The Evolution Of Rural Farming In The Scottish Highlands And The Arkansas Delta: Investments And Inequalities, Madalyn Watkins

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

The development and evolution of an agricultural system is influenced by many factors including binding constraints (limiting factors), choice of investments, and historic presence of land and income inequality. This study analyzed the development of two farming systems: mechanized, “economies of scale” farming in the Arkansas Delta and crofting in the Scottish Highlands. The study hypothesized that the current farm size in each region can be partially attributed to the binding constraints of either land or labor. In Scotland, it was found that the continuous binding constraint was the availability of arable land. In Arkansas, the binding constraint began as …

Identification And Confirmation Of Ssr Markers And Qtl For Seed Calcium Content And Hardness Of Soybean, Moldir Orazaly

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The health benefits and the nutritional values of soyfood products have expanded the demand for food-grade soybean varieties. For whole soyfood products such as natto, small seeded varieties with proper texture are essential. Seed calcium content and hardness are main factors in determining the seed texture. Utilizing molecular markers associated with quantitative trait loci (QTL) for marker assisted selection (MAS) has been an efficient technique for breeders. To find molecular markers associated with a trait is an initial step. The confirmation of QTL in different environments and in different genetic backgrounds is important for MAS. The objectives of this research …

Modifying The Fatty Acid Profile Of Soybean Oil For Nutritional And Industrial Applications, Hyunwoo Park

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

The objectives of this study are: 1. To develop of soybean oil low in palmitic acid and elevated in stearic and oleic acids for margarine source. 2. To produce the high omega-3 fatty acid and astaxanthin in soybean seed as a feedstock for aquaculture. Over expression of mangosteen stearoyl-ACP thioesterase gene increased stearic acid content up to 10% to 15%. The identified elevated stearic acid events were crossed with our high oleic acid/low palmitic acid event. Average stearic and oleic acid content ranged 14 to 19% and 68 to 73% respectively. Stearic acid content of elevated stearic acid soybean event …

Ecology And Integrated Pest Management Of Western Bean Cutworm Striacosta Albicosta (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) In Field Corn, Silvana L. Vieira De Paula Moraes

Department of Entomology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Western bean cutworm, Striacosta albicosta (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a native pest of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and corn (Zea mays L.), and historically distributed in the western United States. The insect’s recent expansion eastward is documented since 1999. The species is univoltine, the adults typically emerge in the middle of July, lay eggs on corn leaves, and the larvae feed on different corn tissues. In the fourth instar, larvae start colonization of the ear where they feed on kernels. There is a narrow window for management and early detection of the pest in the field is …

Insecticidal Control Of Bemisia Tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Transmitting Carlavirus On Soybeans And Detection Of The Virus In Alternate Hosts, Difabachew K. Belay, Randy M. Huckaba, Axel M. Ramirez, Jose C. V. Rodrigues, John E. Foster

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

A Carlavirus transmitted by Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is an important disease of soybean nurseries in Puerto Rico causing substantial germplasm losses. Insecticide bioassay experiments were conducted at Dow AgroSciences (DAS) Research Station, Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico, either by spraying insecticides on B. tabaci infested soybean leaves or introducing B. tabaci adults onto insecticide-sprayed soybean leaves. Moreover, host plants were surveyed to detect the virus in overwintering hosts that serve as a source of inoculums. The direct spray experiment showed that Nuprid 2F (Imidacloprid), Capture 2 EC (Bifenthrin), Thionex (Endosulfan), Lannate LV (Methomyl), and Dimethoate gave good level ( …

Cotton Response To High Temperature Stress During Reproductive Development, Justin B. Phillips

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Temperature is a primary controller of the rate of plant growth, developmental events, and fruit maturation. Increased temperatures from global climate change are projected to cause substantial losses in crop productivity by the end of the twenty-first century. Elevated temperatures affect all stages of cotton development, but the crop seems to be particularly sensitive to adverse temperatures during reproductive development. In Arkansas, temperature stress is considered to be one of the main factors affecting cotton yield. Environmental stress during floral development is a major reason for the disparity between actual and potential yields. Field and growth chamber studies were conducted …

Effect Of Water-Deficit Stress On Cotton During Reproductive Development, Dimitra Loka

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Water deficit is a major abiotic factor limiting plant growth and crop productivity around the world. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) is considered to be relatively tolerant to drought and the effects of water stress on leaf physiology and metabolism have been extensively documented. However, information is lacking on the effect of water-deficit stress on the cotton flower. It was hypothesized that water-deficit stress would impair gas exchange functions which consequently would result in perturbation of carbohydrates of cotton reproductive units. To investigate this hypothesis growth room studies and field studies were conducted with the objectives being to document the physiological …

Herbicide Resistance Mechanism(S) In Italian Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne Ssp. Multiflorum) Populations In The Southern United States, Reiofeli Algodon Salas

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Italian ryegrass is a principal weed problem in wheat production fields in the Southern US. Resistance to herbicides diclofop, mesosulfuron, and pinoxaden among ryegrass populations has been reported. Glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass populations were identified in Desha County, Arkansas. This research aimed to 1) determine resistance patterns to ACCase (diclofop and pinoxaden) and ALS (imazamox, mesosulfuron, and pyroxsulam) herbicides among Italian ryegrass populations from the southern US; 2) determine if cytochrome P450-mediated enhanced herbicide metabolism contributed to resistance; and 3) elucidate the resistance mechanism to glyphosate in four Arkansas populations (Des03, Des05, Des14, and D8). For objective 1, 30 accessions from …

Determining Compost Carryover For Optimal Use In An Organic Corn Squash Rotation, Davey J.R. Olsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In 2008–2011 a graduate project was undertaken by Davey Olsen under the supervision of Utah State University (USU) Plant, Soils and Climate professors, Drs. Jennifer Reeve, Dan Drost, and Astrid Jacobson. The project investigated a new way of measuring the benefits of applying compost to organically certified horticultural crops. In particular, the carryover of these benefits in the three years following a one-time application was studied. A field trial at the USU Organic Farm modeled the carryover of nitrogen and phosphorus in a corn and squash rotation, while laboratory analysis investigated aspects of nitrogen availability and compost decomposition over time. …

Multifunctionality In U.S. Rice Production: A Logit Analysis In Farmers Participation, Juan Tur Cardona

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Multifunctional agriculture is particularly fundamental to some working lands conservation policies and programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Conservation Security Program (CSP) and Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP). Farmers can also be engaged in providing recreational and agri-tourism services such as hunting, fishing, bird-watching, farm tours, petting zoos and hospitality services. Using the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS) we analyze factors associated with participation in conservation, recreation and agri-tourism activities as a function of farm structure, farm financial measures, production practices, and socio-demographic characteristics of the farm operator. To estimate the functional relationships we estimate a binary …

Strawberry Growth, Yield, Fruit Nutrition, And Control Of Verticillium Wilt With Pre-Plant Soil Fumigants, Ozone, And Biological Control, Justin J. Scurich

Master's Theses

Verticillium wilt is a widespread soilborne disease of strawberry historically controlled by soil fumigation with methyl bromide (MB). MB was banned by the United Nations in 1995 and will be completely phased out by 2015. Research has concentrated on alternative methods of disease control without finding a single alternative able to replace MB in widespread disease control and yield increase. For the current study, strawberries were greenhouse grown in container pots filled with soil from both infested and non-infested areas of a commercial strawberry field in Watsonville, CA. Treatments included pre-plant soil fumigation with commercially available formulations of methyl bromide, …

Potential For Barn Owl As Rodent Biological Control In Central California Vineyards, Hannah Tillmann

Biological Sciences

The pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) and voles (Microtus spp.) cause significant economic damage to vineyards. In response, many growers have taken steps to attract Barn Owls (Tyto alba) to their properties to help keep these rodent populations in check. This research project investigated Barn Owl consumption of pocket gophers and voles in Central California vineyards in order to assess the efficiency of this integrated pest management strategy. I collected a total of 715 owl pellets from five vineyard locations in Templeton and Paso Robles, California over an eight-month period during nesting and post-fledging seasons. I …