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Enhancing Alfalfa Persistence In Rangelands: Evaluating Morphological Traits Of Medicago Sativa Subsp. Falcata Germplasm, Abdulallah Mohammed Alomair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Rangelands cover nearly half of the Earth’s surface, representing about 54% (79 million km2), and occur in different types and climates worldwide. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a major component in rangelands and covers about (320 thousand km2), representing about 0.4% of total global rangeland area. As a critical perennial legume crop, alfalfa can improve soil health by fixing approximately 336 kg/ha/year of nitrogen and sequestering up to 614 kg/ha/year of carbon, while enhancing livestock production due to its high content level of vitamins, magnesium, minerals, fiber, and protein. However, environmental stresses such as drought, freezing, and grazing limit alfalfa …

Biochar For Soil Amendment: Applications, Benefits, And Environmental Impacts, Ujjwal Pokharel, Gururaj Neelgund, Ram L. Ray, Venkatesh Balan, Sandeep Kumar

Civil & Environmental Engineering Faculty Publications

The excessive use of chemical fertilizers results in environmental issues, including loss of soil fertility, eutrophication, increased soil acidity, alterations in soil characteristics, and disrupted plant–microbe symbiosis. Here, we synthesize recent studies available from up to 2025, focusing on engineered biochar and its application in addressing issues of soil nutrient imbalance, soil pollution from inorganic and organic pollutants, soil acidification, salinity, and greenhouse gas emissions from fields. Application of engineered biochar enhanced the removal of Cr (VI), Cd²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Eu³⁺ by 85%, 73%, 57.2%, 12.7%, 99.3%, and 99.2%, …

The Role Of Nutrient Solutions On Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria Population, Phosphorus Availability, Phosphorus Uptake, Growth And Yield Of Red Chili (Capsicum Annuum L.), Betty Natalie Fitriatin, Raden Faqih Hilmiy Ghifari, Emma Trinurani Sofyan, Fitri Widiantini, Hanif Fakhrurroja, Tualar Simarmata

Jurnal Kultivasi

Red chili consumption in Indonesia has increased every year. However, with large chili production to meet large consumption, land conversion for various purposes has reduced the harvested area. The efforts to increase the harvested area of chili using Inceptisols soil by providing nutrient solutions to overcome the infertility of the soil using its nutrients. This experiment aims to determine the effect of nutrient solution application on the population of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria, phosphorus availability, phosphorus uptake, growth, and yield of Red Chili (Capsicum annuum L.) in Inceptisols. The experiment was conducted from August 2023 to February 2024 at Ciparanje Experimental Field, …

Growth And Yield Of Bok Choy (Brassica Rapa L.) Plants In Post-Rock Excavation Soils Provided With Phosphate-Solubilizing Bacteria And Manure, Cecep Hidayat, Yati Setiati Rachmawati, Dhea Rizqi Utami, Sofiya Hasani, Anna Aina Roosda, Windhy Chandria

Jurnal Kultivasi

Elevated sand and gravel mining to meet market needs causes negative impacts on the environment, soil, and biodiversity. The government issued a regulation that requires revegetation as reclamation of mineral and coal mining. The conversion needs to overcome the physical and chemical characteristics of post-rock excavation soil that can be utilized by economic value plants such as bok choy. This experiment aimed to determine the growth and yield of bok choy on post-rock excavation soil by providing phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and various manure types. The study was conducted in Margasari Village, Buah Batu District, Bandung at an altitude of …

Bioremediation Of Pb And Cd Contaminated Soil By Mycorrhiza And Biochar Treatment And Its Effect On Growth And Yield Of Shallot, Okti Herliana, Wilis Cahyani, Yugi Rahayu Ahadiyat

Jurnal Kultivasi

The contamination of shallots in the food chain by heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) is caused by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The study aimed to determine the growth and yields of shallot cultivated on soil contaminated with Pb and Cd using mycorrhiza and biochar. The study was conducted in the screen house at Jenderal Soedirman University, Faculty of Agriculture, from April to September 2020, and it was carried out using a factorial Randomized Completely Block Design that involved three replications and two factors. The first factor of mycorrhiza dosage comprised 0, 1, and 2 g/pot, and …

Bioremediation Of Pb And Cd Contaminated Soil By Mycorrhiza And Biochar Treatment And Its Effect On Growth And Yield Of Shallot, Okti Herliana, Wilis Cahyani, Yugi Rahayu Ahadiyat

Jurnal Kultivasi

The contamination of shallots in the food chain by heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) is caused by chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The study aimed to determine the growth and yields of shallot cultivated on soil contaminated with Pb and Cd using mycorrhiza and biochar. The study was conducted in the screen house at Jenderal Soedirman University, Faculty of Agriculture, from April to September 2020, and it was carried out using a factorial Randomized Completely Block Design that involved three replications and two factors. The first factor of mycorrhiza dosage comprised 0, 1, and 2 g/pot, and …

Current Status And The Significance Of Local Wisdom Biofertilizer In Enhancing Soil Health And Crop Productivity For Sustainable Agriculture: A Systematic Literature Review, Irwandhi, Fiqriah Hanum Khumairah, Emma Trinurani Sofyan, Nadia Nuraniya Kamaluddin, Anne Nurbaity, Diyan Herdiyantoro, Tualar Simarmata

Jurnal Kultivasi

Soil fertility is recognized as a crucial factor in supporting plant growth and productivity. The utilization of biofertilizers as environmentally friendly fertilizers is aimed at enhancing soil fertility and plant productivity. This study aims to explore the potential of local material for developing local wisdom biofertilizers (LWB) for achieving sustainable agriculture. A systematic literature review was conducted using bibliometric analysis, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews, and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method, employing the Scopus search engine with the keywords "local AND wisdom AND biofertilizer" OR "biofertilizer" OR "local AND microorganism" OR "soil AND health OR crop AND productivity OR sustainable agriculture". …

Implementing Organic Fertilization Practices To Improve Aloe Vera Growth And Soil Health In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Isaiah Edward Jaramillo

Theses and Dissertations

Aloe vera (L.) (Aloe) Burm. f., is valued for its applications across the cosmetic, medicinal, and food industries due to its leaf gel. In the aloe industry, the extraction of gel from leaves generates significant quantities of organic waste, which presents an opportunity to repurpose this material as an amendment in aloe cultivation. While Aloe is renowned for its resilience, understanding the feasibility of using these organic shavings as a soil fertility amendment in aloe production is critical. This research aims to identify sustainable fertilization methods for Aloe that can maintain and/or improve crop yield while enhancing soil health. This …

Rice Response To Struvite And Other Phosphorus Fertilizers In A Phosphorus-Deficient Soil Under Simulated Furrow-Irrigation, Jonathan B. Brye, Diego Della Lunga, Kristofor R. Brye

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Wastewater-recovered phosphorus (P), in the form of the mineral struvite (MgNH₄PO₄⋅6H₂O), may provide a sustainable alternative to decreasing rock-phosphate reserves. Struvite can be generated via precipitation methods, potentially reducing the amount of P runoff to aquatic ecosystems. The objective of this greenhouse tub study was to evaluate the effects of chemically- and electrochemically precipitated struvite (CPST and ECST, respectively) on above- and belowground plant response in a hybrid rice (Oryza sativa) cultivar grown using furrow-irrigation compared to other common fertilizer-P sources [i.e., triple super phosphate (TSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP)]. Rice was …

Harvesting And Processing Techniques Of Tropical Grass And Legume Seeds For Smallfarmers, Lumyai Kowithayakorn, Chaisang Phaikaew

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

For smallfarmers of forage legumes and grasses in Thailand, manual harvesting and cleaning of leguminous seeds have been widely practised because of cheap and available labour. Tropical grasses produce more seeds than can be harvested; hence it is necessary to find means to improve harvesting and processing techniques in order to obtain high standards of both quality and quantity of seed. The main obstacles could be due to prolonged flowering nnd grain filling periods of individual seedheads resulting in the uneven ripening of seeds at harvest. Premature seeds cause low yields and low quality nt harvests in many species. Flowering …

Yield, Composition And In Vitro Digestibility Of Russell Lupin, S M. Kitessa, G D. Hill, A M. Nicol

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Six harvests were made (at 3-weekly intervals) from spring regrowth of Russell lupin (Lupinus polyphyllus x Lupinus arboreus ) to evaluate changes in yield and nutritive value with plant maturity. Dry matter (DM) yield and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentration increased from 40 to 160 g/plant and 24 to 46%, respectively, while nitrogen concentration, in vitro cellulase DM and organic matter digestibility decreased from 4.5-2.4%, 77-56% and 81-55%, respectively, as the lupins matured from late vegetative to hard pod stage. Peak digestible DM (DDM) yields of Russell lupins, at about 90 g/plant, occurred at full bloom and dry pod, …

Ruzi Grass (Brachiaria Ruziziensis) Seed Production In North-East Thailand, Chaisang Phaikaew, Chanchai Manidool, Pimpaporn Devahuti

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The recent expansion of beef and dairy production in Thailand has increased demand for pasture seed. Ruzi grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis) seed production has increased from 18 tin 1983 to 466 tin 1991. The; production sites are in the north east, where soils and climate are most suitable for seed production. 60% of all ruzi seed is being produced by smallfarmers; the rest is produced by government stations. Average farmer yield of rilzi is 400 kg • seed/h'a, with each farmer contracted 'to grow 0.32 h�� of ruzi grass, at a guaranteed price of US$2/kg; Abo·ut 2700 farmers are …

Winter Cold Temperate Rangelands: Improvement Strategies For Intensive Rangeland Ecosystems, B E. Allan, D Scott

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Transfer of developed grassland technologies to rangelands is discussed in terms of environmental gradients and the options and constraints they impose. Winier feed limitation can be overcome through conserved feeds and various in situ systems involving special purpose pastures and feed banks. General animal nutrition can be improved through intensive development, low input systems, better control of range utilisation and, where appropriate, correction of mineral deficiencies. The emphasis in seeking quick and easy solutions to rangeland management problems is questioned, A more informed, environmentally sound and sustainable approach to rangeland fanning atlitudes and management is proposed. A stepwise process to …

Puccinellia (Puccinellia Ciliata) For Dryland Salinity Management, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Puccinellia (Puccinellia ciliata) is a potentially valuable fodder on waterlogged saline land. Puccinellia, Distichlis and marine couch are the most salt tolerant of the commercially available grasses. It is best suited to areas with more than 400mm annual rainfall and where the watertable is shallow over summer.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends that any dryland salinity management is part of a whole farm, and preferably a whole catchment, water management plan.

Natural Revegetation And No Grazing, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

The department recommends that any dryland salinity management is part of a whole farm, and preferably a whole catchment, water management plan.

Natural revegetation and no grazing are only recommended for sites that are too saline, waterlogged and/or inundated for other treatments to succeed in the south-west of Western Australia. It is also the preferred option for the lowest possible cost.

Achieving Potential Herbage Seed Yields In Species Of Temperate Regions, Franco Lorenzetti

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The potential seed yield (PSY) of a crop is represented by the total number of ovules present at anthesis in a unit area and is very high for nil forage species. However, seed yield or the agricultural realised seed potential (ARSP) is very low especially if compared with major grain crops (e.g., 15% vs 40% of PSY, respectively). The need for obtaining primarily high yield of high quality forage indicates that seed yield should be increased by improving the efficiency of the reproductive system rather than increasing its size. Seed setting and development and seed shattering are the characters to …

Productivity And Nutritive Value Of Coastal And Valley Bottom Plant Communities In The Falkland Islands, J A. Kerr, J H. Mcadam

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the Falkland Islands, short dense grassland communities ("greens") in valley-bottoms, and in coastal areas often associated with dense populations of seabirds, are selectively grazed by livestock and wild geese within the extensive grazing systems. Annual and seasonal herbage productivity, botanical composition, digestibility and utilisation, of greens were experimentally assessed at 6 sites on Bast Falkland. Herbage productivity, digestibility and utilisation were higher than reported for the dominant Cortaderia communities and compared favourably with Improved pastures. Botanical composition of green types were similar. Despite their uneven distribution and low area, greens are an important forage resource and could be used …

Effect Of Nitrogen Fertilizer On Dairy Farm Productivity And Viability In The Subtropics, G K. Reason, J Chaseling

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nitrogen fertiliser as urea was applied to dryland grass pastures in south east Queensland to improve the quantity and quality of feed on offer to grazing dairy cows. Milk production per cow and reproductive performance data suggest that the groups of cows that benefited most were the winter calvers, which calved at significantly higher live weights and were therefore better able to overcome short periods of nutritional stress due to feed shortages in winter. Whole farm input• output data suggests that a reasonable whole farm production model relating milk produced from paddock feed and nitrogen fertiliser use is feasible. The …

Festival Of Research Abstracts, Fall 2024, College Of Science And Mathematics, Wright State University

Festival of Research

The collection of abstracts accepted for the Fall 2024 Festival of Research hosted by the Wright State University College of Science and Mathematics.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2023, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Usa, Scott Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon sponsors an annual poster session at every Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 35th Sigma Gamma Epsilon undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2023 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, on Monday, October 16, 2022. Sixty-three (63) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall B at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM at the poster session. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are listed in this report.

Intake Of South African Mutton Merino Ewes On Wheat Stubble Grazing, T S. Brand, J M. Van Heerden, F Franck

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Wheat stubble was grazed continuously for 154 days during the summer (December-April) by reproducing and dry ewes (n-8) at 2 stocking rates ( 1 or 2 ewes/ha), Samples were collected for chemical analysis from oesophageally fistulated (OF) sheep. Intake was determined using controlled chromium-release devices. The mean CP, ADF and NDF contents and iii vitro OM digestibility of samples were respectively 16.1:t0.4%; 40.7:t0.8%, 59.0:tl.1% and 48.5±0.7% t 1 ewe/ha and 10.8±1.1%; 53.9±1.1%, 72.1±0.9% and 48.8:t0.7% at 2 ewes/ha. The mean CP intake of dry ewes was 202±7 g/day (I ewe/ha) and 113:t6 g/day (2 ewes/ha), while the CP intake of …

Monthly Changes In Plant Biomass, Net Primary Productivity And Transfer Dynamics Of A Tropical Grazing Land Ecosystem In Southern India, K.S T.K Karuniachamy, K Paliwal

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Monthly changes in plant biomass, net primary productivity and transfer dynamics of tropical grazing land of western Ghats region, southern India, are presented. The annual above- ground net production was 9.03 g/m2/day and the below-ground net production was 2.56 g/m2/day. Total annual net primary production was estimated at 4232 g/m2/day. Of the total input of 11.59 g/m2/day into the system, about 77.9% was channelled to above-ground and 22.1% to below­ground, The rate of litter disappearance was 0.55 g/m2/day and l.14 g/ m2/day for below-ground disappearance. The total output was 1.69 g/ m2/day which was 14.6% of the total input. Thus, …

Effect Of A Legume (Arachis Pintoi) On The Regrowth And Mineral Nutrition Of Associated Pangola Grass (Digitaria Decumbens), P Cruz, H Sinoquet, O Sobesky

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of a companion legume (Arachis pintoi) on the growth and nitrogen nutrition of an associated grass (Di'gitaria decumbems) was studied during 2 regrowth periods. Digitaria growth was expressed as a function of the cumulative absorded PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) i.e., by using the radiation-use efficiency concept. For this purpose, PAR intercepted by both the pure and mixed swards was estimated by using a radiative transfer model. Nitrogen nutrition status of Digitaria was characterised by the relation between N uptake and dry matter production. Results show a close agreement between N nutrition level and radiation-use efficiency of the grass. …

Reserve Mobilization During Regrowth After Cutting Of Forage Species: Quantification And Physiological Mechanisms In Ryegrass And Lucerne, A Ourry, J Bigot, T Kim, J Boucaud, J Salette

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Time course of remobilisation of reserves was studied during the regrowth of Loli11m perem1e and Medicago sativa by 15N labelling, carbohydrate analyses and by measuring time course of several enzymes activities. When photosynthesis decreased during early regrowth, and consequently reduced availability of carbon skeletons within the plant, both nitrogen (N) uptake (lolium perene) and N2 fixatlon (Medicago saliva) decreased. Nilrogenase, as well as nitrate reductase activities, decreased. Reduction of external N assimilation was compensated for by intensive mobilization of endogenous N in roots of lucerne and in stubble of ryegrass. In the same manner, some of …

Quantification Of Nutrients Consumed And Utilized By Holstein Cows Grazing Grass Pastures In The North-Eastern Usa, Lisa A. Holden, L D. Muller, G A. Varga, S L. Fales

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Managing the nutrition of high producing dairy cows on pasture in the north-eastern USA is challenging owing to difficulty in accurately estimating intake and In determining nutrient utilisation by grazing dairy cows. In Trial 1, 16 lactating Holstein cows were used to estimate intake with an intensively grazed orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) pasture with 2 stocking rates of 2.S and 3,9 cows/ha in a 24 week grazing season. Cows were fed a grain supplement which comprised about 35% of the diet dry matter. Chromium oxide was used as an external marker in faeces, Results of Trial 1 indicated total …

Crop Processing And Fractionation As A Commercial Proposition To Forage-Based Animal Systems, H T. Ostrowski-Meissner

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The paper outlines crop processing and fractionation technology as it applies to an intensive forage-based operation with beef cattle, The benefits of forage processing prior to its feeding to cattle are described with an emphasis not only on the uniformity of the nutritive quality of the processed product but also on the extra financial benefits resulting from the wet fractionation process. The value-added primary products from the fractionation process ensure extra return to the. forage producers, crop processing installation and the feedlot operation. The characteristics of the fractionation products derived from lucerne and other crops are described.

Bermudagrass Allelochemistry And Influence On Spodoptera Frugiperda Herbivory, S Quisenberry, M Mohamed

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cultivated area of bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.), in the USA are under stress from a complex of insect and secondary fungal pests which has resulted in a loss in crop production. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)) is the major insect herbivore of bermudagrass in the south-eastern USA. Bermudagrass breeding programmes over the last decade have yielded germplasm with potential insect-resistant traits. Thus, a programme was initiated to define bermudagrass allelochemislry with respect to insect herbivory. Pall armyworm is variably responsive to bermudagrass cultivars, the basis being causally related to a differential concentration of the phagostimulant 6, …

Transfer Of Genes Encoding Proteins With High Nutritional Value Into Pasture Legumes, W C. Mcnabb, C Higgins, L Tabe, T J.V Higgins

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Gene transfer systems for the forage legumes, subterranean clover (Trlfolium subterraneum) and lucerne (Medicago saltva) have been developed and optimised for current commercial cultivars. A disarmed binary vector derived from the Agrobacterium tunefaciens tumour• inducing plasmid has been used to deliver a selectable marker gene conferring resistance to phosphinothricin (the active ingredient in the herbicide, Basta) and a series of chimeric gene constructs encoding proteins that are rich in sulphur amino acids and resistant to rumen degradation. Transgenic plants expressing a gene encoding either ovalbumin or a sunflower albumin have been obtained and analyzed with respect to …

Genetic Engineering Of Pasture Legume And Grasses For Reduced Lignin Content And Increased Digestibility, C Lynne Mcintyre, J M. Manners, J R. Wilson, H Way, D Sharp

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Plants of tropical pastures have a higher lignin content than those of temperate pastures, which limits the digestibility and nutritive value of these forages. Ribozyme and antisense RNA technology is being investigated as a method of reducing lignin levels and increasing digestibility in the tropical forage Stylosanthes spp, and in the model system tobacco. Ribozymes to the tobacco anionic peroxidase mRNA have been designed and shown to be capable of cleaving this mRNA in vitro. Constructs for the expression of antisense and ribozyme RNA to reduce peroxidase gene expression have been prepared, Transgenic tobacco plants containing these constructs have been …

Application Of The Somaclone Method In Fertility Restoration Of The Partially Sterile Hybrid Of Agropyron Repens X Bromus Inermis: Callus Initiation And Plant Regeneration, L E. Heszky, J Janovsky, G Gyulai, E Kiss, L T. Hangyel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

. Callus initiation and plant regeneration from the new intergeneric hybrid of Agropyron repens L., Beauv, x Bromus inermis.1 Leyss. cv. Nanus (Agromus) was carried out. For callus initiation, the inflorescence primordia were incubated on an optimised nutritive medium designated medium-F, supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (0.5 mg/ I). Within 21 days of plating, embryogenic callus with globular structures were developed, From the 21st day of culture, one-step plant regeneration occurred from callus without subculture. Non-regenerative calli were subcultured to medium-F supplemented with different cytokinins. The cytological analysis of the calli showed wide genetic:il variability in chromosome number with …