Digital Commons Network^™

Assessment Of Soil Structure And Root Patterns By Means Of Micro-X-Ray Computed Tomography In Temperate Grassland Sites, K. Kuka, M. Joschko

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland sites are important ecosystems delivering essential ecosystem services such as carbon storage and filtering of water. Adequate management necessitates a better understanding of soil ecological processes in grassland ecosystems. Of special interest is the relationship between soil structure and root development. In a project within the Biodiversity Exploratory Initiative (http://www.biodiversity-exploratories.de), undisturbed soil cores from 31 grassland plots from Swabian Alb Biodiversity exploratory in Germany were investigated by means of X-ray micro computed tomography. This allows the simultaneous determination of soil physical and root parameters in one sample. VG StudioMax® version 2.1 was used to apply a combination of histogram …

Spatio-Temporal Dynamics Of The Dual-Purpose Cattle Value Chain In The Colombian Amazonas, A. Leinert, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The cattle sector plays an important role in the economy of the Caquetá department, located in the Colombian Amazon. However, the predominantly extensive production system is associated with low productivity and negative environmental impacts, such as land degradation, greenhouse gas emissions, and deforestation. Efforts to introduce improved practices (e.g., improved forages or silvopastoral systems) have been made over the last decades, but adoption rates remain low. Though several studies have analyzed the cattle value chain (VC) to enhance the understanding of adoption barriers, the heterogeneity of farmers has been considered only marginally when trying to explain their adoption behavior. To …

Predicting Forage Provision Of Grasslands Across Climate Zones By Hyperspectral Measurements, F. A. Männer, J. Muro, J. Ferner, S. Schmidtlein, A. Linstädter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The potential of grasslands’ fodder production is a crucial management measure, while its quantification is still laborious and costly. Remote sensing technologies, such as hyperspectral field measurements, enable fast and non-destructive estimation. However, such methods are still limited in transferability to other locations or climatic conditions. With this study, we aim to predict forage nutritive value, quantity, and energy yield from hyperspectral canopy reflections of grasslands across three climate zones. We took hyperspectral measurements with a field spectrometer from grassland canopies in temperate, tropical and semi-arid grasslands, and analyzed corresponding biomass samples for their quantity (BM), metabolizable energy content (ME) …

Themeda Triandra As A Perennial Seed Crop In South-Eastern Australia: What Are The Agronomic Possibilities And Constraints, And Future Research Needs?, D. Male, J. Hunt, C. Celestina, J. Morgan, D. Gupta, Dja Dja Wurrung People

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Australia, the development of native perennial seed crops is an area of increasing interest. Reasons for this include the production of high-value seed, the significance of native plants to Aboriginal people and the importance of diversified cropping in building more resilient farming systems. One species of interest is Themeda triandra, a C4 perennial tussock grass that dominated grasslands and woodlands across Australia prior to European invasion. Djaara, the traditional owner group representing the Dja Dja Wurrung people of Djandak (Dja Dja Wurrung country in central Victoria), is one group who seek to return T. triandra to the landscape …

Heavy Metal Movement Through Insect Food Chains In Pristine Thermal Springs Of Yellowstone National Park, Braymond Adams, John Bowley, Monica Rohwer, Erik Oberg, Kelly Willemssens, Wendy Wintersteen, Robert K.D. Peterson, Leon G. Higley

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

Yellowstone National Park thermal features regularly discharge various heavy metals and metalloids. These metals are taken up by microorganisms that often form mats in thermal springs. These microbial mats also serve as food sources for invertebrate assemblages. To examine how heavy metals move through insect food webs associated with hot springs, two sites were selected for this study. Dragon-Beowulf Hot Springs, acid-sulfate chloride springs, have a pH of 2.9, water temperatures above 70 ^oC, and populations of thermophilic bacterial, archaeal, and algal mats. Rabbit Creek Hot Springs, alkaline springs, have a pH of up to 9, some water temperatures …

A Case For Hope In A Warming World, Noreen L. Herzfeld

Reuter Professorship of Science and Religion Publications

It is difficult to feel hopeful in a rapidly warming world. But hope is not just a feeling. It is an active verb, one that calls for courage, solidarity, a clear vision, and hard work. First, knowing that each fraction of a degree counts, humanity is called not to despair but to use every technology and means, technologies we already have. Second, we can be encouraged by a vision of a new world and society that works for everyone. Third, we can be heartened by nature’s resilience and an evolutionary theology that looks toward the future.

Evaluating Sojump.Com As A Tool For Online Behavioral Research In China, Alessandro Del Ponte, Lianjun Li, Lina Ang, Noah Lim, Wei Jie Seow

Political Science Faculty Articles and Research

SoJump.com (wjx.cn; in short: SoJump) is a survey company that allows researchers to build and deploy inexpensive online surveys in China. Here we evaluate SoJump’s data quality and similarity to the national benchmark. In the first study, we compare SoJump’s performance in China to MTurk’s performance against national benchmarks in the United States and India. In the second study, we compare three Chinese platforms in two-wave panel studies. We conducted the panels on SoJump, Credamo (SoJump’s major competitor), and Cint (national benchmark). We included attention and comprehension checks, economic games, cognitive tasks, and a framing experiment. We find that SoJump’s …

Recent Advances And Applications Of Nanostructured Membranes In Water Purification, Didem Aydin, İlkay Hilal Gübbük, Mustafa Ersöz

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

In recent years, water pollution caused by hazardous materials such as metals, drugs, pesticides, and insecticides has become a very serious environmental and health problem that needs to be addressed urgently. The nutritional needs associated with the increasing population also increase the demand for water use and rapidly increase the rate of freshwater consumption. Since most of the water in the universe is in the form of sea water, which cannot be directly used, freshwater resources are limited ,compared to the existing available water. When addressing the purification of all kinds of pollution in environmental research, nanostructured membranes attract attention …

Chromium Speciation In Water Using Magnetic Polyaniline Nanoparticles Coupled With Microsampling Injection-Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, Osman Çaylak

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The chromium speciation procedure was optimized using magnetic polyaniline nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PANI NPs) solid-phase extraction coupled with microsampling injection-flame atomic absorption spectrometry (MIS-FAAS). Chromium speciation was successfully achieved by Fe3O4@PANI NPs at pH 8.0. The recoveries obtained for Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were above 95% and under 5%, respectively. Recoveries of over 95% for Cr(III) from 40.0 mL of the sample were obtained using 25 mg Fe3O4@PANI NPs and 500 µL of 0.2% (w/v) thiourea (TU) solution prepared in 2 mol L–1 HCl as eluent. Total chromium as Cr(III) was extracted quantitatively after reducing the Cr(VI) to Cr(III). The linear range, detection …

Detection And Monitoring Of Plant Pathogens And Pests, Walter F. Mahaffee, Lindsey D. Thiessen, Kevin M. King, Robin A. Choudhury

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Sustainability Of Biogas Production From Anaerobic Digestion Of Food Waste And Animal Manure, Sharath Kumar Ankathi, Utkarsh S. Chaudhari, Robert Handler, David R. Shonnard

Michigan Tech Publications

Anaerobic digestion (AD) involves a set of microbiological reactions and physio-chemical processes to generate biogas, a mixture of predominantly CH4 and CO2. It is commercialized globally; however, AD has limited commercial applications in the U.S. compared to other regions of the world. The main objective of this article is to review different studies on socio-economic and environmental aspects and policies of biogas/biomethane production and to focus on resource availability. The key outcome from this review shows that the anaerobic digestion of food waste and animal manure has great potential to achieve economic and environmental benefits compared to other waste management …

The Use Of Livestock Gps Trackers To Determine The Grazing Patterns Of Herded And Free Ranging Cattle In The Communal Rangelands Of The Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, A. Finca, T. C. Zondani, J. T. Tjelele, M. P. Mavuso

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was set in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa which is predominantly rural and where livelihood sustainability is largely dependent on agricultural outputs including livestock production. Land in many of the rural, former homeland areas is held under communal land tenure which means access, utilisation and management is on a collective basis. A number of grazing strategies have been applied over the last hundred years including camp rotational grazing system. However, due to a number of factors including the absence of the communal rangeland and camp boundary fence, most villages do not have a rangeland management strategy …

Preparing Grasslands Scientists For Careers In International Agriculture, M. Eilittä

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livelihoods of a billion poor people depend on grasslands. Dedicated and trained experts are needed to support grasslands’ sustainable development under increasing pressures in the future. For some grasslands scientists, a career in international agriculture is the principal focus from the start of their education. For others, interest in international agriculture emerges during their careers. All require international opportunities to ensure that their efforts are focused on important priorities, that they understand the environment they work in, and that their professional networks are up to date. This paper reflects on ways for grassland scientists to be engaged in international agriculture …

How ‘Pasture For Life (Championing 100% Pasture-Fed Ruminant Products) Has Taken Off In The Uk – From The Bottom Up!, S. J. Gregson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ten years ago Pasture for Life (PfL) was a collection of around 50 UK farmers who were producing high quality ruminant food products wholly from pasture. They were regenerative farming pioneers and PfL was run by volunteers and funded through various grants. In the past two to three years, membership has increased significantly, nearing 1,000 with almost 150 certified Pasture for Life (100% grass-fed). The organisation is now run by a paid executive and is bursting with energy, conversation, and learning. Members are mainly farmers, but also include butchers, chefs, vets, academics and consumers – all keen to champion the …

Rotational Stocking With Virtual Fences: Effects On Grassland Diet Digestibility, Livestock Performance And Stress Levels Of Heifers, N. A. Grinnell, D. Hamidi, M. Komainda, F. Reisch, J. Horn, I. Traulsen, R. Palme, J. Isselstein

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Virtual fencing is an innovative technology for simplified, less laborious dynamic grazing management and remote animal monitoring. The effect of this novel technology on animal welfare is still a matter of debate. Previous research suggests no differences in stress experience responses of cattle between the two fencing systems on continuously stocked pastures. This study investigated differences in diet organic matter digestibility, livestock performance and fecal cortisol metabolite concentrations of heifers on pastures in a rotational grazing system, fenced with a virtual fence (Nofence, Batnfjordsøra Norway) compared to heifers fenced with a traditional electric wire fence. The study was conducted in …

The Pathogenicity Of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Faecalis To Colon Cancer Cells, Li Zhang, Mingxia Deng, Jing Liu, Jiajie Zhang, Fangyu Wang, Wei Yu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenicity of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VREs) to human colon cells in vitro.

METHODS: Three E. faecalis isolates (2 VREs and E. faecalis ATCC 29212) were cocultured with NCM460, HT-29 and HCT116 cells. Changes in cell morphology and bacterial adhesion were assessed at different time points. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression were measured via RT-qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. Cell migration and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) tube formation assays were used for angiogenesis studies. The activity of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was measured …

Accelerate Innovation Of Forage Intelligent Breeding Technology: Reflection And Suggestions, Haichun Jing, Weijuan Hu, Jingbo Jin, Jingyu Zhang, Yao Zhou, Yue Gong, Gang Yao, Lei Wang, Kang Chong

Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Chinese Version)

The world is facing unprecedented changes today, with continuous population growth intensifying the pressure on food demand. The shift towards diversified dietary structures has increased the demand for feed grains, while climate change further threatens China’s food security by affecting agricultural productivity and carbon sequestration economy. At present, China has entered a new era of food supply and feed. As the food supply for animals, forage is the core component of feed, and its industrial development has profound strategic significance for ensuring national food security. This study analyzes the current situation of China’s forage seed industry, summarizes the cutting-edge achievements …

Herbaceous Tropical Legume Integration Into Small-Holder Crop-Livestock Systems In Eastern Indonesia: Results Of 10-Years Of Multi-Disciplinary Systems Research, L. W. Bell, D. Mayberry, K. Cox, S. Traill, J. Nulik, E. J. Hosang, D. Kana Hau

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Integration a forage legume into crop-livestock systems of Eastern Indonesia was tested to establish the capacity to improve nitrogen supply and yields of staple cereal crops (maize and rice) and allow for intensification of beef production to ultimately increase farm income and alleviate rural poverty in the region. Species evaluation sites across a diversity of environments showed Clitoria ternatea (butterfly pea) to be the most resilient and adaptable forage legume for use in association with cropping systems. Crop rotation experiments demonstrated that legumes grown in rotation with maize or rice can increase grain yields by 50% where legume was cut …

Drone And Digital Camera Imagery Estimate C3 And C4 Grass Ratios In Pastures, J. A. Bush, C. D. Teutsch, S. R. Smith, J. C. Henning

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The following study investigates the accuracy and practicality of exploiting the color dichotomy present between C3 and C4 grass species to estimate their respective proportions from drone or camera captured imagery. Understanding the proportions of C3 and C4 grasses in pastures is vital to sound decision making for livestock production. The ability to monitor these proportions remotely will also allow for large scale monitoring as well as detection of changes in botanical composition over time and in response to weather events, management, or climate change. A free green canopy cover (GCC) analyzing software, Canopeo, was used to quantify green plants …

The Nutritional Dynamic Is Key For Use Optimal Forage And Increase Of Meat Production, Bernal-Flores Alvaro, E. A. Pizarro, Quero Carillo Raymundo, Pérez Rodríguez Paulino

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The nutritional content grass could be considered a key tool to determine the optimal forage use, based on the requirements of the cattle to maximize production and achieve a highly productive and profitable livestock. The degradation protein complex associated with autophagy plant determines to a great extent the protein content of the grass over time, being priority found the value nutritional required for the livestock for intensification the animal production. The crude protein requirements (CP, 13.5%) to cover nutritional needs in cattle, was established between 28±1 y 30±1 for the dry period and wet period respectively in Camello® hybrid grass. …

Regenera+.Uy: Designing A Co-Innovation Process To Apply The Principles Of Regenerative Livestock Production, Oscar Blumetto, M. Bustamante, A. Castagna, D. Caresani, G. Ciappesoni, R. Baptista, I. De Barbieri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Consumers around the world are beginning to demand products whose production systems have environmental guarantees. Among them, those derived from regenerative agriculture have a growing demand in many markets. A comprehensive environmental assessment was carried out in 9 case studies of mixed livestock production farms (cattle and sheep) in Uruguay as a basis for the development of a system redesign process following the principles of regenerative agriculture. The results show that emission intensity was 16.0, 10.5, and 49.2 kg CO2 eq kg-1 of beef, sheep meat, and greasy wool, respectively. Also, a simulation exercise shows a significative reduction of emission …

Estimating Forage Biomass Using Unmanned Ground And Aerial Vehicles, B. A. Koc, J. Singh, M. J. Aguerre,

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The assessment of the amount of biomass in the field is one of the critical factors that helps to manage and optimize numerous operations associated with forage management in the livestock industry. Pasture management decisions about stocking rate, grazing duration, and fertilizer application rate depend on accurate forage availability measurements. The objective of this study was to develop different nondestructive methods of forage biomass estimation using unmanned vehicles based on the relationship between crop height (CH) and the measured above-ground biomass. The unmanned vehicle-based methods were developed and tested on Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa) and Tall Fescue (Schedonorus …

Genetic Modification – Applications For Forage And Grassland Production Systems, J. R. Caradus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Genetic modification has been extensively used in crops for 25 years but has rarely been a technology used to advance trait expression in forage and grassland species. The exceptions are the use of herbicide tolerance and low lignin traits in alfalfa which are currently commercially available. In crop species genetic modification has been a valuable option for delivering improved economic and environmental outcomes through providing solutions for many of the challenges facing mankind. There are a many beneficial characteristics that genetic modification has the potential to provide in forage and grassland species. Managing these in the environment and understanding consumer …

Stoloniferous Forage Legumes For Sustainable Mixed Pastures In The Tropics, R. M. Boddey, C De P Rezende, J. Marques Pereira, C. A. Dos Santos, Animal Husbandry Station Of The Extreme South Of Bahia, Brazil, I. O. Ramalho, R. M. Macedo, B. C. G. Homem, D. R. Casagrande, S. Urquiaga, B. J. R. Alves

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brazil has over 80 million ha of tropical pastures formed with species of Brachiaria (syn. Urochloa), mostly grazed by beef cattle and with low fertilizer inputs, especially nitrogen. Recent investigations by our team show that stoloniferous legumes such as forage peanut (Arachis pintoi) and Desmodium ovalifolium are able to persist in mixed swards with Brachiaria brizantha (cv. Marandu) if grazing height is regulated (maximum 30 cm) so that radiation can reach the soil surface allowing stolons to take root. These legumes can persist in mixed pastures and produce milk or animal weight gains similar to the application …

Exploring Profitable, Sustainable Livestock Businesses In An Increasingly Variable Climate, B. R. Cullen, M. T. Harrison, D. Mayberry, D. Cobon, N. Reichelt, A. Sinnet, Km Christie, F. Bilotto, D-A An-Vo, C. Stokes, L. Perry, T. Davison

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock production systems will need to change in many regions of the world to meet the dual challenges of adaptation to a changing climate and reducing net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The ‘Nexus project’ is exploring these options using seven case studies in eastern Australia spanning a range of production systems from semi-arid beef production in northern Australia to mixed beef and sheep production in cool temperate climates of southern Australia. Regional reference groups, made up of 4-6 local farmers and advisers, identified a series of farm systems changes that could be made to meet these challenges. Options were categorised …

Curbing Crop Farmers And Herders Clashes In Nigeria: The Ranching Option, T. T. Akpensuen, M. B. Foreman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nigeria is a West African country with a huge population and over 70% of the population are peasant and subsistence farmers scattered in rural areas. Due to a decrease in arable and grazing lands, there are clashes between crop farmers and herders which have increased significantly in the last two decades. Some of the causes of the clashes include the destruction of crops by cattle, contamination of drinking water sources, sexual harassment of women by herders, animal rustling and killings, impunity and ineffective governance security agencies, tremendous increase in population, urbanization, desertification, industrialisation, insurgency, banditry, ethnic and religious inclination, effects …

Public Policies For The Development Of A Sustainable, Forage-Based Cattle Sector In Colombia, Argentina, And Costa Rica: A Comparative Analysis, S. Burkart, M. Diaz, Moreno Lerma

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Projected increases in global food demand highlight the importance of Latin America as one of the major future food suppliers, particularly regarding animal-source foods such as beef or milk. Despite the importance of the cattle sector for the region, its negative environmental impacts are numerous and the shift towards sustainability is perceived as slow and uncoordinated. This study aims to identify achievements and difficulties in the implementation of public policies for a sustainable cattle sector in Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica, for which policies focused on the use of silvo-pastoral systems and forage-based solutions are prioritized. Based on the review …

Grasslands, Rangelands, Pastoralists – What Do We Mean?, D. M. Kelly, Ann Waters-Bayer, K. L. Johnson, Maryam Niamir-Fuller, Chris Magero, Tungalag Ulambayer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The terms grasslands and rangelands are often confused, but the terms used to describe the people who live and manage these areas are even more confusing. The myriad of words used about these people includes: pastoralists, farmers, ranchers, herders, transhumants, indigenous peoples, nomads, graziers, gauchos. The terms used vary across the world, and meanings vary across time and space. One definition of pastoralists is “livestock-keepers who specialise in taking advantage of variability, managing grazing itineraries at a variety of scales so that livestock feed better than without a herder” (Krätli 2019). The United Nations Decade of Family Farming defines farmers …

Barriers/Drivers Of Diverse Perennial Systems: Policy Recommendations, M. L. Krome, A. S. Finan, J. Obudzinski, N. Serrano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Despite growing documentation of perennial- and grass-based systems’ importance in addressing many ecological, infrastructural, farmer profitability, and climate concerns, these systems do not predominate on most United States farm and ranch lands. To better understand what impedes their wider adoption, we undertook four focus groups of diverse current and potential farmers using perennial systems. We were especially interested in how these farmers access, or don’t, insurance, credit, and federal programs, identifying patterns among farmers embracing more sustainable practices. Our virtual focus groups comprised 16 farmers in ten states, transecting climate zones and representing both rural and urban production systems and …

Applying The Concepts Of Animal Husbandry To Human Health, John Madany

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Instead of a new paradigm, we need to modify an old paradigm. We must focus on restoring soil health and reviving human health. Ruminants can be used to heal the land and the people. Pastoralists, by managing ruminants, can preserve their own health while promoting soil health.