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Mineral Composition Of Grasses Grown On Peat Soils In Northwestern Hungary And Fertilization Experiments. Manganese, R Schmidt, J Varga, G Tolgyesi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The main goal of these experiments which were carried out for four years was to study the mineral composition of grasses grown on peat soil, where preliminary studies indicated manga­nese, copper and zinc deficiency. We tried to eliminate these deficiences by agrochemical methods, because in our opinion, intervening in the first part of the foodchain - in the soil - we can contribute to solving of the deficiency problems more fund­amentaly (Ti:ilgyesi et al., 1983).

Characterization Of Biological Properties Of Fodder Value Of Dandelion, Taraxacum Officinale Web., M Falkowski, I Kukulka, S Kozlowski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In recent years the quantities of dandelion appearing on newly established grasslands has increased quite significantly. In such conditions it can no longer be treated as a meadow herb whose fodder value, according to European literature, equals half of that of valuable fodder plants. Becoming a weed, dan­delion has been the object of investigations on ways of elimina­ting it from the sward by means of herbicides (Schlotter et al., 1988). At the same time, experiments are under way on biologi­cal properties of dandelion with the aim to explain the causes of its expansion. It was found that there is an …

Location Of Polyphenols In Leaves Of Serciea Lespedeza, C O'H Mosjidis, C M. Peterson, J A. Mosjidis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Preliminary studies in sericea lespedeza, a nonbloating for­age legume, indicated that its palatability and digestibility were reduced by high levels of phenolics (Clarke el al., 1939). Another study suggested that younger parts of the shoots are more palatable than older leaves and stems (Donnelly el al., 1971). Nevertheless, younger leaves have been reported to con­tain higher levels of phenolics (Burns, 1966). Polyphenols have been thought to play a role as growth regulators and in protection against insects and diseases. Also they seem to be associated with lignification (Salatino el al., 1988). The present study was performed to determine whether his­tological …

Effect Of Endophytic Fungus Infection, Water Stress And Genotype On K, Ca And Mg Concentration Of Fescue, S R. Wilkinson, D P. Belesky, W C. Stringer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Replacement of endophyte infected tall fescue with endo­phyte free tall fescue is recommended to avoid tall fescue toxi­cosis. Fribourg et al. (1988) suggest that the endophyte may enhance tolerance of tall fescue to environmental stresses, including drought. This controlled environment study was undertaken to determine the effect of water stress on the K, Ca and Mg concentration of four genotypic selections of tall fescue with and without fungal endophytes. This paper emphasizes water stress and endophyte effects. The growth characteristics are reported elsewhere (Belesky et al. 1989).

Effect Of Fertilizers On Cutting On Time On Chemical Composition Of Sward From Permanent Meadow, A Golob, Zdenka Berloznik, M Leskosek, Vekoslava Stibilj

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ecological problems and surpluses of milk and meat have given rise to less intensive systems of grassland utilisation. One of such system is utilisation of air nitrogen via legume sym­biosis with nitrogen fixing bacteria. In Slovenia, where conditions for legume growth are more favourable than in NW Europe, natural meadows fertilized with P and K only give reasonable yields - on average around 7 t DM per ha (Leskosek, 1981). Most legumes suffer after fre­quent defoliation so such meadows should be defoliated only 2- 3 times during the growing season. Under less frequent cutting regime nutritive value of forage is …

The Effect Of N And K Fertilizers On The No3 Content Of Different Grass Species And Mixtures, A Szodfridt, J Varga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The major quantity of the annual grassland vegetation comes from the first cut in Hungary because of the continental climate of the country. Next to the energy content of grasses it is important to have informations about the amount of some possible toxic components such as nitrate. The critical NO3- value is considered to be 0.25-0.31 % in DM (Andreev, 1981), NO3 content higher than 0.6 % in DM is toxic (Kemp et al., 1977). Ebert et al. (1977) showed that 120 kg/ha N given for the 1st cut did not raise NO3 content higher than the critical value. K …

Determination Of Condensed Tannins In Tropical Legume Forages, L Telek

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect of condensed tannins (proanthocyanidins) in ruminant nutrition is complex and needs further interdiscipli­nary reinvestigations with improved analytical methods. With the « cell rupture » theory of legume pasture bloat (Howarth et al., 1978), the role of condensed tannins seems to be secondary; they are acting as protein precipitants (Goplen et al., 1980) and inhibiting microbiological proliferation in cell­ular spaces (Howarth et al., 1982). Their assumed interference with digesting enzymes in vivo is doubtful (Mole and Water­man, 1985). On the importance of condensed tannins in nutrition, several reviews were published (McLeod, 1974; Tempel, 1982; Kumar and Singh, 1984 and …

Screening Sericea Lespedeza Germplasm For Tannin Concentration In The Leaves And Herbage Palatability, J C. Petersen, J A. Mosjidis, N S. Hill

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Several million hectares in the subtropical world are currently used as grazing land for beef and dairy cattle, how­ever, in many cases animal production is very low. To improve animal nutrition, cultivated legume species can be introduced. Sericea lespedeza has potential and could be utilized in the acid soils of the· subtropics. Generally, sericea is low in palatability and nutritive value because its leaves contain tannins, which have long been associ­ated with low intake and reduced digestibility. Tannins are responsible for an astringent or bitter taste caused by the pre­cipitation of salivary glycoprotein (Goldstein and Swain, 1963). Chopping or macerating …

The Effect Of Selenium Fertilizer On The Selenium Status Of Sheep Grazing Annual Pasture In South-Western Australia, B R. Whelan, D W. Peter, N J. Barrow, D J. Buscall, V C. Cox

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

White muscle disease was first reported in grazing livestock in Western Australia by Gardiner (1961). Sheep affected by the disease could be divided into two categories : young suckling lambs in winter and early spring, and weaners and hoggets in summer (Gardiner et al., 1962). Subsequent investigations showed that, while there were few clinical symptoms of sel­enium deficiency, there were probably many sheep suffering from ill-thrift. This sub-clinical deficiency caused reduced liveweight gains, reduced wool production and lowered ewe fertility. It was most noticeable in areas of greater than 600 mm of annual rainfall on the lighter sandy soils with …

Synthesis Of Cell Wall Components In Maize Internodes, J H. Cherney, J J. Volenec, G A. Brown

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cell wall structure affects intake and digestibility of forages by rummants. Before microbial degradation of cell walls can be understood, it will be necessary to have a better understanding of cell wall formation. Internodes of grasses elongate in a_cropetal succession, with two internodes usually elongating s1multaneously. Elongating internodes consist of three regions : 1) a zone of cell division, 2) a zone of cell elongation, and 3) a zone of secondary cell wall deposition. This tissue provides an excellent system for studying cell wall changes in rapidly developing tissues. Our objectives were to : 1) examine changes in cell wall …

Natural And Artificial Drying Effects On Condensed Tannins Of Sericea Lespedeza, T H. University Of Georgia, W R. Windham, J J. Evans, C S. Hoveland

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont-Cours.) G. Don.] is well adapted to acid soils and low fertility but has generally been considered a low-quality forage due to high levels of tannin and indigestible fiber. Tannin levels increase during midsummer (Windham et al. 1988). The most com­monly used assay for tannin in sericea is the vanillin-HCl pro­cedure (Burns, 1963) on oven-dried samples. Oven-drying has been reported to cause increased polymerization or oxidative changes in tannins (Goldstein and Swain, 1963). Fresh-frozen sericea contained higher amounts of extract­able tannin than field-dried forage and fiber digestibility of high-tannin sericea by sheep was much lower …

A Tale Of Two Asters: Resolving The Plant And Microbial Community Structure Of An Invasive And Native Forb, William Cartelli

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

Old fields dominated by flowering forbs are frequent targets for ecological restoration, particularly because they are often inhabited by invasive species whose ecological effects remain context dependent and widely debated. While native plants are typically favored in restoration efforts, and invasive species viewed as threats to biodiversity, such classifications may oversimplify ecological function. This study investigates two dominant genera of the Asteraceae family —Centaurea stoebe (L) (non-native) and Solidago spp. (S. rugosa and S. canadensis, both native)—to examine whether biogeographic origin or ecological strategy more strongly influences their impact on above and below ground community structure. Despite their contrasting origins, …

Reevaluating The Role Of Ruppia Maritima: Recruitment Dynamics And Habitat Use By Blue Crabs (Callinectes Sapidus) And Associated Benthic Fauna In A Mid-Atlantic Seagrass Community, Delaney St. Pierre

Theses, Dissertations and Culminating Projects

The value of seagrasses as essential fish habitat is well recognized, but limited data exist on the value of one particular species, Ruppia maritima (widgeon grass), as habitat for fish and invertebrates. During the summer of 2024, I evaluated R. maritima, Zostera marina (eelgrass) and mixed beds to assess their relative value as habitat in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey. Results from throw traps indicated significant monthly differences for pipefish, gobies, blue crabs, grass shrimp, and sand shrimp, driven by active recruitment events. When evaluating habitat type, we found no taxa that were significantly more abundant in Z. marina habitat as …

Mitigating Nitrogen Losses: The Role Of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers In Sustainable Corn Production, Dipesh Giri

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

Nitrogen (N) is essential for crop production, but its inefficient use often leads to environmental losses through nitrate leaching, ammonia volatilization, and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions. Enhanced efficiency fertilizers (EEFs), such as nitrification inhibitors (NIs) and urease inhibitors (UIs), have been developed to minimize these losses and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE). This research combined a multi-year field experiment and a controlled laboratory study to evaluate how dual-inhibitor fertilizers compare to conventional urea and single-inhibitor formulations in Nebraska cropping systems. The main objective was to understand how nitrogen inhibitors influence N availability, crop performance, and nitrogen losses across different environmental …

Extending Cover Crop Growing Window To Improve The Health Of Environmentally Sensitive Soils, Noshin Ara Tunazzina

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

Sloping and sandy soils are highly susceptible to degradation. The health of these soils could be improved with cover crops (CCs). However, CC effectiveness in improving soil health mainly depends on CC biomass production, which is often low in temperate regions. The question is: how can we increase CC biomass production? Lengthening the CC growing window can be a potential strategy. This study assessed how 1) interseeded and terminated early (2-3 weeks before crop planting) CC, 2) interseeded and terminated late (at crop planting) CC, 3) drilled (after harvest) and terminated early CC, 4) drilled and terminated late CC, and …

Leveraging Historical Data For Estimating Genetic Gain And Implementing Genomic Selection In A Student Led Barley Breeding Program, Sydney Graham

Department of Statistics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In Nebraska, winter feed barley presents an emerging market for producers and an opportunity to diversify cropping systems. The University of Nebraska Barley Breeding Program aims to develop high-yielding, winter-hardy varieties. A unique aspect of this program is that doctoral students serve as barley breeders and are responsible for crossing, data collection, and advancement decisions. While this provides hands-on experience for the students, the impact of student leadership has not been examined.

This study used a historical data set to evaluate the realized genetic gain of the breeding program, and as a training population for genomic selection. The dataset consisted …

Evaluating Risk And Return Of Corn And Soybean Marketing Strategies Using Monte Carlo Simulation Methods, Johanna Ilves

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study evaluates the performance of pre-harvest marketing strategies for corn and soybeans, using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Given the increasing volatility in commodity prices and the evolving landscape of agricultural markets, producers face growing challenges in developing effective marketing plans that manage risk and enhance profitability. This thesis examines thirteen marketing strategies from 2008 to 2024, including benchmark harvest-only sales and various pre-harvest futures contract approaches. Historical futures price data for December corn and November soybean contracts were used to simulate 1,000 marketing outcomes per strategy per year, capturing a broad range of market conditions. Key performance indicators such …

Landscape Effects On The Beneficial Arthropod Community In Agriculturally Dominated Environments, Hannah E. Stowe

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Ecosystem services in agriculturally dominated regions rely, at least in part, on arthropods. Environment and biodiversity influence beneficial arthropods in population size, community structure, diversity, and ecosystem service provisioning. Predation is among the most important services provided by arthropods in agroecosystems. Understanding what alters predation and predator activity can support the successful application of biological control and, more broadly, integrated pest management. Land use and edge adjacency, field characteristics, landscape, seasonality, and diel period all alter predatory behavior. Crop fields dominate Nebraska agroecosystems, although interspersed perennial grasslands persist through the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Such grasslands supply crucial resources and …

A Case Study On Readiness Of Engineers In Agricultural Technology Start-Ups, Katie Marie Mowat

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation explores the perceptions of practicing engineers regarding the skills necessary to be workforce-ready at agricultural technology (ag-tech) start-ups in the Midwestern United States. A qualitative case study methodology is leveraged, combining both interview and job description data. Given their uniqueness, the study divides the ag-tech start-up industry into two subcases: livestock and cropping systems. The Work Readiness Integrated Competence Model (WRICM) is used as the theoretical framework for this study and informs the conceptual framework and analysis processes. The study identified skills that fit into thirteen distinct categories, which are further grouped into four overarching resource groups. Skills …

International Rice Outlook: International Rice Baseline Projections 2024–2034, A. Durand-Morat, W. Mulimbi

AAES Research Reports and Research Bulletins

• Global rice consumption is projected to exceed global rice production for most of the coming decade, with stocks playing a crucial role in balancing the global market over the projected period.

• The projected growth in production is almost exclusively due to productivity gains.

• The projected global rice consumption is growing, driven mainly by population growth. However, the average global per capita rice consumption is estimated to increase slowly in the coming decade due to a regain in per capita consumption in Asia, the largest rice-consuming region worldwide.

• The international prices of long-grain and medium-grain rice are …

Understanding Pre-Harvest Hedging Behavior And Basis Forecasting: The Role Of Information In Grain Marketing, Iyore Eronmwon

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation examines decision-making under risk in grain marketing, focusing on how information influences behavior, attitudes toward accessible information, and methods for forecasting commodity basis. Through three essays, it explores the impact of information on hedging decisions, the determinants of information-seeking behavior, the extent to which students can serve as proxies for farmers in risk experiments, and the effectiveness of different forecasting approaches for commodity basis.

The first essay examines the impact of information on pre-harvest grain marketing hedging decisions and grain marketing information-seeking behavior. Specifically, it evaluates two types of information hypothesized to influence decision-making: expected cost of production …

Long-Term Cropping System And Manure Effects On Soil Health Parameters And Associated Soil-Borne Pathogens, Joyce Mutai, Beth Medvecky, Steven J. Vanek, John Ojiem, Peter Bolo, Job Kihara, Steven J. Fonte

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Soil-borne pathogens reduce the performance of key food crops in sub-Saharan Africa. Diversified cropping and nutrient management can enhance soil and plant health, limiting pathogen damage. To examine how management and soil health changes influence soil-borne pathogens, we leveraged an 18-year field trial in western Kenya, evaluating cropping systems typical of smallholder farms. We considered three cropping systems and two organic matter management strategies: continuous maize monocrop (M–M), Tephrosia in rotation with maize (T–M), maize intercropped with soybean (M–S), application or not of farmyard manure, and retention or removal of crop residues. We assessed soil physical and chemical properties and …

Investigating The Effects Of Gibberellin Treatments On Different Dwarf Millet Genotypes And Identifying The Mechanism Responsible For Genetic Dwarfism, Macie Mccarty, Audrie Miller, Quinn Calvert, Abi Waters, Dania Creary, Justin Coleman

2025 Student Academic Showcase

Gibberellins (GAs) are essential plant hormones involved in regulating growth and development, particularly in stem elongation, seed germination, and flowering. In cereal crops like millet, dwarf genotypes are of agricultural interest due to their potential for increased stability and yield efficiency. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying dwarfism in millet remain unclear. This study investigates the response of various dwarf millet genotypes to gibberellin treatments and seeks to determine the genetic basis of their dwarfism. We hypothesize that genotypes with gibberellin biosynthesis deficiencies will exhibit increased stem elongation when treated with gibberellin, while genotypes with signal transduction defects will show minimal …

Trenching And Compost Sustain Grain Yield Increases Over Nine Years On Deep Sands But At A Cost, David J.M. Hall, Tom J. Edwards

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Context. Crops grown on deep sands on the south coast of WA are limited by soil physical and chemical properties including compaction and poor nutrition. Aims. Crops grown on deep sands on the south coast of Western Australia are limited by soil physical and chemical properties including compaction and poor nutrition. Our aim was to determine what effects deep-placed organic amendments have on soil properties and crop production in a deep sand and whether such amendments are profitable. Methods. A long-term field trial was conducted over nine years (2015–2023) to investigate soil amendments including lime (0 and …

The Effect Of Soil Conditioner And Growth Booster On The Agronomic Characters And Number Of Nodules Of Black Soybean, Tien Turmuktini, I Putu Rahmat Santoso, Lia Amalia, Nunung Sondari, Elly Roosma Ria, Yenny Muliani, Endang Kantikowati, Tualar Simarmata

Jurnal Kultivasi

Soil Conditioner & Growth Booster (SCGB) is a potion that was made to be used as a soil conditioner and plant growth promoter. SCGB is made from organic matter, biological fertilizers, soil ameliorants, and microelements. This research aims to determine the best dosage of SCGB on the agronomic characters, effective nodules, and black soybean variety ‘Detam-1’ yield. This research was conducted in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture, Winaya Mukti University, Sumedang, Indonesia. This experiment used a simple randomized block design (RBD) with six treatments (0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 kg/ha) and repeated 4 times. The observation …

Grassland For Our World, F Riveros

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The present-day role of grasslands and fodder is reviewed with respect agriculture, animal production and environmental concerns. The world 's grazing lands are a finite resource nnd, overall, are being badly mnnaEed; in most developing countries action is required now, before it is too lnte. They will continue to be a major source of animal feed for the foreseeable future; encroachment from cropping will con

Human Impact On Terrestrial Ecosytems- What We Know And What We Are Doing About It, H A. Mooney

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

At present the impact of humankind on the Barth System is substantial mul will become greater as we continue to add over 80 million people to the global population each year. Collectively the human species utilises over a third of the total fresh water that is available, as well as an equivalent amount of tho total terrestrial productivity. Possil energy is being consumed at a prodigious rnte and fuels, among other things, over a half a billion vehicles. To support the large human population the Earth has been greatly reconfigured with much of the land utilised for grazing and agriculture. …

Grasslands For Sustainable Ecosystems, Malcolm Hadley

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslnnds present many advantages for examining issues related to sustainability. Grasslands include planted pastures as well as a variety of natural rangelands in situations ranging from semi-arid to subhumid. Diversity is also reflected in the spectrum of grassland users and uses, for example, nomadic pastoralism, extensive ranches, intensive pastures, wildlife tourism, game hunting. And in terms of sustainability of resource management, grasslands encompass a wide range of contrasting situations and conflicts in resource use. Heavy grazing pressure associated with increasing human populations in certain tropical savannas, the implications of rural depopulation to traditional pasture management in alpine regions, and the …

Red Clover Hybrid Ryegrass Associations Results Obtained From 1984 To 1987 In Four French Regions, C Pfitzenmeyer, C Longueval

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In France, red clover is often grown in association with a grass in order, if not to increase the yield of forage, at least to improve its quality by having a larger protein content in the harvested product. Among the grass species associated to red clover, Italian ryegrass, too aggressive a competitor, is replaced more and more by hybrid ryegrass. The aims of the present work were the following

1% to obtain quantitative references on the behaviour o[ hybrid ryegrass/red clover associations in four contrasting regions of France ;

2% to check that the presence of clover, through the transfer …

Potentials Of Summer Fodders Under Intensive Cropping System In India, M S. Tiwana, Thakur Singh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

One of the reasons for low milk production in India is the non-availability of good quality fodders in sufficient quantity. Therefore, it is necessary to bridge the gap of this acute short­age of fodder for increasing the milk production. There seems to be no possibility of increasing area under fodders and the only alternative looks to be the ulilization of vacant land (70 days) after harvesting wheat and before the sowing of main summer season crops. However, the growing of these crops may have some effect on the yield of succeeding crops by depleting or replenishing the nutrient status of …