Digital Commons Network^™

Soil Carbon Increased By Twice The Amount Of Biochar Carbon Applied After 6 Years: Field Evidence Of Negative Priming, Humberto Blanco-Canqui, David A. Laird, Emily A. Heaton, Samuel Rathke, Bharat Sharma Acharya

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Applying biochar to agricultural soils has been proposed as a means of sequester-ing carbon (C) while simultaneously enhancing soil health and agricultural sustain-ability. However, our understanding of the long-term effects of biochar and annual versus perennial cropping systems and their interactions on soil properties under field conditions is limited. We quantified changes in soil C concentration and stocks, and other soil properties 6 years after biochar applications to corn (Zea mays L.) and dedicated bioenergy crops on a Midwestern US soil. Treatments were as fol-lows: no-till continuous corn, Liberty switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), and low-diversity prairie grasses, 45% big bluestem …

Soil Sample Timing, Nitrogen Fertilization, And Incubation Length Influence Anaerobic Potentially Mineralizable Nitrogen, Jason Clark, Kristen S. Veum, Fabián G. Fernández, Newell R. Kitchen, James J. Camberato, Paul Carter, Richard Ferguson, David W. Franzen, Daniel E. Kaiser, Carrie A. M. Laboski, Emerson Nafziger, Carl J. Rosen, John E. Sawyer, John F. Shanahan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Understanding the variables that affect the anaerobic potentially mineralizable N (PMNan) test should lead to a standard procedure of sample collection and incubation length, improving PMNan as a tool in corn (Zea mays L.) N management. We evaluated the effect of soil sample timing (preplant and V5 corn development stage [V5]), N fertilization (0 and 180 kg ha−1) and incubation length (7, 14, and 28 d) on PMNan (0–30 cm) across a range of soil properties and weather conditions. Soil sample timing, N fertilization, and incubation length affected PMNan differently based on soil and weather conditions. Preplant vs. V5 PMNan …

A Systematic Review Of Durum Wheat: Enhancing Production Systems By Exploring Genotype, Environment, And Management (G × E × M) Synergies, Brian L. Beres, Elham Rahmani, John M. Clarke, Patricio Grassini, Curtis J. Pozniak, Cameron Guy Robinson Geddes, Kenton D. Porker, William E. May, Joel Ransom

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

According to the UN-FAO, agricultural production must increase by 50% by 2050 to meet global demand for food. This goal can be accomplished, in part, by the development of improved cultivars coupled with modern best management practices. Overall, wheat production on farms will have to increase significantly to meet future demand, and in the face of a changing climate that poses risk to even current rates of production. Durum wheat [Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum (Desf.)] is used largely for pasta, couscous and bulgur production. Durum producers face a range of factors spanning abiotic (frost damage, drought, and sprouting) and …

Transformative Education In Agroecology: Student, Teacher, And Client Involvement In Co-Learning, Charles A. Francis, Anna Marie Nicolaysen, Geir Lieblein, Tor Arvid Breland

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Educational methods have evolved rapidly in agroecology, which is a complex and holistic field without a long history or the formal tradition of any single academic discipline. Definitions of agroecology have evolved from its initial conception as a marriage of agriculture with ecology, to an aggregation of different paths including science, practices, and movements, and recently as a broad appreciation of the ecology of food systems. In contrast with traditional courses that begin with a history of the discipline and review the contributions of early leaders, we have embraced phenomenology to firmly establish roots in students’ learning through their experiences …

Urban Food Sovereignty: Urgent Need For Agroecology And Systems Thinking In A Post-Covid-19 Future, Ali Loker, Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The current COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to challenges associated with our dominant industrial food system in the U.S. The general public now has more appreciation for farm workers and meatpacking employees, as well as those in grocery stores and in food transportation who are suddenly recognized as essential frontline workers. It apparently takes a crisis for us to focus clearly on the fragility of this system and the lives of people on whom we depend. In this commentary we discuss the definition of food sovereignty, how it manifests in urban areas, and how the COVID-19 pandemic can trigger viable …

Training For Specialists Vs. Education For Agroecologists, Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

I admit to being a slow learner. Graduate school training in agronomy at the University of California, Davis and in plant breeding at Cornell University provided me with top-quality opportunities to acquire the tools for crop improvement, plus the contacts to join professionals at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia. As a young scientist dedicated to building on successes of the Green Revolution, I was convinced that genetic changes would solve global hunger. This had been amply demonstrated with the yield increases of wheat in Mexico and India, and with rice in Southeast Asia. Should this success not …

Quantifying On‐Farm Nitrous Oxide Emission Reductions In Food Supply Chains, A.J. Eagle, E. Mclellan, E.M. Brawner, M.H. Chantigny, Eric A. Davidson, J.B. Dickey, Bruce A. Linquist, T.M. Maaz, D.E. Pelster, Cameron M. Pittelkow, C. Van Kessel, T.J. Vyn, K. G. Cassman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from agriculture is critical to limiting future global warming. In response, a growing number of food retailers and manufacturers have committed to reducing N2O emissions from their vast networks of farmer suppliers by providing technical assistance and financial incentives. A key challenge for such companies is demonstrating that their efforts are leading to meaningful progress toward their climate mitigation commitments. We show that a simplified version of soil surface nitrogen (N) balance—or partial N balance—the difference between N inputs to and outputs

from a farm field (fertilizer N minus crop N), is a robust indicator …

Improvement Of Smallholder Farming Systems In Africa, Charles S. Wortmann, Tilahun Amede, Mateete Bekunda, Keziah Ndung’U-Magiroi, Patricia Masikati, Sieglinde S. Snapp, Zachary P. Stewart, Mark Westgate, Zacarie Zida, Charles E. Kome

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

This forum paper provides a synthesis and discussion of 14 categories of lessons learned from experiences for achieving farm-level impact with smallholder farm- ers in Africa. These lessons were reported in a symposium hosted by the Agron- omy in Africa community of the American Society of Agronomy. The lessons, listed in order of frequency of reporting, were the need to: have adequate infras- tructure and services; enable spontaneous adoption; have multi-disciplinary and institutional collaboration; build on previous adoption of good agronomic practices (GAP); have farmer participation in research; encourage and learn from smallholder adaptations; make GAP promotion demand-driven; allow GAP …

Soybean Nodule-Associated Non-Rhizobial Bacteria Inhibit Plant Pathogens And Induce Growth Promotion In Tomato, Serkan Tokgöz, Dilip K. Lakshman, Mahmoud H. Ghozlan, Hasan Pinar, Daniel P. Roberts, Amitava Mitra

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The root nodules are a unique environment formed on legume roots through a highly specific symbiotic relationship between leguminous plants and nodule-inducing bacteria. Previously, Rhizobia were presumed to be the only group of bacteria residing within nodules. However, recent studies discovered diverse groups of bacteria within the legume nodules. In this report soybean nodule-associated bacteria were studied in an effort to identify beneficial bacteria for plant disease control and growth promotion. Analysis of surface-sterilized single nodules showed bacterial diversity of the nodule microbiome. Five hundred non-rhizobial colonies from 10 nodules, 50 colonies per nodule, were tested individually against the tomato …

Foliar Micronutrient Application For High-Yield Maize, Zachary P. Stewart, Ellen T. Paparozzi, Charles S. Wortmann, Prakash Kumar Jha, Charles A. Shapiro

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Nebraska soils are generally micronutrient sufficient. However, critical levels for current yields have not been validated. From 2013 to 2015, 26 on-farm paired comparison strip-trials were conducted across Nebraska to test the effect of foliar-applied micronutrients on maize (Zea mays L.) yield and foliar nutrient concentrations. Treatments were applied from V6 to V14 at sites with 10.9 to 16.4 Mg ha−1 yield. Soils ranged from silty clays to fine sands. Soil micronutrient availability and tissue concentrations were all above critical levels for deficiency. Significant grain yield increases were few. Micronutrient concentrations for leaf growth that occurred after foliar applications were …

Continuous Cropping Alters Multiple Biotic And Abiotic Indicators Of Soil Health, Pervaiz Ahmad, Javed Iqbal, Qingming Zhang, Dima Chen, Hui Wei, Muhammad Saleem

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The continuous cropping (CC) of major agricultural, horticultural, and industrial crops is an established practice worldwide, though it has significant soil health-related concerns. However, a combined review of the effects of CC on soil health indicators, in particular omics ones, remains missing. The CC may negatively impact multiple biotic and abiotic indicators of soil health, fertility, and crop yield. It could potentially alter the soil biotic indicators, which include but are not limited to the composition, abundance, diversity, and functioning of soil micro- and macro-organisms, microbial networks, enzyme activities, and soil food web interactions. Moreover, it could also alter various …

Coal Char Affects Soil Ph To Reduce Ammonia Volatilization From Sandy Loam Soil, Dinesh Panday, Maysoon M. Mikha, Bijesh Maharjan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Ammonia (NH3) volatilization loss adversely affects N availability in soil-plant systems, reduces crop yield, and negatively impacts environment. Char (coal combus- tion residue), which contains up to 293 g kg−1 total C by weight, has been shown to reduce NH3 volatilization due to its considerably high surface area and cation exchange capacity. The NH3 loss can be greatly affected by a shift in soil pH or urea hydrolysis. A 21-d laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the effects of char on soil pH, N transformations, and subsequent NH3 volatilization in sandy loam soil. Two char rates (0 and 13.4 Mg …

Adjusting Corn Nitrogen Management By Including A Mineralizable-Nitrogen Test With The Preplant And Presidedress Nitrate Tests, Jason Clark, Fabián G. Fernández, Kristen S. Veum, James J. Camberato, Paul R. Carter, Richard Ferguson, David W. Franzen, Daniel E. Kaiser, Newell R. Kitchen, C. A.M. Laboski, Emerson Nafziger, Carl J. Rosen, John E. Sawyer, John F. Shanahan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The anaerobic potentially mineralizable N (PMN) test combined with the preplant (PPNT) and presidedress (PSNT) nitrate tests may improve corn (Zea mays L.) N fertilization predictions. Forty-nine corn N response experiments (mostly corn following soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]) were conducted in the U.S. Midwest from 2014–2016 to evaluate the ability of the PPNT and PSNT to predict corn relative yield (RY) and N fertilizer over- and under-application rates when adjusted by PMN. Before planting and N fertilization, PPNT (0–30, 30–60, and 60–90 cm) and PMN (0–30 cm) samples were obtained. In-season soil samples were obtained at the …

Relating Four-Day Soil Respiration To Corn Nitrogen Fertilizer Needs Across 49 U.S. Midwest Fields, G. M. Bean, Newell R. Kitchen, Kristen S. Veum, James J. Camberato, Richard Ferguson, Fabian G. Fernandez, David W. Franzen, Carrie A.M. Laboski, Emerson Nafziger, John E. Sawyer, Matt Yost

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Soil microbes drive biological functions thatmediate chemical and physical processes necessary for plants to sustain growth. Laboratory soil respiration has been proposed as one universal soil health indicator representing these functions, potentially informing crop and soil management decisions. Research is needed to test the premise that soil respiration is helpful for profitable in-season nitrogen (N) rate management decisions in corn (Zea mays L.). The objective of this research was two-fold: (i) determine if the amount of N applied at the time of planting effected soil respiration, and (ii) evaluate the relationship of soil respiration to corn yield response to …

Effects Of Environmental Heterogeneity And Temporal Variation On Ecological Relationships Of Vegetation In A Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest In Brazil, Alisson Borges Miranda Santos, Nathalle Cristine Alencar Fagundes, Cleber Rodrigo Souza, Vinicius Andrade Maia, Wilder Bento Da Silva, Gabriela Gomes Pires De Paula, Felipe De Carvalho Araujo, Polyanne Coelho, Natália Aguiar-Campos, Diego Teixeira Girardelli, Jean Daniel Morel, Rubens Manoel Dos Santos

Turkish Journal of Botany

Species distribution patterns, community structure, and dynamics are determined on a small scale by soil and habitat heterogeneity. The aim of this work is to evaluate the temporal changes in composition and structure of a tree community, revealing the ecological drivers of the observed vegetation patterns. For 16 years (2000, 2005, 2010, and 2016) we monitored the temporal variations in structure and floristic composition of a semideciduous seasonal forest through 20 × 20 m2 (400 m2) plots, totaling 2.08 ha of sampled area encompassing Cambisol (0.4 ha), Oxysol (1.12 ha), and Nitosol (0.56 ha) soil classes. These tree communities were …

Enhanced Stress Tolerance In Transformed Ajuga Bracteosa Wall. Ex Benth. Regenerants By Upregulated Gene Expression Of Metabolic Pathways, Samina Rubnawaz, Waqas Kayani, Rashid Mahmood, Bushra Mirza

Turkish Journal of Botany

The rol oncogenes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes enhance the production of medicinally important compounds in plants and provide a first barrier against the overproduction of reactive oxygen species during biotic and abiotic stress. This study was designed to evaluate the expression of genes involved in biosynthetic pathways and their impact on metabolic contents and environmental stress tolerance in regenerated Ajuga bracteosa Wall. ex Benth. After successful transformation, real-time quantitative PCR confirmed the increased expression (1.94-6.59-fold) of HMGR, HDS, FDS, PAL, and TTG1 genes in transgenic lines. Furthermore, GC-MS coupled with principal component analysis revealed diverse concentrations of 97 metabolites in A. …

A Bioinformatic Approach To Exploring Land Plant Evolution, Lauren Margaret Orton

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Today, researchers are inundated with an overwhelming amount of data due to advances in DNA sequencing technologies. This has benefited the fields of both bioinformatics and phylogenomics substantially. With the ability to increase sampling at both the taxonomic and molecular levels, we are now able to produce robust phylogenomic reconstructions and better discern relationships between taxa.

The goals of this dissertation are in two distinct parts: 1) to advance the understanding of land plant terrestrialization and evolution through examination of the closest relative to the land plant lineage, a species of green algae; and 2) to explore evolution among a …

Growing South Dakota (Winter 2020), College Of Agriculture, Food And Environmental Sciences

Growing South Dakota (Publication of the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences)

This issue contains the SDSU Extension 2019 Annual Report

[Page] 2-3 South Dakota Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
[Page] 4 SDSU Extension
[Page] 4 From the Director of Extension Karla Trautman
[Page] 5 2019 USDA Risk Management Agency Crop Indemnities
[Page] 6-8 SDSU Extension Responds to Mother Nature in 2019
[Page] 9 Successful Energize! Conference Buoys Community Efforts in Lemmon & Beyond
[Page] 10-11 Helping Loved Ones Transition Smoothly
[Page] 12 AmeriCorps VISTA Members Expand Extension Programming
[Page] 13 South Dakota Wellness Coalitions Make Big Impacts in Small Communities [Page] 14-16 Extension Programs in Our Own …

Diversity Of Fall Armyworm, Spodoptera Frugiperda And Their Gut Bacterial Community In Kenya, Joseph Gichuhi, Subramanian Sevgan, Fathiya Khamis, Johnnie Van Den Berg, Hannalene Du Plessis, Sunday Ekesi, Jeremy K. Herren

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Background: The invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is a polyphagous pest that causes widespread damage particularly to maize and sorghum in Africa. The microbiome associated with S. frugiperda could play a role in the insects' success and adaptability. However, bacterial communities in S. frugiperda remain poorly studied. Methods: We investigated the composition, abundance and diversity of microbiomes associated with larval and adult specimens of S. frugiperda collected from four maize growing regions in Kenya through high throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The population structure of S. frugiperda in Kenya was assessed through amplification of the …

Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030: Reimagining The Potential Of Plants For A Healthy And Sustainable Future, Natalie Henkhaus, Madelaine Bartlett, David Gang, Lonnie J. Guralnick, Et Al.

Arts & Sciences Faculty Publications

Plants, and the biological systems around them, are key to the future health of the planet and its inhabitants. The Plant Science Decadal Vision 2020–2030 frames our ability to perform vital and far‐reaching research in plant systems sciences, essential to how we value participants and apply emerging technologies. We outline a comprehensive vision for addressing some of our most pressing global problems through discovery, practical applications, and education. The Decadal Vision was developed by the participants at the Plant Summit 2019, a community event organized by the Plant Science Research Network. The Decadal Vision describes a holistic vision for the …

Evaluation Of The Symbiotic Relation Between Endophyte And Poplar Trees Exposed To Landfill Leachate, Catalina Vega Hurtado

Masters Theses

“The contamination of soil and groundwater from leachate leakage from landfill has turned, nowadays, into a global public issue. One of the main concerns about this pollutant is the potential threat to human and ecosystem health. The current research studied endophyte bacteria in association with poplar trees (Populus sp.), as a method of bioremediation of landfill leachates. The objective of the project was to identify treatment strategies that may improve plant performance (survival rates, plant fitness, and degradation efficacy) with the purpose of being implemented in phytoremediation plots, aimed to intercept and treat landfill leachate, before the contamination of watershed. …

Seed Quality And Mycoflora Associated With Chickpea (Cicer Arientinum L.) Seed In Ethiopia, G. Getaneh, T. Tefera, F. Lemmessa, S. Ahmed, A. Zewudie

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The study was conducted at Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Haramaya University and Jimma University, Ethiopia. Crop yield is directly associated with the physical and biological quality of planting material or seed. Ninety-nine (99) chickpea seed lot samples were collected for physical purity, seed health and germination tests from major chickpea growing areas in Ethiopia in the 2016/17 cropping season to assess the status of chickpea seed health and quality among subsistence farmers, research stations and seed growers. The seed lots were grouped as researcher saved, farmers saved and seed growers’ saved seed. The maximum physical purity of 97.5% was …

Unlocking Maize Crop Productivity Through Improved Management Practices In Northern Tanzania, Kihara J, Kizito F, Jumbo M, Kinyua M, M. Bekunda

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Addressing the problem of low crop productivity and food insecurity can be accelerated through community-centered implementation of good agricultural management practices. This study was conducted in Babati, Northern Tanzania. The objective of the study was to determine nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) application requirements for maize, and demonstrate economically viable best bet yield-improving management technologies under three ecozones namely; ‘low elevation low rainfall', ‘medium elevation high rainfall' and ‘medium elevation low rainfall' ecozone. Two sets of trials were conducted: N (0, 45, 90, 120 and 150 kg ha-1) and P (0, 15, 30, 40 kg ha-1) response trials in 16 …

Impact Of Integrated Fruit Fly Management Strategy On Food Security Among Smallholder Mango Farmers In Kenya, P. N. Nyang'au, B. W. Muriithi, J. M. Nzuma, P. Irungu, H. M. Gichungi, G. Diiro

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Adoption of agricultural innovations is perceived as a key avenue for poverty reduction and improved food and nutritional security in developing countries. The International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) has developed and implemented a set of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies in several sub-Saharan African countries aimed at controlling mango infesting fruit flies (Bactrocera dorsalis). Although positive returns from the use of fruit fly IPM have already been documented, the impact of these technologies on food security is not well understood. This study evaluated the impact of the IPM strategy on food security with the help of a …

Investigating Optimum Wavelength(S) For Growth Of Lactuca Sativa, L. Using Tunable Led Sources And Developing Thin-Film Filters For Glass Greenhouses, Jacqualine Anne Thomas

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

With the increase in world population, the continued advances in modern greenhouse agriculture and plant growth practices are expected to help overcome the global problem of future food shortages. This research investigates a way to assist in stemming the problem of food shortage by using optimised light irradiation (within the constraints of the experiment) on a sample plant species of lettuce (Lactuca sativa, L.). Whilst lettuce is often grown in hydroponic systems, the current research is conducted in stand-alone pots with hand watering, due to the requirements of health and safety and available resources.

The experiments were designed …

Alternative Media And Mulches In Organic Vegetable Production, Heather R. Griffith

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Reducing or eliminating waste from organic vegetable production can conserve money as well as resources. Conventional greenhouse production of vegetable transplants often relies on abundant fertigation which produces large amounts of polluted runoff, and the field production of organic vegetables frequently relies on the use of polyethylene mulch. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine if organic transplants can be successfully produced in a greenhouse under reduced soil moisture in order to reduce leaching of nutrients and potential water pollution. To test this, we compared the effect of reduced irrigation volumes to the standard practice of irrigating with 120% of …

A Review Of Technologies For Malt Flour And Sourdough From Brewery Spent Grain, Zachary Christman

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

The utilization of brewer's spent grain for the production of malt flour is the focus of this article. The reader is presented with superheated steam and extrusion as technologies to reduce mycotoxin contamination and improve shelf life. Another option is the fermentation of brewer's spent grain with a cereal grade lactic acid bacteria for the production of sourdough bread. Milling of the brewer's spent grain for the production of bread is also covered.

Draft Genome Assembly Of Passalora Sequoiae A Needle Blight Pathogen On Leyland Cypress, Warren E. Copes, Jorge Ibarra Caballero, Ebrahiem Babiker, Jane E. Stewart, Valerie A. Orner, Alan S. Windham, Renee Arias

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Objective: Passalora sequoiae (family Mycosphaerellaceae) causes a twig blight on Leyland cypress that requires numerous fungicide applications annually to minimize economic losses for ornamental plant nursery and Christmas tree producers. The objective was to generate a high-quality draft assembly of the genome of P. sequoiae as a resource for primer development to investigate genotype diversity. Data description: We report here the genome sequence of P. sequoiae 9LC2 that was isolated from Leyland cypress ‘Leighton Green’ in 2017 in southern Mississippi, USA. The draft genome was obtained using Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) SMRT and Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing. Illumina reads were mapped …

Cannabidiol In The Horse: Pharmacokinetics And Effects Of A Pelleted Supplement On Reactivity And Movement, Anna L. Draeger

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

A multitude of claims exist regarding therapeutic benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) in human and animal medicine. Though supportive evidence of CBD as a nutraceutical option exists, lack of regulation means that product safety, consistency, and efficacy cannot be guaranteed. Trials for specific conditions and species are needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate CBD safety and use effects on reactivity and movement in the horse. Project 1 examined the bioavailability of a single 50 mg dose of an oil and pelleted CBD product. One of 2 Quarter Horse geldings received the oil product. The second received the pelleted …

Case Studies Which Demonstrate The Financial Viability Of Precision Dairy Farming, Ian Yule, Hayden Lawrence, Craige Mackenzie, Carolyn Hedley, Miles Grafton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A number of case studies are used to demonstrate the financial viability of precision farming methods for intensively managed pastures. Precision farming has sometimes been criticized as being technology-led where the management goals and desired outcomes are sometimes poorly defined. Case studies presented in this paper demonstrate a strong management approach where appropriate technologies are selected to contribute to the financial success of the farm. The first case study farm has increased milk production by 70% in four years, increased pasture production by 43%, reduced fertilizer costs to 43% of previous levels and has successfully predicted annual production to within …