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Water Balance Of Flooded Rice In The Tropics, Siva Sivapalan

Books & book chapters

Department of Agriculture and Food, WA staff member authored "Water Balance of Flooded Rice in the Tropics" in the publication Irrigation and Drainage - Sustainable Strategies and Systems’, edited by Muhammad Salik Javaid, published by INTECH, May 2015

Chapter Summary: Excess groundwater recharge rates under irrigated agriculture may lead to problems such as rising watertable, waterlogging and salinity. In irrigated areas, growers may need to manage this water and hence, understanding what leakage is attributed to what crops will become more important. In this study, evaporation, transpiration, and deep percolation losses were estimated for ponded rice culture, using a …

Transcriptomic Insights Into The Morphological Variation Present In Bromeliaceae, Victoria A. Gilkison

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The Bromeliaceae family utilizes a wide range of adaptations to inhabit a variety of environments including dry ones. Many attribute the large adaptive radiation of Bromeliaceae throughout the Neotropics to three main features: absorptive trichomes, tank reservoirs, and CAM photosynthesis. Based on leaf morphology and arrangement, root type, and nutrient acquisition, Pittendrigh (1948) conservatively separated bromeliads into four main classes. These four main classes are designated Type I bromeliads, Type II bromeliads, Type III bromeliads and Type IV bromeliads. We used RNA-sequencing of leaf mRNA to investigate similarities and differences in gene expression which can be related back to the …

Maintaining A Way Of Life: Trials And Tribulations Of Farmers Market Families, Megan M. Lankford

Horticulture Undergraduate Honors Theses

Never before in our nation’s history has there been so many ways for consumers to purchase food. From grocery stores, to super centers such as Wal-Mart and Cosco, convenience stores, online purchases, community supported agriculture (CSA), and farmers markets, Americans have a multitude of venues to choose from. Although many Americans currently purchase their foods from grocery stores, a growing number of them are buying locally at their farmers’ markets and from CSAs. As the sustainability movement takes a greater foothold in the American household, local products and local foods are becoming ever more important and prevalent. Yet with all …

Forest Sustainability In An Altered Landscape Requires Human Intervention, Adam C. Labatore

Biology Theses

Recruitment success determines the abundance and composition of plant communities. Successful recruitment can be summarized as a simple dichotomy of establishment versus seed limitations. Establishment limitation occurs when plant populations are inhibited by habitat availability and quality, whereas seed limitation occurs when seeds fail to arrive in necessary densities. Recruitment failure undermines overstory sustainability if the existing trees cannot replace themselves. Preliminary analysis indicated tree recruitment failure at an urban nature preserve with too few tree seedlings to replace mature canopy trees. These data suggested that the urban forest was not sustainable. The overarching goal of the study was to …

Effect Of Germination And Parboiling On Milling, Physicochemical, And Textural Properties Of Medium- And Long-Grain Rough Rice, Ashley Han

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Germinated brown rice is commonly consumed in Asia for its enhanced nutritional properties such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and softer cooked texture. However germination decreases milling yield and alters some physicochemical properties, and most germinated rice studies evaluated medium-grain and aromatic rice cultivars. This study compared the effects of germination duration and parboiling on milling, physicochemical, and textural properties of a medium- (Jupiter) and a long-grain (Wells) rice cultivars. Rough rice was soaked in water at 25°C for 12 hr, and then incubated at 30-34°C for varying germination durations, or combined with parboiling at 120°C for 20 min prior to …

Genetic Mapping Of Yield And Normalized Difference Vegetative Index In Soft Red Winter Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.), Christopher Keith Addison

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Wheat is the most widely cultivated cereal crop, being grown on 17% of the global crop land and as such must be adapted to an array of environmental stresses. In order to become a variety, wheat breeding lines must be tested across a range of environments for both high productivity and stability. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and indices are tools that can aid plant breeders in the selection of superior lines. Soft red winter wheat accounts for 20% of the total wheat production in the United States, being grown in the southeastern U.S. predominantly along the Mississippi River. However, …

The Effects Of Electrostatic Spraying With Organic Acids In The Disintegration Of Biofilms Formed By E.Coli O157:H7 And Salmonella Typhimurium On Spinach And Cantaloupe, Ahmad Almasoud

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Outbreaks from the consumption of fresh produce are a concern in the United States. The consumptions of fresh produce have increased recently which expose a large segment of society to such outbreaks. Spinach and cantaloupe are minimally heated or processed before consumption which makes them a possible source of foodborne illness. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of organic acids alone and in combination to reduce attached Salmonella Typhimurium (S.T) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E.coli) on spinach and cantaloupe, and to disintegrate biofilm formed by these pathogens by electrostatically spraying with two organic acids. To quantify …

Rice Grain Yield And Nitrogen Uptake And Ammonia Volatilization From Urea As Affected By Urea Amendment And Simulated Rainfall, Randy Dempsey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The effect of rainfall between urea application and flood establishment on N loss and grain yield of rice (Oryza sativa L.) has not been studied. The first research objective was to compare the effects of simulated rainfall amounts and N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT) urease inhibitor rate on NH3 volatilization and rice growth. Three field experiments were conducted and NH3 volatilization was measured in two experiments for 11 days after urea application (DAU) in semi-open chambers. Urea or NBPT-treated urea (NBPT-Urea) was subjected to six simulated rainfall amounts (0-25 mm) applied 5 to 15 h after urea application and flooded 7 …

Postharvest Degradation Of Microalgae: Effect Of Temperature And Water Activity, Jacob A. Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Though usually a nuisance in swimming pools and ponds, algae has the potential to be a valuable commodity for use as food and fuel. But before algae butter and biofuel become commonplace, issues with harvesting and storing this new crop need to be overcome. Though there has been ample research into how to grow and use algae, scientists have spent little time figuring out what to do after you pull it out of the water and before you eat it (or turn it into biodiesel). Algae, like all food products, starts to spoil as soon as it is harvested.

This …

Understanding Perceptions Of Genetically Modified Food Among Natural Food Shoppers In Southern Nevada, Christian Murua-Aceves

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Today, 85% of corn, 93% of soybeans, and 88% of cotton in the U.S. are genetically modified (GM). Using laboratory methods, genes from one species, such as a plant, can be transferred to an unrelated species, such as an animal. Genetically modified crops may lead to higher yields, have improved food quality, texture, and nutritional value, and have an increased shelf life.

Despite these promising benefits, the potential health risks relating to the consumption of GM food remain inadequately assessed. Genetically modified food is not subjected to rigorous safety testing, such as epidemiologic studies, to identify potential health risks. Two …

Nutrient Management For Growing Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale L.) In Nutrient Film And Deep Flow Hydroponics, Reetinder Gill

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This research study was conducted to determine an optimal nutrient strategy for dandelion production in nutrient film technique (NFT) and deep flow technique (DFT) systems of hydroponics. It was achieved by growing dandelion at varying levels of nutrient solution concentration and pH in both NFT and DFT systems. Additionally, an optimal nutrient solution concentration and timing of application for dandelion seedling production was also determined.

Potential Of Forage Kochia And Other Plant Materials In Reclamation Of Gardner Saltbush Ecosystems Invaded By Halogeton, Rob C. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Gardner saltbush ecosystems are increasingly being invaded by halogeton, a competitive annual weed that increases soil surface salinity and reduces plant biodiversity. This study was established on the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, in the Ashley National Forest near Manila, UT to evaluate the ability of forage kochia, Russian wildrye, tall wheatgrass, Indian ricegrass and Gardner saltbush, in monocultures and binary mixtures with Gardner saltbush, to establish and compete in ecosystems dominated by halogeton. A dormant seeding, with and without prior disking, was conducted to determine the ability of plant materials to establish. A spaced-plant evaluation was used to determine …

Effects Of Plant Stress On Facultative Apomixis In Boechera (Brassicaceae), Mayelyn Mateo De Arias

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In flowering plants, apomixis is asexual reproduction by seeds. Apomixis allows the production of offspring with the same genetic characteristics as the mother plant. Fertilization is not required. Apomixis could become a tool for naturally cloning high-yielding crop hybrids through their own seed. However, apomixis does not occur in major crop plants, except for citrus. In the present study, genes that might cause apomixis in naturally occurring apomictic plants were investigated. Sexual and apomictic species of the genus Boechera were exposed to stressed and non-stressed conditions. Effects of these treatments on the expression of apomixis was then measured. Stress triggered …

Validation Of Tissue Nutrient Status For Tart Cherry (Prunus Cerasus) And Peach (Prunus Persica) In Utah, Emily Tsai

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Fruit tree nutrition requirements change during the growing season as buds form, shoots grow, fruit sets, and internal reserves are filled. Nutrient concentrations in plant tissues are directly correlated with the nutritional status and productivity of fruit trees. Plant tissue testing is used to effectively and accurately determine the nutritional status of perennial plants. Tissue test analyses were performed on tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) and peach (Prunus persica) leaves to validate tissue sufficiency levels used in Utah and to determine optimal timing of tissue sampling for prediction of harvest nutrient status, focusing on phosphorus (P), potassium …

Beef Average Daily Gain And Enteric Methane Emissions On Birdsfoot Trefoil, Cicer Milkvetch And Meadow Brome Pastures, Lance R. Pitcher

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Conventional production of meat products from ruminant animals in the United States requires inputs including the cultivation and nitrogen fertilization of annual grains such as corn and barley, and transportation of cattle and grain to feedlots. Consumers have concerns about the impact of feedlot conditions on animal health, and about the implications of pharmaceutical inputs such as growth hormones and antibiotics on the environment and human health. These concerns have led to a growing interest in pasture-finished meat production by consumers. Such smaller-scale livestock production systems can be healthier and lower-stress for animals, are integrated into local food systems and …

Effects Of Blue And Green Light On Plant Growth And Development At Low And High Photosynthetic Photon Flux, Michael Chase Snowden

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Research in photobiology dates back over 200 years with studies using primitive light sources. This early research identified photoreceptors and action spectra for specific regions of the light spectrum that are paramount for photosynthesis as well as growth and development that are still topics of interest today.

Photobiological research has become an area of increasing interest since the introduction of light-emitting diodes which allow for evaluating endless combinations of light spectra. Red light-light emitting diodes were the first to be introduced that had an electrical efficiency comparable to existing light sources. The research found that red light alone was not …

Physiological And Nutritional Characterization Of High Yield Soybean, Ryan John Van Roekel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grain yields greater than three times the national average have been reported in yield contests. Characterization of soybean in a maximum yield environment is necessary to provide empirical data to support those yield claims and to provide an understanding of the physiological processes at that yield level. From 2011 to 2013, research characterized biomass and N accumulation rates, radiation use efficiency (RUE), leaf N dynamics, the rate of harvest index increase (dry matter allocation coefficient, DMAC), seedfill period (SFP), and grain yield components from Mr. Kip Cullers' contest fields and in small plots at the …

Impact Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi On The Physiology Of Maize Genotypes Under Variable Nitrogen And Phosphorus Levels, Roberto Crespo

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

It is important to increase our understanding of AM fungal and maize genotype interactions, the impact of N and P fertilization and water condition on the symbiosis, and on the physiology and nutritional status of maize plants. In two greenhouse experiments AM inoculated plants exhibited root colonization values around 70% which was confirmed by the presence of the AM lipid biomarker (C16:1cis11). Nitrogen fertilization increased AM root colonization, but only compared to unfertilized plants. Root colonization and biomarker concentration in root and soil were similar among inoculated maize genotypes across conventional and drought tolerant hybrids. Mycorrhizal inoculation had a positive …

Traversing Swanton Road, 19th Ed., James A. West

Academic, Government & Associated Organizational Research Resources

Situated at the northwest end of Santa Cruz County and occupying circa 30 square miles of sharply contrasted terrain, the Scott Creek Watershed concentrates within its geomorphological boundaries, at least 10-12% of California's flora, both native and introduced. Paradoxically, the use/abuse that the watershed has sustained over the past 140+ years, has not necessarily diminished the biodiversity and perhaps parallels the naturally disruptive but biologically energizing processes (fire, flooding, landslides and erosion), which have also been historically documented for the area for +60 years. This is an early edition of an extensive document by James A. West. Please visit the …

Transcriptome Sequencing Of Mung Bean (Vigna Radiate L.) Genes And The Identification Of Est-Ssr Markers, Honglin Chen, Lixia Wang, Suhua Wang, Chunji Liu, Matthew Wohlgemuth Blair, Xuzhen Cheng

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

Mung bean (Vigna radiate (L.) Wilczek) is an important traditional food legume crop, with high economic and nutritional value. It is widely grown in China and other Asian countries. Despite its importance, genomic information is currently unavailable for this crop plant species or some of its close relatives in the Vigna genus. In this study, more than 103 million high quality cDNA sequence reads were obtained from mung bean using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. The processed reads were assembled into 48,693 unigenes with an average length of 874 bp. Of these unigenes, 25,820 (53.0%) and 23,235 (47.7%) showed significant …

Soil Total Organic Carbon And Farmers’ Perceptions Associated With Bokashi Application In Cerro Punta, Panama, Emma Searson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Sustainable use and maintenance of agricultural soils are important for maintaining long-term agricultural productivity and environmental quality. These issues are especially important in Cerro Punta, known as the breadbasket of Panama, which is experiencing severe erosion. While current practices and agrochemical usage damage soil health and function over time, application of organic material improves soil physic-chemical properties such as nutrient and total organic carbon (TOC) content. Bokashi, a fermented organic soil amendment with effective microorganisms (EM), is thought to be especially beneficial due to its ability to augment populations of soil microbes, which deliver plant-available nutrients to crops and improve …

Genetic Analysis Of Tocochromanol Variation In Maize Using High-Density Linkage Mapping, Megan E. Fenton

Open Access Theses

Vitamin E is an essential nutrient in the human diet and refers to eight distinct compounds that are collectively known as tocochromanols. Tocochromanols are grouped into two classes: tocotrienols and tocopherols. Tocochromanols are the major lipid-soluble antioxidants in maize (Zea mays L.) grain. Enhancing the tocochromanol content of maize derived foods through plant breeding has important nutritional and health implications. Chapter one is a literature review that provides a foundational understanding of the biosynthesis, function and genetic control of tocochromanols in plants, with specific attention to maize (Zea mays L.). Upon this foundation two research objectives were developed that work …

Eco-Evolutionary Factors Drive Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles, Which Intercept Plant Defense, Elizabeth K. Rowen

Open Access Theses

Herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) mediate a wide variety of interactions in ecosystems. However, many volatile compounds are found across plant taxa, and some are exploited to attract natural enemies for biological control. Subtle changes in HIPV blends can produce profound changes in the behavior of predators, parasitoids and herbivores, and may also alter the defensive processes of neighboring plants. I investigated different ecological and evolutionary factors to understand how plant volatile emissions are affected by feeding guild, herbivore diet breadth and domestication. I meta-analyzed 109 studies and found that specialists induce more total volatiles than generalists. Domesticated species have stronger …

Growth Parameters Of 'Golden Delicious' Apple Trees (Malus X Domestica Borkh), Biying Shi

Open Access Theses

High yield and high quality of tree fruit result from appropriate orchard design and management practices. This requires an accurate knowledge of vegetative growth, branching, and flowering processes of fruit trees. Tree development knowledge is the fundamental information necessary to build functional-structural tree models, which have various applications in agriculture. To build such models, information is needed on the distributions of growth parameters, not merely means as are often reported. The objective of this study was to quantitatively analyze shoot development and examine the correlations between fruit quality and light distribution in apple trees. This study was conducted in 2014, …

Genetic Analysis Of Nitrogen Remobilization And Kernel Compositon In Zea Mays L. And Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench, Raymond S Lindsey

Open Access Dissertations

Genetic Analysis of Nitrogen Remobilization and Kernel Composition in Zea Mays L. and Sorghum Bicolor (L.) Moench. Major Professor: Mitchell Tuinstra. Modern maize (Zea mays L.) production relies heavily on nitrogen fertilization for high productivity. Over-application of nitrogen fertilizers in cropping systems can have detrimental economic and environmental effects. For this reason, improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency (NUE) is a major goal of breeders and producers. Nitrogen Utilization Efficiency (NUtE) is one component of NUE, and the most important component under N-limited conditions. In this study we examined the genetic controls of the timing and preferential canopy position of leaf N …

Commodity Of The Quarter: Quinoa: Catalyst Or Catastrophe?, Necia Parker-Gibson

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

Quinoa is a grain-like crop that is rich in protein and minerals; its ability to grow on marginal soils improves its attractiveness as a potential solution to hunger in many areas. Primarily adapted to the high Andes, it is drawing increasing amounts of research scrutiny, as researchers and farmers try to create reasonable agronomic solutions to growing populations and continuing loss of arable land. Since it has become fashionable with vegetarians and vegans in the developed world, it may be argued that the crop is less available to its original growers. Issues of economic and political sovereignty complicate the use …

Growing South Dakota (Spring 2015), College Of Agriculture &. Biological Sciences

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

This issue includes the 2014 SDSU Extension Annual Report.

[Page] 2 Committed To South Dakotans: Programs Focus On “Healthy Food, Healthy Families, Healthy Communities”
[Page] 4 Serving South Dakota’s Multi-Cultural Communities: Programs Take Root In Sioux Falls And On Standing Rock Indian Reservation
[Page] 4 Relevant Resource: New Manual Provides Guidance For Farmers Markets
[Page] 6 Food Growers Unite: Formation Of “Food Hub” Being Explored
[Page] 8 Envisioning The Future: Extension Assists Community Leaders With Forward Thinking
[Page] 10 Innovative New Tools: Online Resources Provide Useful Climate Data, Drainage Calculators
[Page] 12 Meeting Producer Needs: Production Knowledge Enhanced With Extension …

Rekayasa Ekofisiologis Tanaman Teh Belum Menghasilkan Klon Gmb 7 Melalui Pemberian Asam Humat Dan Pupuk Hayati Konsorsium, Intan Ratna Dewi Anjarsari, Santi Rosniawaty, Cucu Suherman

Jurnal Kultivasi

Teh merupakan komoditas perkebunan penting di Indonesia. Rekayasa ekologis yang dilakukan untuk meningkatkan produktivitas tanaman teh di perkebunan adalah melalui tindakan pemupukan. Sejalan dengan prinsip pertanian berkelanjutan kini pihak pekebun pada umumnya menggunakan input yang lebih ramah lingkungan, diantaranya dengan menggunakan asam humat dan pupuk hayati konsorsium. Saat ini asam humat telah dimanfaatkan sebagai pelengkap pupuk yang dapat meningkatkan pemanfaatan pupuk dan meningkatkan pertum-buhan tanaman. Selain asam humat, salah satu alternatif untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan tanaman teh belum menghasilkan adalah dengan pemeberian pupuk hayati konsorsium yang terdiri dari bakteri pelarutf posfat, bakteri penambat nitrogen dan bakteri pelarut kalium.Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk …

Traversing Swanton Road, 18th Ed., James A. West

Academic, Government & Associated Organizational Research Resources

Situated at the northwest end of Santa Cruz County and occupying circa 30 square miles of sharply contrasted terrain, the Scott Creek Watershed concentrates within its geomorphological boundaries, at least 10-12% of California's flora, both native and introduced. Paradoxically, the use/abuse that the watershed has sustained over the past 140+ years, has not necessarily diminished the biodiversity and perhaps parallels the naturally disruptive but biologically energizing processes (fire, flooding, landslides and erosion), which have also been historically documented for the area for +60 years. This is an early edition of an extensive document by James A. West. Please visit the …

Functional Analysis Of Genes Involved In Response To Sheath Blight Disease Using Virus-Induced Gene Silencing, Elaf Osamaho Mohammed Ali

Theses and Dissertations

Phytotoxins (RS toxin) play a crucial role in the virulence of the necrotrophic phytopathogenic Rhizoctonia solani. This pathogen is highly invasive and has an extremely wide host range that causes economic loss, moreover, this pathogen is both soil- and water-borne and can produce lesion symptoms that rapidly develop into a disease known as sheath blight disease. Susceptibility to this disease and sensitivity to phytotoxins depend on the plant's ability to defend itself against the pathogen attack and induce an active defense mechanism. There are several genes-candidates that have been suggested as possible host-plant sensitivity genes associated with R. solani infection. …