Life Sciences Commons^™

Effects Of Varying Biochar Concentrations On The Growth Of Lactuca Sativa (Newham Bibb Lettuce), Lauren Holler

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The objective of this research experiment was to investigate the effectiveness of using biochar in potting soil in terms of plant growth and soil quality. This experiment was carried out using varying amounts (0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) of biochar in the soil to see its effect on seed germination, plant growth, and soil quality such as pH, water retention, and soil temperature. The aim of the experiment was to identify whether biochar can be used in soil to promote healthier and stronger plants. There were four treatments which included 0% (Control), 5% (Treatment 1), 10% (Treatment 2), and 20% …

Nourishing Births: A Program Evaluation Proposal For Community-Based Nutrition Education, Food Access, And Garden Engagement Among Black Birthing People, Naa Deedei-Vera Hammond

Master's Projects and Capstones

Black birthing people in the United States continue to experience unequal maternal health outcomes, shaped in part by racism and barriers to nutritious food, culturally relevant health education, and supportive community spaces. While prenatal nutrition education and food assistance programs can provide important resources, information alone cannot address the challenges many people face when trying to access healthy and affordable food during pregnancy. The Nourishing Births Initiative is a proposed community-based maternal health program designed to respond to these needs by bringing together prenatal nutrition education, help connecting to food resources, community gardening, and peer support for Black birthing people …

Autonomous Smart Vertical Farming: A Systems-Level Synthesis Of Iot And Solar Energy Integration For Sustainable Agriculture, Mahmuda Khatun Mishu, Md Rokonuzzaman, Boon Kar Yap, Tofan Agung Eka Prasetya, Md Arif Hossain, Asif Islam, Kazi Sajedur Rahman, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Rapid urbanization, land degradation, and climate variability are increasingly constraining food production, especially in densely populated urban regions. Vertical farming (VF), which grows crops in stacked layers under controlled conditions, is gaining recognition as a potential solution for sustainable urban agriculture. However, high energy requirements and questions surrounding long-term resource efficiency continue to challenge its scalability and environmental viability. This review explores the potential of smart vertical farming (SVF) systems, enhanced by the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless sensor networks (WSNs), and hybrid green energy-harvesting systems such as photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric (TE) technologies. This research analyzes how real-time data-driven …

A Journey To The Midwest For Migrant Farmwork: Women's Testimonies Examining Their Lived Experiences Using Autoethnography And Plática Research Methodologies, Yesenia G. Alcalá

Theses & Dissertations

A JOURNEY TO THE MIDWEST FOR MIGRANT FARMWORK: WOMEN’S TESTIMONIES EXAMINING THEIR LIVED EXPERIENCES USING AUTOETHNOGRAPHY AND PLÁTICA

RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES

Yesenia Garza Alcalá, Master of Business Administration

University of the Incarnate Word 2026

The purpose of my research was to share the stories of five women who experienced a yearly migratory routine from Del Rio, Texas, to work in farms and factories in the Midwest, and how that annual journey shaped and educated us. The women are four of my older sisters and me, all of whom traveled and worked in the Princeville, Illinois, migrant camp, where we experienced the …

Sinergia Para Un Futuro Sostenible. Tecnologías Y Agrosistemas, Jaime Eduardo Andrade Ramírez, Angélica Bravo Bojórquez

Ingeniería

Este libro reúne los resultados más relevantes del proyecto de investigación “Laboratorio Experimental de Sistemas Tecnológicos Orientados a Modelos Acuapónicos (Lestoma)” desarrollado en la Universidad de Cundinamarca, Extensión Facatativá, liderado por el Grupo de Investigación de Sistemas y Tecnología Facatativá (GISTFA). Lestoma también contó con la colaboración de los grupos de investigación Axioma, Agrociencia y Cundinamarca Agroambiental, adscritos respectivamente al programa de Ingeniería de Sistemas y Computación, Ingeniería Agronómica e Ingeniería Ambiental de las Facultades de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agropecuarias. El proyecto también contó con la colaboración estratégica del grupo de investigación Centro de Investigaciones Ambientales de la Universidad del …

Variability Of Soil Properties In Southern Illinois Croplands, Megan Waeltz

Scholars Week

Understanding soil properties and what causes their variability is important for improving or maintaining soil health, as well as incorporating better cropland management practices. The objective of this research was to determine the variability of soil properties from six St. Clair County, Illinois fields with different soil orders, types, textures, and field conditions. The six fields studied were a soybean field with clay hills, corn field with medium texture, corn field with light texture, corn field with high plant residue, soybean field with medium texture, and corn field with Mollisol heavy clay. The soil properties evaluated in this study were …

Land Management Practices Control The Changes In Soil Quality, Jillian E. Graham

Scholars Week

Soil quality is essential for agricultural productivity and long-term sustainability. Different land management practices can influence soil properties and their ability to support plant growth. This study evaluated differences in soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), soil water-holding capacity (SWFC), and microporosity among eight sampling locations representing different land management practices in Western Kentucky. Soil samples were collected from McLean and Calloway Counties at eight locations: Woodland, Berry Field, Squash Field, Wheat Field, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Corn Field, Bean Field, and Conservation Tillage Field. These locations represented different agricultural and conservation management practices. Soil samples were collected at a …

Soil Health Indicator Responses To Different Crop Production Systems, Lynnlee Jones

Scholars Week

Various crop production systems have affected soil health by changing soil physical, chemical and biological properties. In general, differences in crop production management systems include crop rotations, tillage and crop types. Therefore, the objective of this research was to evaluate the changes of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil water holding capacity (SWHC), bulk density (BD) and total porosity (TP) following various crop production management practices in Western Kentucky. The study was conducted in Calloway and McLean counties and were performed in a 90m x 90m area. These fields consisted of row crops (CRP, Bean Field, Woods Field, Corn Field, Conventional …

Determining Soil Characteristics Under Six Land Management Practices In Western Kentucky, Lyndsey R. Bryant

Scholars Week

Different types of land management practices can change soil chemical, physical, and biological characteristics. The objective of this study was to determine the changes of soil properties as affected by cultivation practices through measuring soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), soil water holding capacity (SWHC), and soil water field capacity (SWFC). The sites for this study include an agriculture hemp field, construction site, urban pathway, bison prairie, control burn field, and forest floor. The sites were located in Calloway and Trigg County; Kentucky. Twenty-four undisturbed and twenty-four disturbed soil samples were taken across six fields with four replications each. The …

Evaluating Soil Properties Of Silt Loam Between No Till Cropland And Pasture: Study Case From Ballard, Graves, And Hickman Counties, Avery Bray, Shiba Hari Dhakal

Scholars Week

Ballard and Hickman County is home to silt loams in the northern and eastern parts of the county due to the Ohio and Mississippi River. Graves County’s silt loam is a product of windblown glacial loess thousands of years ago. Silt loam soil contains around 50% silt and less than 27% clay. The annual flooding and windblown loess are the cause of minerals into these soils, making them perfect for canola, corn, pasture, soybeans, and wheat production. The objective of this research was to evaluate the impact of different agriculture land systems on selected soil properties including soil organic matter …

Assessment Of Soil Properties Under Diverse Crop And Land Use Types, Olivia P. Berger

Scholars Week

Assessment of Soil Properties Under Diverse Crop and Land Use Types

Olivia Berger and Dr. Iin Handayani, Ph.D.

Hutson College of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, KY

Abstract

Soil properties can vary among different crop and land use systems and can influence soil health and agricultural productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of six different crop and land use types on selected soil properties in western Kentucky. Soil samples were collected from six sites at the West Farm Complex in Calloway County, Kentucky, which contained tobacco, soybean, corn, sunflower, pasture land, and Miscanthus. Four disturbed …

Comparing Soil Health Indicators Between Corn-Soy Production And Restored Utility-Prairie Systems, Katie Oakley Anthony, Iin Handayani

Scholars Week

No abstract provided.

Part Ii: Sustainable Irrigation Practices For Cut Flowers, Chloe Seeborg, Melanie Stock, Burdette Barker, Alex Rodriguez, Jonathan D. Meyer

All Current Publications

Sustainable irrigation uses crop and environmental information to guide the frequency (how often) and amount (how much) of water to apply. Without this balance, poor irrigation practices can result, causing crop stress from too little or too much water, nutrient loss and contamination, or wasted water that drains below the root zone. This fact sheet covers the basics of soil water storage, crop water demand, considerations for designating irrigation zones, using free weather stations, and water conservation strategies for gardens and small farms, with a focus on cut flowers.

Outdoor Floral Hemp Research In Utah, Matt Yost, Tina Sullivan, Bruce Bugbee, Earl Creech

All Current Publications

Floral hemp producers in the Intermountain West face numerous management decisions: which cultivar to plant, which irrigation system to use, and how much water and fertilizer to apply. Utah State University field research near Logan, Utah, from 2020 to 2022 evaluated these questions in outdoor, irrigated conditions.

Advances In The Detection Of Ethyl Carbamate In Fermented Foods, Wang Yue, Zhao Yongpeng, Wang Siqi, Zhang Suyi, Ao Zonghua, Liu Shuliang, Li Jianlong

Food and Machinery

Ethyl carbamate, a group 2A carcinogen, has been widely detected in fermented foods and its safety has drawn increasing attention. Many countries have established limits for ethyl carbamate in fermented foods. This article reviews the contamination situation of ethyl carbamate, systematically summarizes and compares the detection methods of ethyl carbamate reported in both domestic and international literature in recent years, including chromatography, spectroscopy, electrochemical sensor method, paper strip colorimetry, and immunoassay. Finally, this article proposes the future development directions of residual detection technology for ethyl carbamate in fermented foods.

Research Progress On Protein Engineering Of Α-Amylase And Its Major Applications, Feng Yong, Ren Zhengwei

Food and Machinery

Alpha -Amylase is a glycoside hydrolase that efficiently catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch and is widely applied in various industrial fields such as food, textile, and paper industries. It plays a pivotal role particularly in food processing processes such as starch liquefaction, baking improvement, and juice clarification. However, natural α-amylases generally exhibit poor thermal stability, weak acid tolerance, and strong calcium ion dependency, which severely restrict their application in complex industrial environments. In recent years, protein engineering technologies, including directed evolution, rational design, and semi -rational design, have been extensively employed to the structural optimization and performance improvement of α-amylases. …

A Review Of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy For Pesticide Residue Detection In Fruits And Vegetables, Mai Xinyun, Hu Fangyang, He Lingling, Niu Junle, Wei Lanjie

Food and Machinery

Near -infrared spectroscopy (NIRS ) is valuable in pesticide residue detection for fruits and vegetables due to its nondestructive, rapid, and efficient nature. This review summarizes current research status in this field, compares the applicability of different spectral bands and imaging techniques, and analyzes challenges in single and mixed pesticide residue detection alongside enhancement strategies. Additionally, approaches to spectral preprocessing and feature wavelength selection are examined, with performance comparisons between chemometrics and deep learning models. Furthermore, the role of calibration transfer and transfer learning is discussed in improving model generalization across instruments and crop varieties. With continuous advancements in spectral …

Preparation Of Gleditsia Sinensis Polysaccharide Microemulsion And Their Hydrophobic Interactions With Quercetin, Xu Chenrui, Yao Qiuping, Deng Shenghui

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To investigate the formulation process of Gleditsia sinensis polysaccharide microemulsion and the hydrophobic interactions between the microemulsion and quercetin. [Methods] A pseudo -ternary phase diagram was drawn through compatibility experiments to optimize the formulation of the G.sinensis polysaccharide microemulsion. Based on the pyrene fluorescence probe technique, the effect of quercetin concentration on the I 1/I3 value in the microemulsion was examined to explore the hydrophobic and polar interactions between quercetin and the carrier in the G.sinensis polysaccharide microemulsion system. [Results] The prepared G.sinensis polysaccharide microemulsion was of the oil -in-water (O/W type ). The optimal formulation consisted of 35.4% …

Screening And Identification Of A Vibrio Parahaemolyticus -Antagonistic Fusion Weissella Confusa Y10-1 And Evaluation Of Its Bacteriostatic Activity, Yuan Baolong, Yi Han, Shen Naikun, Liang Ying, Tang Jiahao, Zhang Hongyan, Zhang Bin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To isolate and screen lactic acid bacteria from the intestinal tract of marine fish with inhibitory activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and to investigate their antibacterial activity. [Methods] Using V.parahaemolyticus as the indicator bacterium, preliminary antibacterial screening was performed. The strain was identified through morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics as well as 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The antibacterial spectrum of the strain was determined, and the antibacterial stability, antibacterial mechanisms, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC ) of its cell -free supernatant (CFS ) were analyzed. [Results] A strain, Y10-1, showing strong antagonistic activity against V.parahaemolyticus was screened and identified …

Effects Of Microwave Decocting On Release Law Of Flavor Substances In Cod Soup, Zhang Chaomin, Li Xinxi, Feng Jianhui, Xu Yongxia

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To prepare cod soup using cod as the main raw material by microwave heating, with traditional boiling as the control, and to compare and analyze the effects of microwave decocting on the release law of flavor substances in cod soup. [Methods] Cod soup was processed at different durations (15,30,45, and 60 min ), followed by sensory evaluation. The changes in the contents of trichloroacetic acid (TCA )-soluble peptides, amino acid nitrogen, flavor nucleotides, organic acids, inorganic salt ions, and free amino acids in the soup were analyzed. [Results] The contents of TCA -soluble peptides, amino acid nitrogen, flavor nucleotides, …

Differential Analysis Of Volatile Components Between The Flesh And Peel Of Poria Cocos Based On Dynamic Headspace-Gc-Ms, Meng Xue, Xu Hui, Li Huixin, Cheng Chuanyun

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To compare the differences in volatile components between Poria cocos flesh and peel using dynamic headspace -gas chromatography -mass spectrometry (GC-MS). [Methods] Fresh P.cocos was used as the test sample. Volatile components were enriched by dynamic headspace adsorption, and the differences in volatile components between the flesh and peel were analyzed by GC -MS. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to identify the main active components responsible for these differences. [Results] A total of 110 volatile compounds were detected from the peel and flesh of P.cocos, including 27 unique components in the flesh and 28 unique components …

Preparation And Certification Of Matrix Reference Material For Zearalenone In Whole Wheat Flour, Zhang Bing, Ye Jin, Li Peng, Wu Yu, Li Li, Dong Zemin, Wan Wengen, Wang Songxue

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To expand the varieties of matrix reference materials, improve the concentration levels of quantitative values, and meet the needs of market detection and scientific research, a matrix reference material for the compositional analysis of zearalenone (ZEN ) in whole wheat flour was developed. [Methods] Naturally contaminated wheat was used as the raw material, and the matrix reference material was prepared through cleaning, milling, and homogenization processes. It was vacuum -packed in aluminum foil pouches and sterilized by irradiation. The effects of grinding particle size and mixing time on the homogeneity of ZEN were investigated. Value assignment was conducted using …

Measurement Uncertainty Assessment For Total Aerobic Bacterial Count And Coliforms In Cooked Foods According To Rb/T 228, Liu Weiping, Wan Jianchun, Han Ying, Jiang Pengfei, Li Shixiang

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To evaluate the measurement uncertainty in the determination of total plate count and coliform bacteria in cooked foods, thereby improving the accuracy of test results. [Methods] The plate counting methods specified in GB 4789.2—2022 and GB 4789.3—2025 were employed to detect 18 cooked food samples under two conditions (A and B ). The combined standard uncertainty (uc(y)) and expanded uncertainty (U=2×uc(y)) were calculated in accordance with RB/T 228—2023. [Results] Based on intralaboratory reproducibility, the uc(y) for total plate count determination was 0.030 3 (U=0.060 6), and that for coliform bacteria determination was 0.179 7 (U=0.359 7). When all uncertainty …

Magnetic Surface Molecularly Imprinted Polymers For The Extraction And Analysis Of Tetracycline Residues From Fish Meat, Ye Run, Zhao Lei, Li Yuanxin, Cai Jing, Sun Wei, Chen Qiong, Zhang Wenqian

Food and Machinery

[Objective] This study aims to prepare magnetic surface molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs ) via a sol -gel method using tetracycline (TC) as the template molecule, and to combine them with spectrophotometry for the enrichment and detection of TC residues in fish meat. [Methods] Activated carbon (LAC ) is prepared from Magnolia grandiflora seeds using 60% (w/w) phosphoric acid solution as the activator. Magnetic activated carbon (MLAC ) is then obtained by co -precipitation -based magnetization of LAC. Using MLAC as the carrier and TC as the template molecule, MMIPs are synthesized, and their adsorption performance toward TC is investigated. The …

Geographical Origin Tracing Of Soybeans Using Electronic Tongue And Electronic Eye Combined With Multi-Level Information Fusion Based On Informer-Swin Transformer, Li Xin, Wang Zhiqiang, Han Tianrui, Xu Suchao

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To achieve rapid traceability detection of soybeans from different geographical origins. [Methods] A novel method for rapid soybean origin traceability is proposed based on the fusion of information from electronic tongue and electronic eye. The electronic tongue and electronic eye are used to collect taste fingerprint and visual image information, respectively, from soybeans of different origins. To address the differences between the temporal sequence features of electronic tongue signals and the spatial image features of electronic eye data, Informer and Swin Transformer are respectively employed to extract key features from the two types of data. A dual -modal feature …

Rapid Detection Of Tomato Nutritional Components Based On Nirs And Pso-Lightgbm, Shi Lichun, Wang Songwei, Wang Zhizhong

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To achieve rapid, non -destructive, and high -precision detection of six nutritional components in tomatoes, including dry matter, soluble sugar, total acid, vitamin C, soluble solids, and lycopene. [Methods] A tomato nutritional component detection model based on near -infrared spectroscopy (NIRS ) combined with light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM ) optimized using the particle swarm optimization (PSO ) algorithm (PSO -LightGBM ) was proposed. Using the six nutritional components as detection indicators, near -infrared spectral data (scanning range:400~2 500 nm) were collected from 471 tomato samples. Seven preprocessing methods were compared, and the optimal combination of standard normal variate …

A Non-Destructive Appearance Quality Detection Method For Primary-Processed Crayfish Based On Improved Yolov 11, Wang Xujia, Wang Shuqing, Hu Haoyu

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To achieve rapid and non -destructive online detection of the appearance quality of crayfish during primary processing and to improve detection accuracy and real -time performance in complex scenarios. [Methods] A dataset for crayfish appearance quality is constructed for complex scenarios on primary -processing production lines, and a crayfish appearance quality detection algorithm YOLO -CQ based on YOLOv 11n is proposed. DualConv is introduced to improve the C 3k2 module, enhancing the model's feature extraction capability while optimizing the allocation of computational resources. Deformable attention (DAT ) is integrated into the C 2PSA module, enabling the model to adaptively …

Design And Experimental Study On Drying Performance Of A Belt-Type Gas Jet Impingement Dryer, Liu Xinhan, Ju Haoyu, Zhang Weipeng, Geng Yahui, Miao Huan, Hou Liyuan

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To address the issues of uneven product quality, limited loading capacity, and the inability to achieve continuous drying in existing gas jet impingement dryers, a novel belt -type gas jet impingement dryer is designed to enhance the practicality and drying performance of the equipment. [Methods] The belt -type gas jet impingement dryer mainly consists of an airflow distribution chamber, a drying chamber, a centrifugal fan, a temperature control system, and a transmission system. The conveyor belt speed, airflow temperature, and air velocity can be adjusted according to the different materials. Simulations are conducted using Fluent software for airflow distribution …

Effects And Mechanisms Of Electrostatic Field-Assisted Temperature Rising On Inhibiting Color Browning Of Modified Atmosphere-Packaged Lamb Ribs During 10 ℃ Storage, Huang Zhiji, Wang Rong, Chen Bingyan, Zhu Lewei, Li Xinwei, Lin Yiqin, Lin Lijuan, Liu Yun, Lin Xiaozi, Li Weixin

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To address the problem of browning and oxidation in meat products processed from frozen lamb during shelf life. [Methods] Frozen sliced lamb ribs during temperature elevation were treated with an electrostatic field and then packaged using modified atmosphere packaging with different gas compositions. The samples were stored at 10 ℃ after packaging, and meat color, total viable count, oxidation level, and antioxidant enzyme activity were measured at 0,48,72, and 96 h of storage. [Results] After treatment with a 25 kV electrostatic field for 30 min, samples packaged under high -oxygen conditions (70% O2+30% CO2, EO group ) showed significantly …

Preparation And Performance Characterization Of An Anthocyanin-Based Intelligent Indicating Composite Film For Monitoring The Freshness Of Fish Meat, Zhang Jinfeng, Wang Guanghui, Wang Peng, Chai Yunlei, Gao Zhen

Food and Machinery

[Objective] To develop an anthocyanin -based intelligent film that can rapidly respond to freshness of fish meat and has a certain degree of antibacterial properties. [Methods] Zein (ZH) and chitosan (CS) are used as the film -forming matrix, anthocyanin as the indicator, glycerol as the enhancer, and nisin as the antibacterial additive to prepare the anthocyanin -based intelligent film. With tensile strength (TS) and carbon dioxide transmittance as indicators, three factors -CS/ZH blending ratio, glycerol addition amount, and volume of coating, are selected for single -factor experiments. On the basis of the single -factor experiments, a response surface experiment is …