Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Life Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 11 of 11

Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences

Effect Of Land Use Change On South Texas Bats, Katharine Leigh Jones Dec 2017

Effect Of Land Use Change On South Texas Bats, Katharine Leigh Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Bats were acoustically recorded in South Texas over the summer of 2017. Nine species of bats were recorded and identified.


Removal Of Lead And Arsenic From Aqueous Solution By Biochar Produced From Locally-Sourced Biomass, Sergio I. Mireles Jul 2017

Removal Of Lead And Arsenic From Aqueous Solution By Biochar Produced From Locally-Sourced Biomass, Sergio I. Mireles

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the effectiveness of four adsorbent materials, pyrolyzed corn stover, orange peel, pistachio shell, and magnetic biochar for their ability to adsorb lead (Pb) and arsenic (As III, As V) from aqueous solution. An increase in adsorption was seen as the pH of the solution increased from pH 2 to pH 6. Magnetic orange peel biochar with Fe3O4 particles precipitated on the surface of biochar was synthetized by co-precipitation and used for arsenic adsorption. Initial pH value had an influence on the adsorption behavior of As (III) and As (V). In the pH range of 2–6, As (V) …


Terroir Studies In Washington And Wisconsin American Viticultural Areas, Snejana Karakis May 2017

Terroir Studies In Washington And Wisconsin American Viticultural Areas, Snejana Karakis

Theses and Dissertations

The concept of terroir has been evaluated since the 12th century, when Cistercian monks from Burgundy realized that the physical environment in which grapes are grown has a major influence on the character and quality of the resulting wine. These environmental conditions affecting grape and wine quality are known as terroir in viticulture and have become increasingly important in the grape growing and wine industry. In this dissertation, three studies investigating the terroir of vineyards located in Washington and Wisconsin American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), which are defined by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) as delimited grape-growing …


Multifunctionality Of Cover Crops On Organic Vegetable Farms In South Texas, Savannah M. Rugg May 2017

Multifunctionality Of Cover Crops On Organic Vegetable Farms In South Texas, Savannah M. Rugg

Theses and Dissertations

Situated in deep South Texas, the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is considered one the most productive agricultural regions in the southern US. With the highest concentration of organic farms in the state (Hidalgo county), finding management practices that comply with organic certification is increasingly pertinent. Cover cropping can serve multiple functions in an agroecosystem such as: suppressing weeds, increasing soil organic matter (SOM), increasing soil nitrates, and enhancing soil biodiversity. The four cover crops (lablab, sunn hemp, sudangrass, and pearl millet) were assessed to see their potential to increase soil nitrogen, to increase soil organic matter, and to suppress …


Genetic Variation In Two Economically Important Arthropod Vectors Of Citrus Diseases, Alejandra Fuentes May 2017

Genetic Variation In Two Economically Important Arthropod Vectors Of Citrus Diseases, Alejandra Fuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Arthropod vectors are agriculturally and ecologically important because they transmit numerous plant pathogens. Commonly, control strategies for vector-borne plant pathogens focus on suppression of vector populations. Genetic variation studies in pest populations provide useful information for biological control, understanding pesticide resistance, and inferring global movement patterns. In chapter I, genetic variation of worldwide populations of Diaphorina citri, the vector of Citrus greening disease, was examined to assess potential sites of origin of invasive populations. The results showed population structure at regional levels, suggesting limited gene flow and revealing patterns of invasion. In chapter II, I explored the community of …


Nutrient Loading Reduction In A Tile Drained Agricultural Watershed Through Watershed-Scale Cover Cropping: A High Resolution Analysis, Benjamin Gerald Bruening Apr 2017

Nutrient Loading Reduction In A Tile Drained Agricultural Watershed Through Watershed-Scale Cover Cropping: A High Resolution Analysis, Benjamin Gerald Bruening

Theses and Dissertations

Nutrient pollution originating from agricultural regions in the Midwest is a serious issue, leading to pollution of drinking water sources as well as large hypoxic zones in the Gulf of Mexico. The source of much of this contamination has been shown to be runoff from agricultural fields in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. One method that has been shown to reduce this pollution from the Upper Mississippi River Basin is the planting of winter cover crops. Winter cover crops such as rye and tillage radish have been shown to significantly reduce nitrate exported from agricultural fields, even in tile-drained watersheds …


Creating A Scaling Relationship Between Peak Discharge And Drainage Area To Identify Tile Drainage Inputs Into An Agricultural Stream, Ryan Plath Apr 2017

Creating A Scaling Relationship Between Peak Discharge And Drainage Area To Identify Tile Drainage Inputs Into An Agricultural Stream, Ryan Plath

Theses and Dissertations

Tile drains have been shown to contribute to high levels of nitrate in agricultural streams. Locations of tile drains on a watershed scale, however, are often unknown due to tile drains being located on many separate parcels of private property. This study evaluates the ability of a methodology, using scaling relationships between discharge and drainage area, for locating areas of large tile drainage contribution to Money Creek, in McLean County, Illinois. Additionally, this study examines the difference in scaling relationships and physical stream hydrology between tileflow and no-tileflow conditions. Eight stream sites were created in the watershed, that recorded stage …


Determining The Effects Of Sulfur Fertility Levels On Edamame Soybean [ Glycine Max ( L. ) Merrill ] Protein Components, Theoneste Nzaranyimana Apr 2017

Determining The Effects Of Sulfur Fertility Levels On Edamame Soybean [ Glycine Max ( L. ) Merrill ] Protein Components, Theoneste Nzaranyimana

Theses and Dissertations

Edamame [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] a vegetable type soybean is harvested and consumed before reaching its maturity stage (R6). Its health properties drew attention to U.S. consumers because of its high protein content. Proteins are the major structural component of all cells in the living organisms. They are made of essential and non-essential amino acids which play a big role in growth and development and are source of energy. Proteins act as enzymes, antibodies, and hormones and blood protein. Sulfur (S) is a component of the amino acids cysteine (Cys) and methionine (Met) which are the building blocks for proteins. …


Agronomic And Economic Implications Of Cover Crop Inclusion Within Varying Nitrogen Management Strategies In Central Illinois, Richard T. Roth Mar 2017

Agronomic And Economic Implications Of Cover Crop Inclusion Within Varying Nitrogen Management Strategies In Central Illinois, Richard T. Roth

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contains a comprehensive analysis of research investigating the impacts of nitrogen application timing and cover crops on the biomass production, nitrogen uptake, and cash crop grain yield in subsequent cash crops. Also contained within this thesis is a cost benefit analysis for the implementation of cover crops within varying nitrogen management systems, which assigns value to the environmental benefits of cover crops and determines their potential to recover the implementation costs associated with cover crops.


Effect Of Wet Brewer's Grain Inclusion On The Growth Performance, Carcass Performance, And Meat Quality Of Finishing Cattle, Riley T. Parmenter Mar 2017

Effect Of Wet Brewer's Grain Inclusion On The Growth Performance, Carcass Performance, And Meat Quality Of Finishing Cattle, Riley T. Parmenter

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of Wet Brewer’s Grains (WBG) on the growth performance, carcass performance, and meat quality of finishing cattle. Twenty-four (n=24; 12 heifers – 303kg, 12 steers – 346kg) calves of Simmental-Angus genetics were utilized. Calves were paired by sex, blocked by BW within sex in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with three replications per treatment, and fed for 140d. Control diets were a conventional corn silage – shelled corn finishing-diet. Experimental diets modeled the control diet with the inclusion of WBG on a thirty-percent DM basis. Cattle were visually appraised …


Review Of Safety Programs At Midsized, Non-Land Grant University Farms, David Michael James Feb 2017

Review Of Safety Programs At Midsized, Non-Land Grant University Farms, David Michael James

Theses and Dissertations

OSHA ranks agriculture as the highest industry in per capita injury and deaths, and has so for many years (OSHA 2013). Agricultural production presents many hazards which may or may not be unique to this industry. Workers can face long hours, exposure to extreme heat and cold, aggressive animals, exposure to chemicals, and hazards regarding heavy equipment. University farms face many of the same problems as private production agriculture, with the added pressure of often being diverse operations with the constant presence of student workers, which have highly variable levels of experience. Based on the amount of hazards present, one …