Life Sciences Commons^™

Helping Utah Landowners Reduce Pesticide Use Through A Statewide Ipm Program, Nick Volesky, Mair Murray

Outcomes and Impact Quarterly

The Utah Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program provides outreach and education to Utahns to reduce pesticide use and ultimately protect human and environmental health. In 2022, the IPM program responded to stakeholders’ needs by partnering with county Extension offices to deliver eight (8) in-person workshops across the state. The workshops connected Extension specialists and county faculty with managers of home landscapes and farms. The objective of the workshops was to provide participants with IPM skills to identify, monitor, and manage pest problems in preparation for the upcoming growing season.

Preventative Weed Management Strategies In Arkansas Tomato Production, Gracie E. Morrison, Matthew Bertucci

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Cost-effective weed suppression is an important consideration for tomato growers. Growers often choose methods which minimize hand labor, as hand weeding can be prohibitively expensive. This project determined economic viability of high tunnel tomatoes treated with several methods of weed control, both organic and chemical. These methods included: 2-week hand weeding, 1-week hand weeding, preemergent herbicide application (plots sprayed with herbicide prior to weed emergence), straw mulch (plots bedded with straw), landscape fabric (plots covered in fabric), and untreated weedy control plots. These six treatments were applied to randomized blocks in a high tunnel. Weeding, planting, and harvesting were all …

Consumers' Perception Of Quality For Ladies' Swimwear Based On Price And Brand, Jennifer Avila, Laurie M. Apple, Lance M. Cheramie, Leigh Southward

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Consumers shop at multiple retailers for different needs, and it is understood that many choose a retailer for an experience and others will shop at another retailer for better savings. In a time where E-commerce is at an all-time high, retailers need to consider how they compare against online retailers in the apparel sector. In this study, three retailers were compared against one another since they are all swimwear competitors. As these retailers adjust to store and production shortages, it is important to understand how the quality of clothing will keep sales consistent. Consumers are likely to keep shopping at …

Letter From The Faculty Editor, Beth Kegley

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Instructions For Authors, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Discovery: The Student Journal Of Dale Bumpers College Of Agricultural, Food And Life Sciences- Volume 23 2022, Several Authors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Student Perceptions Of Messages Regarding Genetically Modified Organisms Delivered Using Creative Media, Faith Mills, Casandra K, Cox

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The purpose of this study was to determine how communicating authentic agricultural information using an infographic affects Millennial and Generation Z students’ perceptions of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and to determine the perceptions of college students regarding the infographic used to convey agricultural messages. This study used survey research methods with open- and closed-ended questions administered through Qualtrics. The questionnaire was designed with five sections including a pre-questionnaire, content presentation, post-questionnaire, infographic perception questionnaire, and demographics section. All questions in the pre- and post- questionnaire were focused on the content found in the researcher developed infographic. Overall, participants increased accuracy …

Identifying Herbicides For Use During Zoysiagrass Sprigging, Dani Mcfadden, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Weed control after planting warm-season grasses in the spring can be critical for acceptable establishment of the stand. However, many herbicide labels can be unclear on sprigging restrictions before or after the application of a product. Research was conducted on the growth effects of pre- and postemergence herbicides applied at or near the day of ‘Innovation’ zoysiagrass sprigging. Preliminary data from this study shows granular (Ronstar G) and liquid (Ronstar Flo) formulations of oxadiazon caused the least amount of injury to zoysiagrass.

Letter From The Dean, Jean-Francois Meullenet

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Contents, Discovery Editors

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Featured Faculty Mentor And Student Explore The Dynamics Of This Research Relationship, Matt Bertucci, Gracie Morrison

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

No abstract provided.

Using Poultry To Enhance Food Security In Stann Creek, Belize, Emily Spatz, Lisa S. Wood

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

Food insecurity is a growing issue in developing and developed countries alike, and in countries like Belize, the prevalence of hunger has soared in recent years. Not having access to diets with sufficient calories and nutrients leads to a host of developmental issues, including stunting and cognitive delays. The purpose of this work was to create an all-encompassing manual for small-scale poultry production in order to provide nourishment for the students and staff of a school in Belize. After determining that the best way to meet the school’s needs was through dual-purpose birds, background research was conducted to determine small-scale …

Aerification Effects On ‘Innovation’ Zoysiagrass In 2020-2021, Dani Mcfadden, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

When a thatch layer accumulates on turfgrass it can be detrimental to the stand. A field experiment was initiated to investigate aerification treatments and their influence on thatch (organic matter level), quality, and color of ‘Innovation’ zoysiagrass that was sodded within the past year. Turfgrass that was intensely aerified had less organic matter content in the surface inch of the profile compared to turfgrass that was not aerified. Color was also enhanced in treatments receiving aerification compared to non-aerified turf, which may have been attributed to trending of higher nitrate content in aerified plots.

Simulation Of Nitrous Oxide Emissions In Zoysia Turfgrass Using Daycent And Dndc Ecosystem Models, Mu Hong, Yao Zhang, Ross Braun, Dale J. Bremer

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is an important greenhouse gas (GHG) implicated in global climate change. Process-based ecosystem models, such as DAYCENT and DNDC, have been widely used to predict GHG fluxes in agricultural systems. However, neither model has yet been applied to warm-season turfgrasses such as zoysiagrass. This study parameterized, calibrated, and validated the DAYCENT and DNDC models for N₂O emissions from Meyer zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonicaSteud.) using Bayes’ theorem and field data from Braun and Bremer (2018a, 2019) and Lewis and Bremer (2013). Results indicated DAYCENT, but not DNDC, reasonably simulated the impacts of irrigation …

2021 Creeping Bentgrass Putting Green National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Trial, Dani Mcfadden, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stoloniferaL.) is the most common cool-season grass used for putting surfaces in Kansas and other temperate regions of the world. Fine-textured and high-density cultivars (‘Penn A-1’, ‘Penn A-2’, and ‘Penn A-4’) released in the late 1990s are widely accepted throughout the transition zone. However, new cultivars with attractive characteristics continue to be selected, evaluated, and introduced to determine their long-term suitability for Kansas.

Establishing Seeded Tall Fescue With Covers And Drip Irrigation Methods, Alex P. Bach, Dale J. Bremer, Cathie C. Lavis, Steven J. Keeley, Mu Hong

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The use of covers may improve establishment of seeded turfgrass but their use in combination with drip irrigation techniques has not been evaluated. We investigated the effects of two cover types and three irrigation methods on establishment of seeded tall fescue turfgrass. For spring seeding of tall fescue[Schedonorus arundinaceus(Schreb.) Dumort.], turf establishment was successful with subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) and aboveground drip irrigation (AGD) in fine textured soil in the transition zone. With SDI, AGD, or sprinkler irrigation, both polyester mesh (Poly) and straw blanket (Straw) covers improved turf establishment in the order of Poly>Straw>No Cover, …

Effects Of Drip Irrigation And Cultivation Methods On Establishment Of Seeded Tall Fescue, Alex P. Bach, Dale J. Bremer, Cathie C. Lavis, Steven J. Keeley, Mu Hong

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is becoming increasingly popular for maintaining turfgrass, in part because it conserves water. However, turf managers considering SDI may wonder if SDI is effective in establishing seeded turfgrass, should the need arise. Also, can verticutting or core aeration be used to establish the seedbed without damaging the buried driplines? Is one of those two cultivation methods better than the other? These questions were evaluated in this study. An aboveground drip irrigation system (AGD) was also evaluated because it has been suggested as a portable method for establishing turfgrass planted along roadsides.

Results indicated seeded tall fescue …

Tall Fescue Performance Under Low Maintenance Conditions In The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Test, Jack D. Fry

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) Tall Fescue Test was planted in 2018 at the Kansas State University Olathe Horticulture Center, Olathe, KS. Differences have been observed among entries maintained under low maintenance conditions.

Comparing Zoysia Experimental Genotypes Developed By Kansas State University, Texas A&M, And Purdue To Meyer In The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program Test, Jack D. Fry, Dani Mcfadden

Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports

The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) Zoysia Test was planted in 2019 at the Kansas State University Olathe Horticulture Center, Olathe, KS. Since planting, three experimental genotypes developed at Kansas State University (with cooperators noted below) have outperformed ‘Meyer’ in establishment rate, turf quality, drought tolerance, and fall color. Earlier research has demonstrated large patch tolerance in all three experimental genotypes.