Life Sciences Commons^™

Soil Moisture Dynamics In Cover Cropping Systems: From Local To Global Scales, Manish Gautam

Theses and Dissertations

Cover cropping systems, which have gained recognition for their ability to enhance soil health and promote sustainability are also associated with potential risks related with declining soil moisture and pose a dilemma for farmers considering the adoption of cover crops in water deficit semi-arid settings worldwide. To address this pressing issue, we conducted a participatory cover cropping trial in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) region, encompassing four different farms and supplemented this experiment with a meta-analysis to answer our soil moisture and climate parameters and quantify the impact of cover crops on soil moisture levels. The findings revealed that …

Agronomic Evaluation Of Biofortified Beans In Antioquia Producers’ Farms, Álvaro Tamayo-Vélez, Gloria E. Santana-Fonseca, Matthew W. Blair, Carolina Ortiz-Muñoz

Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Faculty Research

The objective of this research was to evaluate genotypes of iron- and zinc-enriched common beans during breeding in producers’ farms. Yield, disease reaction, and commercial grain characteristics were evaluated to achieve this objective. In three locations of Antioquia (Rionegro, Jardín, and Betulia), seven bush beans and eight climbing bean genotypes were planted. A randomized complete block design with four replications was used in each location. There were significant differences between the bush and climbing bean genotypes that were evaluated. The highest yields, in all locations, were for the biofortified bean NUA 45 and the control variety Uribe Rosado, followed by …

Does Seed Size Affect The Rate Of Germination And Early Seedling Growth In Hairy Vetch?, Joy Ekpo

McCabe Thesis Collection

Size is an important characteristic of seed quality because larger seeds with larger volume contain more resources and are likely to exhibit greater vigor than smaller seeds (Ellis, 1992). In a range of plant species, seed size has been shown to affect germination rate, emergence rate, success of establishment, and growth (Black 1957; Bentley et al. 1980; Sanderson et al. 2002). Hairy vetch is an annual legume that is used for improvement of soil for pasture and to provide ground cover protecting against erosion (Duke 1981; Undersander 2002; Sattell et al 1988). Problems facing the establishment of hairy vetch are …

Testing The Efficiency Of Broadacre Farms, Ben Henderson, Ross Kingwell

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A study of 93 broadacre farms has revealed that most farms display high levels of technical efficiency. On average, technical efficiency is improving, although a small proportion of farms remain relatively inefficient due to a number of factors.

Grass Seed Production, Robert C. Buckner, Warren C. Thompson

Agronomy Notes

Producing cool season grass seed crops has historically been a profitable venture on Kentucky farms.

When growing maximum yields of grass seed, the pH level should be maintained between 6.0 and 7.0, when the recommended rates of limestone are used, and when phosphate and potash are maintained at medium-to-high levels (based on a soil test). Similarly, grass should be grown in pure stands. Weeds and insects must be controlled to prevent yield reduction.

Following seed harvest, excess herbage should be removed, preferably by grazing. All cool season grasses can be grazed until growth stops in the late fall or early …

Bulletin No. 309 - An Economic Analysis Of The Milking Enterprise On Farms In The Ogden Area, Utah, 1937-39, George T. Blanch, Dee A. Broadbent

UAES Bulletins

The area included in this study is part of the better irrigated section of Utah. Although the soils are variable, that part used for arable agriculture is generally fair to good. The poorer soils are used largely for pastures which makes necessary a forage-consuming livestock enterprise in the farm organization. Dairy cattle is the type of livestock most common. Topography, climate, irrigation water supply, transportation, and markets all permit or favor a relatively intensive and successful cash-crop and dairy type of farming. The average farm is relatively small in area of cultivated land which also makes necessary intensive usage, high …

Bulletin No. 308 - A Farm Management Study Of Farms With Dairy Enterprises In The Ogden Area, Utah, 1937-39, George T. Blanch, Dee A. Broadbent

UAES Bulletins

Farmers in the irrigated sections of Utah are confronted by several difficult problems in the management of their farms. The farms are far distant from the consumption centers of the country which results in high freight rates and a need to produce concentrated products for market, and also in violent fluctuations in farm prices. The farms usually consist of relatively few crop acres which makes intensive usage necessary for an adequate sized business. Most farms also include a considerable acreage of land unsuited to tillage. The utilization of this land makes necessary the inclusion in the farm business of a …

Bulletin No. 289 - Business Analysis Of Farms In Utah County, Utah, Walter U. Fuhriman, W. Preston Thomas

UAES Bulletins

Project 179 of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station - "A Study of the Agricultural Resources of Utah and their Utilization" - was set up in April 1936 as a state-wide project. The object of this project was to measure by areas the basic agricultural resources of the state and to translate the information collected into a program of more efficient use. The more specific objectives were: (1) classification of agricultural lands of Utah according to present and potential productivity and use; (2) determination of the net productive area of agricultural lands and water supply now available, or which may be …

Bulletin No. 160 - Important Factors In The Operation Of Irrigated Utah Farms, E. B. Brossard

UAES Bulletins

Two agricultural problems that are fundamental and of prime importance to the people of Utah are:

1. The development to maximum economic agricultural production of those farms now operated.

2. The agricultural development of the many thousands of acres of new land in the state.

A realization of the importance of these problems caused this investigation to be made. The purpose of it is as follows :

1. To determine what has been the experience of practical farmers, relative to the most profitable systems of farm management on irrigated Utah farms, and to suggest profitable future development of the existing …