Life Sciences Commons^™

Interactive Effects Of Seed Size And Drought Stress On Growth And Allocation Of Quercus Brantii Lindl. Seedlings From Two Provenances, Roghayeh Zolfaghari, Payam Fayyaz, Mona Nazari, Fernando Valladares

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Quercus brantii is an important tree species in Zagros forests. Summer drought imposes severe limitations in Q. brantii forests, making reforestation with this species in general very difficult. This is further complicated by the limited ecophysiological information for this species. To improve our understanding of factors affecting the drought tolerance of Q. brantii at early critical life stages, we explored the influence of seed size and provenance on growth and survival of Q. brantii seedlings under drought. As expected, drought reduced growth and survival and increased the root-to-shoot ratio, with larger acorns rendering more vigorous growth than small ones. There …

Withdrawal Force Capacity Of Mortise And Loose Tenon T-Type Furniture Joints, Mohammad Derikvand, Jerzy Smardzewski, Ghanbar Ebrahimi, Mosayeb Dalvand, Sadegh Maleki

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The main goal of this study was to determine the effect of wood species and loose tenon length on the withdrawal force capacity of mortise and loose tenon (M<) T-type furniture joints. The specimens were manufactured from oak (Quercus alba), beech (Fagus orientalis L.), poplar (Populus deltoides), sycamore (Platanus orientalis), fir (Abies alba), and white walnut (Juglans cinerea), and the tenon species selected was oriental beech (Fagus orientalis L.). The length of the tenon was determined on the basis of the length glued into the horizontal member of the joint. The lengths in the present study were 10, 20, and …

The Determination Of Indicator Plant Species For Steppe Rangelands Of Nevşehir Province In Turkey, Sabahaddi̇n Ünal, Zi̇ya Mutlu, Özteki̇n Urla, Bi̇lal Şahi̇n, Ali̇ Koç

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Monitoring and interpretation of the changes to the vegetation of rangelands are key functions for ecological models and sustainable management. Field work was well organized to generally represent the rangelands in the province of Nevşehir, in Central Anatolia, Turkey, in the year 2008. A modified wheel-point method with a loop was used to detect the basal cover of species of vegetation. There were 185 species in 31 sample sites throughout Nevşehir Province. Ordination analysis was performed with the Integrated System for Plant Dynamics software package, which includes detrended correspondence analysis and sample-centered principal components analysis. A gradient analysis showed that …

Role Of Foliar Feeding Of Micronutrients In Yield Maximization Of Cotton In Punjab, Muhammad Yaseen, Wazir Ahmed, Muhammad Shahbaz

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Deficiency of micronutrients, particularly of zinc, boron, and iron, in calcareous soils is of great concern. Results indicate a reduction in yield of seed-cotton due to an imbalance of nutrients, particularly micronutrients, on calcareous soils in the last decade. About 90% of Pakistani soils are deficient in micronutrients, particularly zinc, boron, and iron. This paper highlights efforts to overcome these deficiencies in cotton through foliar feeding of micronutrients. The results of this study indicated a marked improvement in seed-cotton yield with foliar application of a spray containing Zn, B, Mn, Cu, and Fe on cotton crops grown on calcareous soils …

Phytochemical Characteristics Of Grafted Watermelon On Different Bottle Gourds (Lagenaria Siceraria) Collected From Mediterranean Region Of Turkey, Eli̇f Çandir, Hali̇t Yeti̇şi̇r, Fati̇h Karaca, Durmuş Üstün

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The objective of this study is to determine the sugar, organic acid, and carotenoid content of Crimson Tide watermelons grafted onto bottle gourd genotypes collected from the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The experiment was carried out during the 2008 and 2009 growing season. Grafting on the local bottle gourd rootstocks improved the total soluble solid (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS/TA ratio, sugar, organic acid, and carotenoid (beta-carotene and lycopene) contents of Crimson Tide fruits. Grafting also altered the ratios among the sugars of Crimson Tide watermelon fruits. Among the Crimson Tide/rootstock (CT/rootstock) combinations, the CT/09-01 and CT/07-06 graft combinations with …

Pcr Detection Of Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Radicis-Lycopersici And Races Of F. Oxysporum F. Sp. Lycopersici Of Tomato In Protected Tomato-Growing Areas Of The Eastern Mediterranean Region Of Turkey, Ayşegül Çolak, Mehmet Bi̇çi̇ci̇

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Fusarium crown and root rot (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. radicis-lycopersici, FORL) and Fusarium wilt (caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici, FOL) are the most important diseases to affect tomatoes in protected growing conditions in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. These diseases cause significant yield losses in this region. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) studies were used to characterize 87 isolates from Adana and Mersin provinces, representative of different locations. Among them, 60% and 40% of the plants were determined to have FORL and FOL, respectively. FORL and FOL race 3 are the dominant pathogens in this region. …

Assessment Of Community Level Physiological Profiles And Molecular Diversity Of Soil Bacteria Under Different Cropping Systems, Biswapriya Das, Kalyan Chakrabarti

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Community level physiological profiles (CLPP) and molecular diversity of bacteria in soil under rice–rice (RR), rice-fallow (RF), rice-wheat (RW), legume (LG), mango orchard (MO), and grass land (GL) cropping systems occurring in South West Bengal, India (22^°22'N latitude and 86^°26^'E longitude) were studied. The soils were mostly acidic (pH 5.4 to 6.85). The GL soil recorded the highest organic carbon (20.23 g kg^{-1}) and total nitrogen (1.96 g kg^{-1}). The RF soil was the most acidic and had the poorest nutrient contents. The CLPP, as studied by carbon source utilization in BIOLOG Ecoplates, revealed that the bacteria in soils under …

Site Index Conversion Equations For Mixed Stands Of Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) And Oriental Beech (Fagus Orientalis Lipsky) In The Black Sea Region, Turkey, Aydin Kahri̇man, Hakki Yavuz, İlker Ercanli

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The site index conversion equations are important for estimating the site index of one tree species from the site index of another tree species in mixed stands. In this study, data were obtained from 162 sample plots in mixed stands of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) from the Black Sea Region in the north of Turkey. The breast height ages and height of the site trees were measured and the site index was estimated by these data. Geometric linear regression was used to estimate the parameters of a linear model relating to site indices …

Physicochemical And Rheological Characteristics Of Alcohol Free Probiotic Boza Produced Using Lactobacillus Casei Shirota: Estimation Of Apparent Viscosity Of Boza Using Non-Linear Modeling Techniques, İsmet Öztürk, Safa Karaman, Fati̇h Törnük, Osman Sağdiç

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The effects of fermentation with 2 different starter culture mixtures composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on some physicochemical, microbiological, sensorial, and rheological characteristics of boza, a traditional fermented Turkish beverage, during storage for 10 days at 8 ^°C were investigated. Lb. casei Shirota adapted in boza well and provided the boza with a probiotic property. At the beginning of storage, the Lb. casei Shirota count of boza was 6.83 log cfu mL^{-1}, while total LAB counts were 8.01 and 8.11 log cfu mL-1 for S1 and S2 samples, respectively. A decrease in pH values was observed when the counts …

Intercepted Rainfall In Abies Fabri Forest With Different-Aged Stands In Southwestern China, Xiangyang Sun, Genxu Wang, Yun Lin, Linan Liu, Yang Gao

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Interception is one of the most important hydrological processes. Most investigations merely focus on canopy interception, but forest floor interception should also be considered. The stand age also influences interception. To explore the interception characteristics of Abies fabri with different stand ages, canopy, stem, and forest floor, interceptions were evaluated during the rainy season of 2009 (from May to October 2009). The total interception rates were found to be 28.8%, 25.5%, and 31.3% for young, middle-aged, and mature forest stands, respectively. Forest floor interception accounted for 19.1%, 18.1%, and 10.0% of the total interception, respectively. We concluded that the differences …

Effects Of Posttreatment With Alkaline Copper Quat And Copper Azole On The Mechanical Properties Of Wood-Based Composites, Ci̇hat Taşçioğlu

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The static bending strengths, modulus of rupture, and modulus of elasticity of 5 commercial wood-based composites [softwood plywood (SWP), hardwood plywood (HWP), medium density fiber-board (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB), and particleboard (PB)] were measured after a postmanufacture treatment of vacuum-impregnation with alkaline copper quat (ACQ) and copper azole (CA) (target retentions: 0.65, 1.30, and 2.60 kg^{ m-3} for ACQ; 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 kg ^{m-3} for CA). Of the composites tested, SWP exceptionally sustained no damage to its bending strengths, regardless of preservative types and retentions. Others (HWP, MDF, OSB, and PB) were necessarily affected to some degree by …

The Efficacy Of Crude Aqueous Extracts Of Some Plants As Grain Protectants Against The Stored Grain Mite, Rhizoglyphus Tritici, Muhammad Bashir, Muhammad Dildar Gogi, Muhammad Ashfaq, Dr. Muhammad Afzal, Muhammad Ahsan Khan, Muhammad Ihsan

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Mites are one of the most notorious and destructive pests affecting stored grains, contaminating stored grain with toxins and reducing germination rates. Applying synthetic miticides is the sole method for providing knockdown control of mites; however, the continuous application of miticides results in the contamination of grain with highly persistent toxic residues, which pose a health hazard to humans. The present research evaluates the efficacy of crude aqueous extracts of Azadirachta indica, Melia azedarach, Eucalyptus sp., Datura stramonium, and Citrullus colocynthis under laboratory conditions at 5 concentrations (6.25%, 12.5%, 25%, 50%, and 100%) and 4 exposure periods (7, 14, 21, …

Utilization Of Color Parameters To Estimate Moisture Content And Nutrient Levels Of Peanut Leaves, Muharrem Keski̇n, Sema Karanlik, Serap Görücü Keski̇n, Yurtsever Soysal

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

Leaf nutrient levels are traditionally quantified by laboratory chemical analysis, which is time-consuming and requires intensive labor and investment. The objective of this study was to predict the moisture content (MC) and nutrient content of peanut leaves from color parameters (CIE Lab) using a chromameter. This method is faster and requires less labor and investment compared to laboratory chemical analysis. Fifty peanut leaf samples were collected from a commercial peanut field. The samples were analyzed for MC, N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu concentrations after color parameters were acquired by chromameter. A positive and high correlation …

Is Quercus Virgiliana A Distinct Morphological And Genetic Entity Among European White Oaks?, Cristian Mihai Enescu, Alexandru Lucian Curtu, Neculae Şofletea

Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry

The existence of Quercus virgiliana Ten. is a subject of debate among botanists and silviculturists. It was considered a distinct species, sometimes as an intraspecific taxonomic unit of Q. pubescens L., or was not even recognized as a taxon or infrataxon. This disagreement with regard to the taxonomic classification is explained by the morphological similarities between Q. virgiliana and Q. pubescens, with a small overlap between particular leaf and fruit traits. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the macromorphological fruit and leaf descriptors in Romanian populations of pubescent oaks. We wanted to find which traits discriminate between …

Photographic Survey Of Benthos Provides Insights Into The Antarctic Fish Fauna From The Marguerite Bay Slope And The Amundsen Sea, Joseph T. Eastman, Margaret O. Amsler, Richard D. Aronson, Sven Thatje, James Mcclintock, Stephanie C. Vos, Jeffrey W. Kaeli, Hanumant Singh, Mario La Mesa

Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

We reviewed photographic images of fishes from depths of 381–2282m in Marguerite Bay and 405–2007m in the Amundsen Sea. Marguerite Bay fishes were 33% notothenioids and 67% non-notothenioids. Channichthyids (47%) and nototheniids (44%) were the most abundant notothenioids. The deep-living channichthyid Chionobathyscus dewitti (74%) and the nototheniid genus Trematomus (66%) were the most abundant taxa within these two families. The most abundant non-notothenioids were the macrourid Macrourus whitsoni (72%) and zoarcids (18%). Amundsen Sea fishes were 87% notothenioids and 13% non-notothenioids, the latter exclusively Macrourus whitsoni. Bathydraconids (38%) and artedidraconids (30%) were the most abundant notothenioids. We observed that Macrourus …

Isolation And Molecular Characterization Of Fikirini Rhabdovirus, A Novel Virus From A Kenyan Bat, Rebekah C. Kading, Amy T. Gilbert, Eric C. Mossel, Mary B. Crabtree, Ivan V. Kuzmin, Michael Niezgoda, Bernard Agwanda, Wanda Markotter, M. Ryan Weil, Joel M. Montgomery, Charles E. Rupprecht, Barry R. Miller

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Zoonotic and vector-borne pathogens have comprised a significant component of emerging human infections in recent decades, and bats are increasingly recognized as reservoirs for many of these disease agents. To identify novel pathogens associated with bats, we screened tissues of bats collected in Kenya. Virus isolates were identified by next generation sequencing of viral nucleic acid preparations from the infected cell culture supernatant and characterized. Here we report the identification of Fikirini rhabdovirus, a novel rhabdovirus isolated from a bat, Hipposideros vittatus, captured along the Kenyan coast.

Why Can’T Rodents Vomit? A Comparative Behavioral, Anatomical, And Physiological Study, Charles C. Horn, Bruce A. Kimball, Hong Wang, James Kaus, Samuel Dienel, Allysa Nagy, Gordon R. Gathright, Bill J. Yates, Paul L. R. Andrews

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The vomiting (emetic) reflex is documented in numerous mammalian species, including primates and carnivores, yet laboratory rats and mice appear to lack this response. It is unclear whether these rodents do not vomit because of anatomical constraints (e.g., a relatively long abdominal esophagus) or lack of key neural circuits. Moreover, it is unknown whether laboratory rodents are representative of Rodentia with regards to this reflex. Here we conducted behavioral testing of members of all three major groups of Rodentia; mouse-related (rat, mouse, vole, beaver), Ctenohystrica (guinea pig, nutria), and squirrel-related (mountain beaver) species. Prototypical emetic agents, apomorphine (sc), veratrine (sc), …

Pheromonal Control Of The Invasive Brown Treesnake: Potency Of Female Sexual Attractiveness Pheromone Varies With Ovarian State, Tom Mathies, Breanna Levine, Richard M. Engeman, Julie A. Savidge

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The female sex pheromone has potential a s a control tool for the Brown Treesnake, Boiga irregularis Merrem, a pest introduced into Guam. We conducted male-guided bioassays to determine whether potency of the female pheromone varied according to reproductive state and during vitellogenesis. In weekly simultaneous choice tests, we presented males with skin lipid samples from vitellogenic females, non-vitellogenic females, conspecific males, and carrier controls. The total time each sample was tongue-flicked was recorded: mean total tongue-flick time was highest for samples from vitellogenic females followed by samples from non-vitellogenic females. Pair-wise comparisons of male tongue-flick time for samples of …

Feral Cat Management, Christopher A. Lepcyzk, Sheila Conant, David Duffy, David M. Bird, Michael Calver, Fern P. Duval, Michael Hutchins, Cheryl A. Lohr, Kerrie Anne Loyd, Peter P. Marra, William C. Pitt, Grant Sizemore, Rachel Sprague, Stanley A. Temple, Yolanda Van Heezik, George Wallace

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We applaud McCarthy et al for their research addressing a critical issue in feral cat management. We concur that feral and free-roaming cats pose myriad problems for people and the environment. However, we believe that the authors overlooked several important factors when concluding that trap-vasectomy- hysterectomy-release (IVHR) "should be recommended as a humane and more effective method of decreasing population size."

First, the population model used in the study does not represent a typical managed feral cat colony. Inclusion of self-imposed restraints on colony size attributable to a hypothetical carrying capacity restricts the population from reacting naturally to resources or …

Characterization Of Regionally Associated Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (Fiv) In Bobcats (Lynx Rufus), Danielle M. Lagana, Justin S. Lee, Jesse S. Lewis, Sarah N. Bevins, Scott Carver, Linda L. Sweanor, Roy Mcbride, Caleb Mcbride, Kevin R. Crooks, Sue Vandewoude

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) classically infects felid species with highly divergent species-specific FIVs. However, recent studies have detected an FIV strain infecting both bobcats (Lynx rufus) and pumas (Puma concolor) in California and Florida. To further investigate this observation, we evaluated FIV from bobcats in Florida (n525) and Colorado (n580) between 2008 and 2011. Partial viral sequences from five Florida bobcats cluster with previously published sequences from Florida panthers. We did not detect FIV in Colorado bobcats.

A Comparison Of Methods For Monitoring Kit Foxes At Den Sites, Bryan M. Kluever, Eric M. Gese, Steven J. Dempsey, Robert N. Knight

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Monitoring mammalian carnivores at den sites with human observers to document behavior, fecundity, litter size, and natal survival is commonplace when compared with monitoring den sites with cameras. However, no published studies exist comparing the effectiveness of human observers versus cameras in a quantitative manner. Obtaining complete and reliable counts of adult and pup kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) can be crucial for estimating population parameters and life-history traits. In the summers of 2010 and 2011, we made weekly counts of adult and pup kit foxes at active den sites using 2methods: 1) an observer equipped with spotting scope …

Den Attendance Patterns In Swift Foxes During Pup Rearing: Varying Degrees Of Parental Investment Within The Breeding Pair, Sharon A. Poessel, Eric M. Gese

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Parental investment varies inmammalian species, with male care of young being more common in social and monogamous species. Monogamy is commonly observed in canid species, with both males and females, and often ‘‘helper’’ individuals, providing some degree of care for the young. Social units of the swift fox (Vulpes velox), a small North American canid species, usually consist of a male– female pair and occasionally helpers. The role of parental investment and behavior in swift fox society is currently poorly understood. We observed swift fox dens during the pup-rearing season in each of 2 years to evaluate attendance …

On The Edge: A Genetic Assessment Of Aplodontia Rufa From The Edge Of Their Distribution, Antoinette J. Piaggio, Jennifer Jeffers

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Aplodontia rufa (mountain beaver) is considered the sole remaining extant genus and species of an ancient lineage that once broadly inhabited the Great Basin and is now restricted to the Pacific Northwest and portions of California and Nevada. Aplodontia rufa californica in Nevada is distributed patchily at the edge of mountain beaver distribution. Due to concern over the status of these populations this subspecies is listed in Nevada as sensitive. The Nevada Department of Wildlife is concerned about the status of Aplodontia rufa californica populations scattered across areas of central western Nevada and has worked to gain an understanding of …

Molecular Phylogeny Of An Ancient Rodent Family (Aplodontiidae), Antoinette J. Piaggio, Brett A. Coghlan, Allyson E. Miscampbell, Wendy M. Arjo, Douglas B. Ransome, Carol E. Ritland

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

The family Aplodontiidae contains a single, monotypic extant genus, Aplodontia (mountain beaver), which was first described by Rafinesque in 1817. Phylogenetic studies have shown that it is the sister lineage to squirrels. Aplodontia rufa is endemic to the Pacific Northwest and ranges from central California to British Columbia, Canada. Currently, 7 described subspecies are recognized based on morphological taxonomic studies. In this study, mitochondrial and nuclear genes were sequenced to infer molecular phylogenies of A. rufa. One of the goals of this study was to use molecular data to test the current taxonomic hypothesis based on morphology. Another goal …

Pseudorabies In Feral Swine In The United States, 2009–2012, Kerri Pedersen, Sarah N. Bevins, John A. Baroch, James C. Cumbee Jr., Shannon C. Chandler, Billy S. Woodruff, Troy T. Bigelow, Thomas J. Deliberto

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Although pseudorabies virus can affect a wide range of mammalian and avian hosts, swine are the only natural hosts of the virus. The US commercial swine industry obtained pseudorabies-free status in 2004, which was important because of the economic value of domestic swine production; however, feral swine remain competent hosts and represent a constant threat for reintroducing the virus into the commercial industry. To better assess feral swine infection status, we collected 8,498 serum samples from feral swine across the United States between 1 October 2009 and 30 September 2012. Of these, 18% were antibody positive in 25 of 35 …

Intranasal Inoculation Of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) With Lyophilized Chronic Wasting Disease Prion Particulate Complexed To Montmorillonite Clay, Tracy A. Nichols, Terry R. Spraker, Tara D. Rigg, Crystal Meyerett-Reid, Clare Hoover, Brady Michel, Jifeng Bian, Edward Hoover, Thomas Gidlewski, Aru Balachandran, Katherine O'Rourke, Glenn C. Telling, Richard Bowen, Mark D. Zabel, Kurt C. Vercauteren

United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), the only known prion disease endemic in wildlife, is a persistent problem in both wild and captive North American cervid populations. This disease continues to spread and cases are found in new areas each year. Indirect transmission can occur via the environment and is thought to occur by the oral and/or intranasal route. Oral transmission has been experimentally demonstrated and although intranasal transmission has been postulated, it has not been tested in a natural host until recently. Prions have been shown to adsorb strongly to clay particles and upon oral inoculation the prion/clay combination exhibits increased …

Yield Gap Analysis—Rationale, Methods And Applications—Introduction To The Special Issue, M.K. Van Ittersum, Kenneth Cassman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Yield gap analysis is an increasingly popular concept. It is a powerful method to reveal and understand the biophysical opportunities to meet the projected increase in demand for agricultural products towards 2050, and to support decision making on research, policies, development and investment that is needed. This Special Issue presents the state-of-the-art about concepts, methods and applications of yield gap analysis. The methodological papers emphasize the need for agronomically sound and relevant analyses, from local to global scales. The fourteen papers provide examples of applications to different crops, climate zones and production conditions, at various spatial extents and with different …

Distinguishing Between Yield Advances And Yield Plateaus In Historical Crop Production Trends, Patricio Grassini, Kent M. Eskridge, Kenneth Cassman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Food security and land required for food production largely depend on rate of yield gain of major cereal crops. Previous projections of food security are often more optimistic than what historical yield trends would support. Many econometric projections of future food production assume compound rates of yield gain, which are not consistent with historical yield trends. Here we provide a framework to characterize past yield trends and show that linear trajectories adequately describe past yield trends, which means the relative rate of gain decreases over time. Furthermore, there is evidence of yield plateaus or abrupt decreases in rate of yield …

Agricultural Innovation To Protect The Environment, Jeffrey Sayer, Kenneth Cassman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

In a world of 9.5 billion people, global demand for food, fiber, and biofuels has to be met with minimal possible increases in land, water, fossil fuels, and the minerals used to produce fertilizers (1–4). The problem is debated at three levels: first, that agriculture will not be able to produce enough because it will come up against both biophysical and environmental limits that restrict yields (3, 5, 6); second, that the need to expand and intensify agriculture will destroy the broader environmental values of forests, wetlands, marine systems, and their associated biodiversity (7–9); and third, that there are institutional …

New Technologies Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Nitrogenous Fertilizer In China, Wei-Feng Feng, Zheng-Xia Dou, Pan He, Xiao-Tang Ju, David Powlson, Dave Chadwick, David Norse, Yue-Lai Lu, Ying Zhang, Liang Wu, Xin-Ping Chen, Kenneth Cassman, Fu-Suo Zhang

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilizer has played a key role in enhancing food production and keeping half of the world’s population adequately fed. However, decades of N fertilizer overuse in many parts of the world have contributed to soil, water, and air pollution; reducing excessive N losses and emissions is a central environmental challenge in the 21st century. China’s participation is essential to global efforts in reducing N-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions because China is the largest producer and consumer of fertilizer N. To evaluate the impact of China’s use of N fertilizer, we quantify the carbon footprint of China’s N …