Life Sciences Commons^™

Shallow Aggregate Ebb-And-Flow System For Greenhouse Lettuce Production, Joseph Chidiac

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A novel soilless technique for the production of lettuce was developed and evaluated for its viability for ornamental greenhouse growers adapting their ebb-and-flood irrigation benching systems to diversify into growing lettuce, without having to purchase the conventional nutrient film technique (NFT) or deep flow technique (DFT) hydroponic systems. The experimental design was a three by four factorial, with three treatments for aggregate depth (19, 38, and 57 mm) and four treatments for irrigation frequency (once every 1, 2, 4, or 8 hours), for a total of twelve treatment combinations. Each treatment was replicated three times in a randomized complete block …

New Technologies For Evaluating Putting Green Surface Characteristics, Daniel Patrick O'Brien

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Golf course putting greens require a high level of inputs predicated on timely, well informed decisions. Putting green quality is ultimately defined by performance of the turfgrass, and this performance encompasses both (i) the health and vitality of the turfgrass plants, and (ii) the ability of the turfgrass to exist as a playing surface, as it interacts with the golf ball. For golf course superintendents, accurately and efficiently assessing moisture levels and nutrient status are critical for guiding maintenance practices. This research sought to examine new ways for measuring each of these parameters, and compared them to ground-truth data and/or …

Evaluation Of Insecticide Seed Treatments To Protect Rice (Oryza Sativa) Against Various Herbicides, Steven Michael Martin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The increase in herbicide-resistant weeds in Arkansas crop fields has led to the need for new herbicide modes of action for use in all crops. This need has led to the introduction of technologies that can be devastating to conventional rice crops. Field observation, noted that insecticide seed treatments used in rice could potentially reduce the effects of off-target movement of herbicides onto rice crops and possibly reduce the negative effects of some herbicides applied directly to rice. Research was conducted to determine if insecticide seed treatments could reduce the harmful effects of drift from imazethapyr and glyphosate onto conventional …

Better Health Through Horticulture: Using Horticulture To Influence Behavior And Reduce Stress, Rachel Ochylski

All NMU Master's Theses

Horticultural intervention in the form of gardening workshops connect participants to nature while they nurture another living organism. Horticultural intervention provides opportunities to socialize and engage in a meaningful activity, which have been recognized as helpful in the treatment of common mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety. There is a lack of experimental studies based on quantitative data that focus on the effects of horticulture on holistic human health. The author evaluated the effects of a horticultural intervention on two separate groups, older adults and college students. The behavioral effects of engaging in gardening activities were evaluated using …

Impact Of Preemergent Herbicides, Mowing Height, And Fertilization On Centipedegrass Root Architecture And Drought Tolerance, Mike J. Adams

LSU Master's Theses

Mowing, N fertilization and the application of preemergence herbicides (PRE) are cultural practices performed on centipedegrass to improve overall turf quality. It is posited that increasing mowing height and application of fertilizers can lead to greater turfgrass rooting and increase drought survival; while the application of PRE is reported to potentially have negative impacts on rooting. At two locations in Louisiana, studies examining the effects of these practices on centipedegrass rooting and drought tolerance were conducted.

In the first 11-week study conducted, centipedegrass was treated with dithiopyr, pendimethalin, prodiamine, simazine, or indaziflam at the manufacturers’ labeled rates. During the 11-wk …

Optimization Of Overhead Irrigation In Relation To Irrigation Water Use Efficiency In The Louisiana Nursery Industry, Mark A. Wilson

LSU Master's Theses

Irrigation efficiency is an essential component of nursery production in the United States. To increase productivity of Louisiana growers, a series of studies were conducted to evaluate current nursery water practices. The objectives were to determine current irrigation practices; evaluate actual water usage; and compare nursery media for water utilization. A mailed survey determined that the majority of growers used can yard production (63%), overhead irrigation (79%), had no irrigation manager (82%) and did not collect/reuse water(61%); 50% do not test/calibrate their irrigation system. Based on this information, five nurseries using overhead irrigation were selected to determine water application and …

Identity Behind Glass: The Second Gore Place Greenhouse, Sean P. Romo

Graduate Masters Theses

This thesis examines the second greenhouse at Gore Place, a historic country estate in Waltham, Massachusetts. Gore Place was owned by and named for Christopher and Rebecca Gore, members of the 18th- and 19th-century political and economic elite in New England. The greenhouse was constructed in 1806, and excavation at the site took place in 2004, 2008, and 2012. The latter two projects were data recovery excavations, which exposed portions of the greenhouse’s foundations and interior, as well as several features in the yard surrounding the building. Historic greenhouses were prestigious structures, financially accessible only to institutions, governments, and the …

Pinching And Spacing Effects On Cut Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus) Production In East Texas, Rebecca B. Burnett

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Three experiments evaluated pinching and spacing on Helianthus annuus in East Texas to determine their effects on growth and development. Experiment 1 was designed to determine the effects of pinching nodes 1, 2, 3, or 4 on ‘Pro Cut Gold’ sunflowers. Results from experiment 1 showed non-pinched plants produced marketable stem lengths and flower sizes, while pinched plants’ stem length, stem diameter, flower diameter, and disk diameter decreased compared to the non-pinched plants. The objective for experiment 2 was to evaluate pinching and spacing treatments on ‘Pro Cut Gold’ sunflowers. All spacings for non-pinched plants in experiment 2 produced marketable …

Studies In Blackberry: Development And Implementation Of A Phenotyping Protocol For Blackberry Seedling Populations And Impact Of Time Of Day Of Harvest On Red Drupelet Reversion For University Of Arkansas Blackberry Genotypes, Melinda Yin

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

There are two major public blackberry (Rubus L. subgenus rubus Watson) breeding programs in the United States: one at the University of Arkansas (UA) and another at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Horticultural Crops Research Unit (USDA-ARS HCRU) based in Corvallis, OR. The germplasm and breeding objectives of these two breeding programs are diverse, but frequent collaboration necessitated a standardized method of characterizing plant and fruit traits. A phenotyping protocol for blackberry was developed at UA and implemented for two years on UA seedling populations. The protocol included plant traits (health, vigor, estimated crop load, peak bloom …

Cultivar, Season Extension, Fertilizer Trials Of Swiss Chard And Pedagogy Of Assessing Cultivars Using Technology, Chanelle Angeny

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract. Diversity of species is a cornerstone of horticulture, and the constant stream of new plant cultivars broadens the palette of options available to the industry. Fifteen Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla) cultivars were evaluated during the fall/winter of 2014-2015 season (season 1) and 27 cultivars during the fall/winter of 2015-2016 season (season 2) to determine the best performing cultivars for production and landscape use for east Texas and the southeast by assessing survivability and yield. There was an increase in production of 3.0 ± 0.5 g per plant per harvest under the low tunnel. The cultivar …

Hanford Ffa Ornamental Horticulture Unit Master Plan, Savanah Diane Rhine, Russell Alan Zimmerman

Agricultural Education and Communication

This project is intended to develop a more functional plan for the Ornamental Horticulture (OH) Unit at the Hanford Agriculture Program. The ag program combines all three high schools in Hanford resulting in over 1,000 students; however, a majority of these students are not in the OH Career Pathway due to a lack of a constant, fully functional unit. As a comprehensive agriculture program, it is crucial that it incorporates all aspects of agriculture, not just animal science and agricultural mechanics.

This project will provide the Hanford agriculture program with a plan to be implemented so that they may have …

Environmental And Climatic Constraints On Large-Scale Camelina Production In Eastern Arkansas, Benjamin Robert Tracy

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Camelina sativa is a cold weather crop that is typically grown in semi-arid environments in the Western United States, usually as a spring crop, but sometimes during the winter. Research analyzing climate data and soil hydrology is important to better understand the environmental and terrain conditions necessary for Camelina farming wherever it is proposed for large-scale production. This study focused on various conditions and constraints pertaining to the potential for Camelina as a crop biofuel in Eastern Arkansas. Due to interest in the economic potential of crop biofuels in this area, and in particular the low input costs for Camelina, …

Evaluation And Association Analysis Of Cowpea Salt Tolerance, Waltram Second Ravelombola

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] (2n=2x=22) is a leguminous crop providing inexpensive protein for human consumption that can be grown worldwide. Salinity is one of the major threats to cowpea production, particularly in semi-arid regions of Africa. Salinity significantly affects seed germination and decreases pod yield in cowpea. However, little has been done to provide farmers salt-tolerant cowpea cultivars. Knowledge on the genetics of cowpea salt tolerance is very limited. This study aimed to:(1) evaluate cowpea salt tolerance at germination stage, (2) evaluate cowpea salt tolerance at seedling stage, (3) conduct an association study for cowpea salt tolerance at germination …

Phenotypic Variation And Genetic Purity Of The Original 'Prime-Jim®' X 'Arapaho' Population, Loren M. Luther

Horticulture Undergraduate Honors Theses

In 2013, Castro et al., produced the first linkage map for primocane-fruiting blackberries using the cross ‘Prime-Jim®’ x ‘Arapaho.’ This mapping population has been maintained since the original experiment with the hopes of conducting future studies. Further research was determined to be needed on the population to better characterize additional phenotypic traits, and since nine years had passed since the seedlings were established, there was a need to assess the continued genetic purity of the population using molecular methods. Phenotypic data was collected to analyze the variation of the population including soluble solids content, titratable acidity, average weight, shape, and …

Protein, Methionine, And Cysteine Upregulation In Phaseolus Vulgaris ‘Black Turtle Bean’ Seeds Through Sulfur Fertilization At V2 And R2 Stages Of Growth, Hannah Paige Barry

Masters Theses

The purpose of this research was to increase protein, methionine, and cysteine content in Phaseolus vulgaris L., common bean in relation to the inhibitory compound tannin. Previous research has shown that sulfur fertilization increases total protein, methionine and cysteine content in various crops, but always in tandem with inhibitory compound increases. If successful, the resulting bean seed will have a better nutrient profile for malnourished populations around the world.

Granular gypsum was applied at 0 kg S ha^-1 [kilograms of sulfur per hectare], 10 kg S ha^-1, 20 kg S ha^-1, 40 kg S ha …

Value Of Cover Crops In Suppressing Weeds And Protecting Cotton Yields And Likelihood Of Residual Herbicide Carryover To Cover Crops, Matheus Gabriel Palhano

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Weed-resistance management has become a topic of concern for modern agriculture. Cost related to herbicide usage has increased greatly due to evolution and proliferation of resistant weeds. Therefore, experiments were conducted to investigate the potential for using cover crops to suppress problematic weeds in cotton as well as chemical options for cover crop dessication, and sensitivity of cover crops to residual herbicides were evaluated. No differences were observed for cereal rye biomass production and consequently weed suppression between broadcast and drilled planting methods. Total amount of cover crop biomass was vital to effectively suppress weeds. Hence, of the cover crops …

Effects Of Cover Crop Treatments On Apple Trees, Jennifer Billig

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Ground cover management systems affect soil quality and health and thereby orchard growth and productivity. There have been few studies in the southern US on the effects of managed drive-rows using cover crops as part of a sustainable apple orchard management system. A field study used treatments of 1) seasonal legumes (cowpea [Vigna unguiculata] and crimson clover [Trifolium incarnatum]), 2) seasonal grasses (millet [Setaria italic] and annual rye [Lolium multiflorum]), or 3) unmanaged natural vegetation drive row plantings, with mowed vegetation blown into the tree row as mulch (mow/blow) nested variable. The legume crop cycles produced more than twice as …

Choices And Preferences Of Vermont Master Gardeners - Do Socio-Demographics Matter?, Grace Matiru

Graduate College Dissertations and Theses

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to characterize the choices, preferences and motivations of fruit and vegetable gardeners in Vermont, and to determine whether socio-demographic characteristics affect some of these choices, preferences and motivations. Using a survey of Vermont Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs), data were gathered over a 3-year period (2011-2013). The findings show most EMGs (>90%) garden in private home gardens, and the most popular vegetables grown were tomatoes, herbs, and salad greens. Beans, cucumbers and peppers sere also popular and among fruits, blueberries, apples, raspberries and strawberries were grown by over 40% of EMGs. Approximately 10% of EMG …

Invasion Dynamics Of The Exotic Liana Euonymus Fortunei (Turcz.) Hand.-Mazz. (Wintercreeper), Todd J. Rounsaville

Theses and Dissertations--Biology

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ has been implicated as a driver of increased liana abundance worldwide. Known as disturbance creators and beneficiaries, lianas possess the potential to significantly influence forest ecosystems. I investigated the early-invasion dynamics of Euonymus fortunei (wintercreeper), an evergreen liana that is invading forests in eastern North America, disrupting native plant communities and ecosystem functions.

Wintercreeper is widely cultivated as an ornamental groundcover, frequently invading natural areas via asexual stem growth. Invasion of remote natural areas is dependent upon seed transport and may occur less frequently. I examined the mechanisms of seed dormancy by conducting a ‘move-along’ experiment …

Evaluating Soil Physical And Chemical Properties Following Addition Of Non-Composted Spent Coffee And Tea For Athletic Fields, Shuang Zhou

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Physical and chemical properties of non-composted spent coffee (CF) and tea (T) suggest they may have applications as soil amendments for improving poor soils. Studies were conducted to determine 1) the effect of amendments on grass growth and soil properties, 2) the effect of incorporation versus surface application of amendments on soil properties, and 3) the effect of amendment application frequency on grass growth and soil properties. In the first study, amendments were mixed with sand and planted to bermudagrass. Treatments included CF, T, and peat moss (PM) mixed with sand, and 100% sand as a control. In the second …

Perimeter Cropping As A Means Of Reducing Insect Injury And Increasing Crop Yield, Brett L. Owens

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The squash vine borer, Melittia cucurbitae Harris, (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) is a destructive insect known to injure a broad range of cucurbit crops. Many studies have focused on insecticide management of this insect in squash (Cucurbita) and pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo Linnaeus) production; however, little work has been documented on organic approaches to reduce or eliminate injury from this pest to these crops in the Midwest. This study used trap cropping and pollinator mixtures to test whether a reduction of squash vine borer could be achieved in a specific cultivar of pumpkins, Cucurbita pepo ‘Howden’. The study was …

Araucaria In The Urban Landscape: A Novel Leaning Pattern And Evidence Of Cultivated Hybridization, Jason W. Johns

Master's Theses

Our understanding of the natural world is constantly evolving and strengthening as more observations are made and experiments are performed. For example, we understand that tree stems grow toward the light (positive phototropism; Darwin 1880, Loehle 1986, Christie et al. 2013) and against gravity (negative gravitropism; Knight 1806, Hashiguchi et al. 2013). We also know that plants respond to mechanical stimulus and perturbation (thigmotropism; Braam 2005). Genes and their resulting proteins have been described to uncover some of the mechanisms for these environmental responses, but relatively speaking, we have just scratched the surface (Wyatt et al. 2013). While the discovery …

A Survey Of Non-Crop Plants As Alternative Hosts To Raspberries For Drosophila Suzukii (Spotted Wing Drosophila), Bennur Agbaba

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The spotted wing fruit fly (SWD), Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) (Diptera: Drosophilidae), is a pest of small fruit crops. Unlike most other Drosophila species, this insect can oviposit into ripe fruits, rendering them unmarketable. Drosophila suzukii is spreading quickly throughout the continental United States including South Dakota, and causing serious damage to horticultural crops, particularly those within the fruit industry. This study determines the D. suzukii host plant both commercial crops and native plants, and defines non-crop host plants by season in South Dakota. Further, it confirms the occurrence of the fly in southeastern South Dakota and identifies high-risk infestation areas …