Agriculture Commons^™

Effects Of Compost Incorporated Versus Surface Applied On Soybean Yield And Soil Health, Maheshwari Kuchanapally

Theses and Dissertations

Compost application is increasingly recognized as a sustainable soil management practice that enhances soil health and crop production. However, the method of application, incorporated versus surface applied, may influence its effectiveness in improving soil properties and crop productivity. This study evaluated the effects of compost application method on soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) yield and soil health at Illinois State University Research Farm in Lexington, Illinois, across two growing seasons, 2024 and 2025. The 2024 experiment used a Completely Randomized Design comparing incorporated versus surface-applied compost (n = 4; 8 plots). The 2025 experiment used a Randomized Complete Block Design …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Performance Tests 2025, J. F. Carlin, J. P. Kelley, T. N. Spurlock, T. D. Swanson, R. D. Bond, J. C. Mccoy, C. J. Bulloch

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Report Statement This Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES) publication summarizes variety trial research conducted by the Arkansas Crop Variety Improvement Program. Variety trial information presented here furthers the AAES mission of conducting research that benefits the citizens of Arkansas by expanding agricultural profitability and strengthening local and state economies. This information is not a recommendation or an endorsement of any product by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture or AAES. Recommendations interpreted from this information are made and presented by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

Corn and grain sorghum performance tests are conducted each year in Arkansas by …

The Effect Of Cover Crop Management Strategies On Nutrient Availability In No-Till Corn, Emily C. Marsh

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Cover crops are reported to have long-term soil health improvements, one of which is reducing erosion. However, popular cereal cover crops, such as rye (Secale cereale L.), have the potential to cause a yield penalty in the following corn (Zea mays L.) crop due to a reduction in available nitrogen. Legumes, such as Austrian winter pea (Pisum sativum L. var. arvense), are thought to reduce this yield penalty due to their capacity to fix nitrogen. Sulfur is another nutrient of interest, especially as rates of atmospheric deposition of sulfur have declined, leading to more deficiencies being …

Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa Pratensis L.) As A Perennial Groundcover: Establishment And Weed Management In Corn, Kiera S. Searcy

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Perennial groundcover (PGC) systems offer a cost-effective alternative to annual cover crops, by providing continuous soil cover, reducing soil erosion, and contributing to integrated weed management (IWM) in corn (Zea mays L.) production systems. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) has been proposed as a perennial groundcover for corn due to its low growth habit and seasonal dormancy; however, successful adoption is limited by challenges associated with establishment-phase weed competition and compatibility with weed management programs during corn production. The objectives of this research were to (1) evaluate weed management strategies that support Kentucky bluegrass establishment and (2) assess …

Feasibility Of Corn Stover For Biogas Production In Northwestern Illinois: A Case Study Of Jo Daviess And Carroll Counties, Anthony Amotoe-Bondzie

Masters Theses

The growing demand for renewable energy and sustainable waste management has intensified interest in agricultural residues such as bioenergy feedstocks. This study evaluated the feasibility of converting corn stover into biogas through anaerobic digestion (AD) in Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois, with consideration of the Savanna Industrial Park as a potential centralized processing hub. Although corn stover represents one of the largest biomass resources in the United States, this research identifies a critical gap between theoretical availability and practically recoverable feedstock. Using a mixed-methods framework, the study integrates biomass quantification, methane yield modeling, economic analysis, and policy assessment. Results …

Antioxidant Enzymes And Osmolyte Accumulation In Okra Cultivars Under Drought Stress, Jawad Ali, Ibadullah Jan, Hidayat Ullah, Muhammad Adnan, Shah Fahad, Hassan Alsberi, Khulud Albalawi, Hakki Akdeniz, Manzoor Ahmmad, Beena Saeed, Noor Us Sabah, Mian Sayed Khan, Abdul Basir, Muhammad Romman, Ayman El Sabagh

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Drought stress brought about by worsening environmental conditions due to climate change has increasingly damaging effects on crop production systems. To mitigate these effects, several physiological and biochemical aspects of plants could be used as markers in breeding for the selection of drought-resistant cultivars. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the performance of 8 okra cultivars (Arka Anamika, Punjab Selection, Posaswami, Tulsi, Subz Pari, Super Green, Local Multani, and Green Star) under well-watered (control), mild drought stress, and severe drought stress conditions by irrigating plants at an interval of 3, 6, and 9 d after 30 d of planting. Results …

Evaluation Of The Suitability Of Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum L.) Accessions Grown In A Vertical Container System, Darel Kenth S. Antesco, Lourdes Edano Ma., Renerio Gentallan Jr, Roselyn F. Paelmo, Annalissa L. Aquino

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Growing tomatoes in vertical container systems such as hanging pots presents a promising production system for urban gardening. However, horticultural selections of tomato with traits suited for this system are still limited. The success of different genotypes grown in this system depends on the combination of morphological characters, including plant form, vegetative growth, and root development, as well as yield. This study assessed the morphological characters of 10 tomato accessions to identify those with ideal traits for this system. Results showed that some accessions possess unique traits that enhance their performance in hanging pots. Among the 10 accessions, T2 from …

Comparative Effects Of Organic-Based Seed Treatments On Seed Viability And Vigor Of Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Varieties, Cielo Luz C. Mondejar

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Access to high-quality rice seeds remains limited for small and marginal farmers due to high costs, while traditional rice varieties favored by many farmers often suffer from poor seed viability. Seed treatment presents a practical and low-cost approach to enhance seed performance. This study conducted 2 independent experiments to evaluate the effectiveness of 3 organic-based seed treatments: vermitea, a Trichoderma solution, and a water hyacinth decoction. In the first experiment, seeds from 4 traditional rice varieties (Redrice, Dinorado, Calatrava, and Arabon) were treated with distilled water (control) and 75% dilute solutions of each treatment. The second experiment involved different seed …

Oviposition Preference Of The Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), Towards Bt And Non-Bt Corn, And Under Confined Conditions, Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Jessica B. Baroga-Barbecho, John David C. Cortez, Edwin A. Benigno

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Several experiments were conducted on the ovipositional preference and behavior of the Asian corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée). Confirmatory tests were conducted in table cages (1.5 m²) to determine if the results would align with those obtained from experiments on semi-field (285 m²) and mini-screen cage (90 m²) spatial scales. Preference for Bt and non-Bt corn was then observed under confined conditions. Table cage test results showed similar oviposition behavior to that observed in prior studies on larger test areas. There is no preference for either Bt or non-Bt corn plants. ACB adults …

Basic Studies On The Asian Corn Borer, Ostrinia Furnacalis (Guenée), Are Crucial For Insect Resistance Management For Bt Corn In The Philippines, Merdelyn T. Caasi-Lit, Aimee Lynn A. Barrion-Dupo

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

The Philippines is considered to be “at the forefront of biotech research and commercialization in Southeast Asia and a model for science-based and thorough regulatory policy in the region” (ISAAA 2016). This is evident in the country's pioneering adoption of Bt corn technology in Asia and in the effective handling and implementation of rules and regulations on biosafety and the application of transgenic crops through the regulatory function of the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) under the Department of Agriculture.

Patch Mow Grazing: Investigating The Effects Of Mowing On Forage Nutritive Value, The Biomass–Nutritive Value Relationship, And Herbivore Selection, Trace R. Stauble

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Herbivore foraging behavior plays a critical role in shaping grassland structural heterogeneity, with selection often driven by forage biomass and nutritive value. Currently, it is thought that herbivores primarily select areas that are greater in nutritive value, and low in biomass. More specifically, disturbances like fire and grazing have been thoroughly studied showing that recently burned and grazed areas are not only higher in nutritive value but disproportionately selected by herbivores in comparison to undisturbed areas. However, most studies address only narrow ranges of defoliation, comparing intensely defoliated sites (< 10 cm) to those that are either not defoliated or have experienced a much longer time since defoliation, thereby decreasing grazing pressure as biomass increases. However, one of the most widely used methods of defoliation in grasslands, mowing, hasn’t been thoroughly studied for its effects on nutritive value, and how it impacts herbivore selection. Our study aimed to (1) evaluate how mowing treatments—i.e., short (5 cm), medium (18 cm), and tall (>30 cm, unmown)—affect nutritive value and herbivore selection, (2) assess …

Cover Crop Influence On Arthropod Biodiversity And Soil–Water Dynamics In A Semi-Arid Maize–Soybean Sequence Of The Nebraska High Plains, Carlos Eduardo De Oliveira Martins

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

With the expansion of cover crop (CC) use in semi-arid regions, producers in the Nebraska High Plains are increasingly interested in understanding how CCs influence both beneficial arthropods and soil-water within maize-soybean (Zea mays L., Glycine max [L.] Merr.) rotations. Integrating CCs in these systems can enhance soil water availability and beneficial insect activity, but potential trade-offs include higher early-season water use by CCs and the risk of increasing potential pest populations. This thesis addresses these questions through two complementary studies conducted under field conditions near Brule, Nebraska. The first study evaluated the effects of a multi-species CC mixture …

Nutrient Utilization Efficiency And Antioxidant Profile Of Bc2 Abaca (Musa Textilis Née) Hybrids, Roberto Barba Jr, Antonio Lalusin

The Philippine Agricultural Scientist

Abaca (Musa textilis Née) is an important fiber crop widely recognized for its superior tensile strength, yet its productivity remains constrained by nutrient inefficiency, poor cropping management, and climatic stresses under manual production systems. Efficient nutrient utilization and an understanding of antioxidant compositions are practically relevant to the productivity of the abaca fiber crop. However, despite the crop’s economic importance, limited studies have examined nutrient uptake dynamics and internal utilization efficiency related to fiber synthesis. This study aimed to demonstrate the nutrient utilization efficiency and antioxidant profiles of BC₂ abaca hybrids in relation to fiber yield and quality. Fiber …

Evaluating Metamitron Efficacy For Glyphosate-Resistant Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus Palmeri) Management In Sugarbeet Across The Central High Plains, Abraham Akuoko

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Herbicide-resistant (HR) Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) is regarded as one of the most prominent weeds within sugarbeet fields across the Central High Plains, with limited chemical control options. Although a few herbicides are available, their use is restrictive due to crop injury concerns and can only be applied at or after the 2–4 true leaf (TL) growth stage, which will provide no control for already emerged weeds. However, Palmer amaranth often emerges between sugarbeet planting and the 2 TL sugarbeet growth stage. Consequently, as of 2023, there were no herbicide options to control Palmer amaranth in sugarbeet …

Assessing Crop Rotation Productivity, Soil Health, And Fertility, And Economic Performance, To Enhance Semi-Arid High Plains Cropping Systems Sustainability, Ezequiel Maria Villamil

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

Sustainable crop production in the semi-arid High Plains of Nebraska faces challenges from limited precipitation, high interannual variability, and economic risk. This dissertation investigates the long-term productivity, water use, soil health, and economic sustainability of dryland crop rotations, with emphasis on the role of pulses as alternatives to fallow.

Chapter 1 analyzes nearly three decades (1995–2023) of on-farm data from the High Plains Agricultural Laboratory (Sidney, Nebraska) to compare seven crop rotations, including wheat, corn, millet, sunflower, and field peas. Results showed that wheat–corn–fallow (W–C–F) consistently outperformed traditional wheat–fallow (W–F) and more intensified four-year rotations, providing the highest grain yields, …

Assessing Soil Quality Indicators In Leguminous And Non-Leguminous Cropping Systems, Kabita Budthapa, Kranthi Vinukonda, Ramya Sree Teeguri

Scholars Week

It is crucial to understand how different cropping systems influence soil health to boost the efficiency of resources and sustainable agricultural outputs. This study examined the effects of leguminous (soybean and pea) and non-leguminous (sunflower and maize) cropping systems on selected soil characteristics. On September 16th, 2025, soil samples (24 disturbed and 24 undisturbed) were collected from the 0-7.5 cm depth of West Farm, Murray, Kentucky. Disturbed samples were analyzed for pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil organic carbon (SOC), while undisturbed samples were used to determine bulk density, porosity, soil water holding capacity (SWHC), and soil water field …

Uav Remote Sensing For Assessment Of Conservative Management Practices In Maize-Soybean Cropping System, Aakriti Poudel

LSU Master's Theses

Sustainable agriculture practices promote cover cropping, which enhances nutrient management and impacts subsequent crop productivity in field crop rotations. Precision agriculture technology, particularly Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) remote sensing, enables a detailed evaluation of crop management. The studies were conducted in a maize-soybean rotation system with winter cover cropping and fallow management. The maize experiment investigated the effect of nitrogen application rates and cover cropping, using UAV-derived Normalized Difference Red-Edge (NDRE) to monitor crop performance. NDRE effectively captured the N response and the effect of cover cropping across growth stages, particularly during mid-season (55-81 DAP), where it showed a strong …

Identifying Superior Finger Millet (Eleusine Coracana L.) Landraces Using The Multi-Trait Genotype-Ideotype Distance Index (Mgidi), Sujan Chapagaina, Bishnu Prasad Kandela, Sudikshya Shresthaa, Ankur Poudela, Shubh Pravat Singh Yadavb

Extension Publications

Genetic variability and selection are crucial for finger millet breeding programs to maximize genetic gain and productivity. This study evaluated 18 finger millet landraces cultivated in the mid-hills of Nepal, along with ‘Kavre Kodo 2’ as a check variety, assessing 14 agro-morphological traits. The objective was to identify superior finger millet landraces using a multivariate approach based on the multi-trait genotype– ideotype distance index (MGIDI). The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Principal component analysis revealed that the first five components collectively accounted for 80.8% of the total variation, reflecting the genetic relatedness …

Effective Control Of Tomato Leaf Miner, Tuta Absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) Using The Entomopathogenic Fungus, Beauveria Pseudobassiana Rehner & Humber In Commercial High-Arched Plastic Tunnels, Aya Fardoun, Nour Ezzeddine, Hagop S. Atamian, Hana Sobh, Houssam Shaib, Yusuf Abou Jawdah

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Background

The tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is a highly invasive pest that causes significant damages to tomato crops globally. Its resistance to commonly used chemical insecticides has made management increasingly difficult, prompting the need for sustainable, effective alternatives. This study investigated the efficacy of a Lebanese isolate of Beauveria pseudobassiana as a biological control agent against T. absoluta, compared its performance to Bacillus thuringiensis and conventional pesticide mixtures under both controlled, commercial production conditions

Results

Three preliminary cage experiments were conducted under controlled infestation conditions using larvae reared from field-collected adults. Conidial suspensions of B. pseudobassiana …

Understanding Rice Production Stagnation In The Philippines: Regional Evidence And Development Implications, Henry Bartelet, Alenn Jhulia D. Prodigalidad, Janelle S. Dy, Jan Gabriel N. Manzano

Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Faculty Publications

Despite decades of investment in agricultural research and rice development, the Philippines continues to face stagnation in domestic rice production. This persistent trend, occurring despite a sizable arable land base and large rural workforce, has contributed to the country’s growing reliance on rice imports to meet national food needs. In response, the government has implemented a tariff-based import system designed to fund domestic productivity improvements. While previous studies have explored the technical and environmental constraints affecting rice production, such as irrigation shortfalls, land degradation, and climate variability, few have examined recent national trends using regionally disaggregated data alongside qualitative insights. …

Western Australian And South Australian Grain Enterprise Emission Intensities And Gross Margins: A Review, Christophe D'Abbadie, Ross Kingwell

Farm Systems and Economics research articles

Drawing on various datasets, crop enterprise emission intensities and gross margins are reported for the main broadacre crops grown in Western Australia and South Australia. Values are reported for various rainfall regions and across time, and for different farm performance groupings. As a generalisation, in each region, wheat and canola production display marked increases in emissions intensity across the study period whilst legume crops’ emission intensities increase far less. Wheat crops display upward emission intensity trajectories across time whilst displaying different rates of increase in emissions intensity according to regional rainfall. Canola demonstrates higher emissions intensities per tonne compared to …

Unraveling Crop Nitrogen-Water Dynamics With Hyperspectral-Thermal Sensing In Northern Central Valley, California, Shahryar Fazli, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Joshua B. Fisher, Rejoice Thomas, Fernando Romero Galvan, Gabriela Shirkey, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ensuring global food security in the face of climate change requires optimizing crop water use and nutrient management. This study investigates the relationship between canopy nitrogen (N) and evapotranspiration (ET) across sunflower, rice, walnut, alfalfa, and plum crops using advanced remote sensing technologies. High-resolution hyperspectral data from NASAs Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) and thermal multispectral data from the Landsat-based OpenET system were analyzed over 1,135 km² in California. Regression analysis revealed strong spatial association between canopy N and ET for sunflower (R² = 0.82), rice (R² = 0.71), and walnut (R² = 0.68), …

Amaranthus Spp. Control And Sweetpotato Tolerance To Fluridone-Containing Herbicide Programs, Stephen L. Meyers, Katherine M. Jennings, Mark W. Shankle, Jeffrey L. Main

Publications

Click on author name to view affiliation information Article Category: Research Article Online Publication Date: 12 Sept 2025 Page(s): 843 – 847 Volume/Issue: Volume 35: Issue 5 DOI: 10.21273/HORTTECH05727-25

Open Access

Abstract

Field studies were conducted at the Pontotoc Ridge–Flatwoods Branch Experiment Station in Pontotoc, MS, USA and the Horticultural Crops Research Station in Clinton, NC, USA in 2015 to determine pigweed (Amaranthus spp.) control and sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas) crop response to fluridone herbicide. Treatments consisted of 168 g·ha⁻¹ a.i. fluridone alone or tank-mixed with 54 g or 107 g·ha⁻¹ a.i. flumioxazin applied pretransplanting, fluridone/flumioxazin …

Understanding Glufosinate Resistance In Palmer Amaranth And Examination Of Additives For Improved Weed Control, Pamela Carvalho-Moore

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The aim of this dissertation was to: 1) provide an in-depth review about the potential use of natural and synthetic glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibitors to enhance herbicidal activity or induce crop safety; 2) determine if the addition of metabolic inhibitors to glufosinate is an effective approach to enhance weed control; 3) investigate the mechanism conferring resistance to glufosinate in a highly-resistant Palmer amaranth accession; 4) characterize the genomic rearrangement involved in glutamine synthetase 2 amplification in a Palmer amaranth accession resistant to both glufosinate and glyphosate; 5) quantify the distribution of glufosinate resistance among Palmer amaranth accessions within a 15-km …

Economic Analysis Of Stockers Grazing Botanically Diverse Summer Annual Pasture, Kelly M. Mercier, Christopher D. Teutsch, S. Ray Smith, Kenneth H. Burdine, Eric S. Vanzant, Edwin L. Ritchey

Journal of Extension

Economic analyses were performed to determine the feasibility of retaining weaned fall-born calves on summer annual pastures (a monoculture, a 3-species mixture, or a 12-species mixture). Average daily gain was reduced by 0.3 lbs/day in calves grazing the complex mixture in two out of three years. Enterprise budgeting illustrated that retaining calves on summer annual forages was not economical. Two-way net return tables indicated that this scenario would only be profitable when cattle prices are high and pasture establishment costs are low. Extension educators should be sure to emphasize the economic risks when discussing these systems.

Managing Undesirable Vegetation Transitions On The Landscape: A Study Of Perceptions Of Conservation Professionals In Nebraska And Montana, Anubrata Deka, Simanti Banerjee, Theresa Floyd

Cornhusker Economics

In this bulletin, we have provided a descriptive analysis of the perceptions of conservation professionals in Nebraska and Montana, two states where the rangeland ecosystem is facing a large-scale transition from native grasses to invasive trees and grasses. This analysis provides an initial understanding of the different factors that can influence adoption of policy initiatives by conservation professionals. When considered alongside insights into the management behaviors of ranchers—whose productivity and profitability are adversely affected by these transitions—this information helps form a more comprehensive picture of the ecological and economic impacts of UVTs, as well as strategies for their mitigation. In …

Large Scale Deletion And Rebalancing Within The K1c Kafirin Family In Sorghum, Tyler W. Ferris

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Sorghum bicolor (L.) Monech (sorghum) is cultivated as food for humans and livestock and is valued for its low input requirements. However, sorghum grain protein is deficient in the essential amino acid lysine and has poor protein digestibility because of the abundance of proline-rich kafirins that constitute >70% of proteins that form low-digestibility protein bodies. To reduce kafirin expression in the endosperm, and elicit wholesale proteome rebalancing to increase non-kafirin proteins, a single-guide RNA (sgRNA) Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) construct was previously used to target members of the highly-repetitive alpha-kafirin family, k1C in RTx430 sorghum. The …

Plant Nutrient Interactions In High-Yielding Soybean Environments, Victoria Inklman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Plant nutrient demands and limitations are usually studied individually by nutrient. Here, we investigated how nitrogen (N) limitation in high-yielding soybean environments affects the uptake, removal, and residual of other plant macro- and micronutrients. The objective of this study was to quantify the uptake, removal, and residual levels of soybean macro- and micronutrients under N-limited conditions and to identify nutrient priorities for high-yielding soybean systems. Aboveground plant samples at physiological maturity were collected in 19 high-yielding soybean fields with N limitation across the state of Nebraska. Reference plots with ample N supply were included within each field to compare macro- …

Crop, Soil Nutrient, And Soil Health Responses Within Integrated Crop And Livestock Systems, Alyssa K. Hall

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We evaluated the influences of grazing livestock on crop production, soil nutrients, and soil health indicators of integrated crop livestock systems using three experiments during a seven-yr. period. Objectives were to (1) determine livestock grazing and cropping system effects on crop yield and soil properties across six yr. in corn-soybean (C-S) and wheat-corn-soybean (W-C-S) systems with and without periodic composted manure application, (2) explore seasonal variation in soil nutrient patterns over two yr., and (3) measure residual responses for corn grain yield plus soil health indicators in yr. seven following a six-yr. study. In experiment 1, neither livestock grazing ( …

Development Of A Machine Learning Framework For An Irrigation Decision Support System, Eric Wilkening, Derek M. Heeren, Yeyin Shi, Laila A. Puntel, Guillermo R. Balboa, Abia Katimbo, Kuan Zhang, Precious Nneka Amori, Bruno Lena

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Faculty Publications

Currently used irrigation scheduling techniques often require significant human intervention and are time consuming, particularly for variable rate irrigation. This research aimed to develop a conceptual framework that incorporates disparate data sources leveraging both mechanistic and machine learning (ML) approaches. The overarching objective is to utilize the growing availability of data and technology to manage irrigation more precisely, which will minimize negative impacts of irrigation on our water resources. An initial irrigation machine learning model was proposed and tested in this study as a key component of an edge-cloud computing and federated learning decision-making framework. The specific objectives were (1) …