Agriculture Commons^™

Biochar: Properties And Potential Benefits For Agricultural Soil In Rwanda, Andromede Uwase

Honors Theses

Physical and chemical soil degradation is becoming a major challenge for agricultural productivity in Rwanda, which is the most important part of the country’s economy. The wide spreading soil degradation in Rwanda is mainly a result of naturally poor soils coupled with unsustainable soil management leading to, for example, accelerated soil erosion, acidification, nutrient loss, compaction, and to decreasing yields. Biochar, as an end product of pyrolysis of biomass in the absence of oxygen, has been proposed as a soil amendment in remediation strategies because of its positive effects on soil productivity relevant parameters such as soil pH, structure, nutrient …

Assessing Agricultural Risk Management Using Historic Crop Insurance Loss Data Over The Ogallala Aquifer, Julian Reyes, Emile Elias, Erin M.K. Haacker, Amy Kremen, Lauren Parker, Caitlin Rottler

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Faculty Publications

Much of the agricultural production in the Ogallala Aquifer region relies on groundwater for irrigation. In addition to declining water levels, weather and climate-driven events affect crop yields and revenues. Crop insurance serves as a risk management tool to mitigate these perils. Here, we seek to understand what long-term crop insurance loss data can tell us about agricultural risk management in the Ogallala. We assess patterns and trends in crop insurance loss data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency. Indemnities, or insurance payments, totaled $22 billion from 1989–2017 for the 161 counties that overlie the Ogallala Aquifer. …

Quantitative Appraisal Of Non-Irrigated Cropland In South Dakota, Shelby Riggs

Honors Theses

This appraisal attempts to remove subjectivity from the appraisal process and replace it with quantitative analysis of known data to generate a fair market value of the subject property. Two methods of appraisal were used, the income approach and the comparable sales approach. For the income approach, I used the average cash rent for the region, the current property taxes for the subject property, and a capitalization rate based on Stokes' (2018) capitalization rate formula to arrive at my income-based valuation. For the comparable sales approach, I utilized Stokes' (2018) research in optimization modeling to estimate a market value for …

Assessing Intra-Event Phosphorus Dynamics In Drainage Water Using Phosphate Stable Oxygen Isotopes, William Ford Iii, Mark R. Williams, Megan B. Young, Kevin W. King, Eric Fischer

Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Faculty Publications

Quantifying fluxes and pathways of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) in tile-drained landscapes has been hampered by a lack of measurements that are sensitive to P fate and transport processes. One potential tool to help understand these dynamics is the oxygen isotope signature of phosphate (δ¹⁸O_PO4); however, its potential benefits and limitations are not well understood for intra-event dynamics at the field scale. The objectives of this study were to quantify intra-event variability of δ¹⁸O_PO4 signatures in tile drainage water and assess the efficacy of δ¹⁸O_PO4 to elucidate mechanisms and flow …

Precipitation Drivers Of Cropping Frequency In The Brazilian Cerrado: Evidence And Implications For Decision-Making, Keith R. Spangler, Amanda H. Lynch, Stephanie A. Spera

Geography and the Environment Faculty Publications

The Amazon basin has been subjected to unprecedented rates of land-use change over the past several decades, primarily as a result of the expansion of agriculture. Enhanced rain forest conservation efforts toward the end of the twentieth century slowed deforestation of the Amazon but, in turn, increased demand for land repurposing in the adjacent Cerrado (savanna) region, where conservation regulations are less strict. To maintain or increase yields while minimizing the need for additional land, agricultural producers adopted a form of intensification in which two rain-fed crops are planted within a single growing season (double cropping). Using 10 years (August …

Wetland Issues Affecting Waterfowl Conservation In North America, Heath M. Hagy, Scott C. Yaich, John W. Simpson, Eduardo Carrera, David A. Haukos, W.Carter Johnson, Charles R. Loesch, Fritz A. Reid, Scott E. Stephens, Ralph W. Tiner, Brett A. Werner, Greg S. Yarris

Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications

This paper summarises discussions by invited speakers during a special session at the 6th North American Duck Symposium on wetland issues that affect waterfowl, highlighting current ecosystem challenges and opportunities for the conservation of waterfowl in North America. Climate change, invasive species, U.S. agricultural policy (which can encourage wetland drainage and the expansion of row-crop agriculture into grasslands), cost and competition for water rights, and wetland management for non-waterfowl species were all considered to pose significant threats to waterfowl populations in the near future. Waterfowl populations were found to be faced with significant threats in several regions, including: the Central …

Agriculture Futures: Potential Rural Land Uses On The Palusplain, Rodney Safstrom, Nicolyn Short Dr

Resource management technical reports

The purpose of this project was to identify agricultural land use options and opportunities within the Serpentine–Jarrahdale and Murray Shires, with particular focus on the Palusplain wetland section. The report will contribute to the Department of Planning’s natural resource management plan for the region and guide development of regional and local planning strategies. Historically, the Palusplain was a slowly moving, interconnected, seasonal wetland system with areas of higher ground. Extensive clearing and drainage occurred in the late 1800s through to the mid-1900s to facilitate agriculture; however, agriculture has been found to be a major contributor of nutrients to the system. …

Sustainability In A Time Of Climate Change: Developing An Intensive Research Framework For The Platte River Basin And The High Plains Proceedings From The 2008 Climate Change Workshop, Monica Norby, Ashley Washburn

Office of Research and Economic Development: Publications

Proceedings from the 2008 Climate change Workshop, Nebraska Sandhills, May 19-22, 2008. Hosted by the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the U.S. Geological Survey

Boyup Brook - Upper Warren Area : Catchment Appraisal 2007/ Prepared By The South West Arm Region Appraisal Team., Henry Brockman

Resource management technical reports

The aim of this Resource Management Technical Report is to assess the current extent of salinity and other natural resource degradation issues in the Boyup Brook - Upper Warren area and provide landholders with the best current management options to address natural resource management issues and enhance sustainable agricultural production.

Potential Impacts Of Climate Change On Agricultural Land Use Suitability : Wheat, Dennis Van Gool, Luke Vernon

Resource management technical reports

This publication considers the impact of climate change on wheat crops. While a model was first used, it was only partially validated against real data, hence the model is now used as a decision support system that allows people with crop, land resource and climate knowledge to determine potential impacts of climate change on crop growth and production in Western Australia.

Grass Patch-Salmon Gums Area : Catchment Appraisal 2005, Angela Alderman

Resource management technical reports

Rapid catchment appraisal to assess the condition of, and future risks to, agricultural and natural resources within the Grass Patch-Salmon Gums area in Western Australia.

Wagin-Woodanilling (Zone 5) : Catchment Appraisal 2005, K Ohlsen, T Schulz, T W. Mathwin, Gina Pemberton, Henry Brockman, J Firth, Mitchell Davies, Heather M. Percy

Resource management technical reports

The aim of this report is to assess the current extent of salinity and other natural resource degradation issues and provide landholders with the best current management options to address natural resource management issues and enhance sustainable agricultural production.

Lower Yilgarn Catchment Appraisal 2003, D G. Cummins

Resource management technical reports

This report summarises current information on risks and impacts to agricultural production and natural resources within the Lower Yilgarn Catchment. It also identifies suitable options to manage such risks. The report has been divided into three sections : the natural resource base, the catchment risks and management options and impacts. Rapid Catchment Appraisal aims to document salinity risk and management options by addressing all threats to the natural resource base.

Frankland-Gordon Area : Catchment Appraisal 2003, Tim D. Overheu, Natural Heritage Trust (Australia)

Resource management technical reports

Rapid catchment appraisal to assess the condition of, and future risks to, agricultural and natural resources within the Frankland Gordon area in Western Australia.

Moore River : Catchment Appraisal 2003, A Alderman, M Clarke, Natural Heritage Trust (Australia), Moore River Catchment Support Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

Using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal process, this report summarises current information for the Moore River catchment, Western Australia. The headwaters of the Moore River commence in Perenjori, Carnamah and Dalwallinu shires and drain southwards through Moora.

Blackwood Catchment : Beaufort Zone (Zone 4) : Catchment Appraisal 2002, Henry Brockman, Blackwood Rapid Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa ), Natural Heritage Trust (Australia)

Resource management technical reports

Using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal process, this report summarises current information for the Beaufort zone, located in the mid to southern part of the Blackwood basin, including parts of the shires of Kojonup, West Arthur, Woodanilling, Katanning, Broomehill, Wagin and Boyup Brook, Western Australia. Assesses the condition of, and future risks to agricultural and natural resources, provides information for reducing those risks and identifies the most suitable options to manage the risk.

Beaumont-Condingup Area : Catchment Appraisal 2002, A Alderman, Natural Heritage Trust (Australia)

Resource management technical reports

Using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal process, this report summarises current information for the Beaumont - Condingup area, east of Esperance. The object of the Rapid Catchment Appraisal is to assess the condition of, and future risks to agricultural and natural resources, and provide information for reducing those risks within geographic catchments and attempts to identify the most suitable options to manage these risks.

Paired Site Sampling For Soil Carbon Estimation – Western Australia, Edward Arnold Griffin, W H. Verboom, D G. Allen

Natural resources research reports

This report describes a detailed paired site study at nine locations in the drier parts of south–western Australia representative of areas most recently cleared for agriculture. The pairing was of uncleared, short-term cleared and long-term cleared sites. The study provided samples for modelling soil organic carbon fluxes by CSIRO Land and Water. Analysis and interpretation of results from the samples collected and detailed soil morphology descriptions provide comprehensive documentation of the soil carbon and other soil parameters. This provides a basis for better understanding factors influencing soil carbon dynamics in soils in Western Australia, particularly in areas with sandy topsoils. …

Cranbrook-Toolbrunup : Catchment Appraisal Report 2001, Tim D. Overheu, Western South Coast Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

This report covers the eastern junction of both the Pallinup North Stirling and Kent Frankland sub-regions, comprising of six amalgamated sub-catchments of Pingelup Creek, Solomons Creek, Racecourse Lake, Lake Toolbrunup, Twolganup Brook and Hamilla Hill (west). This report primarily focuses on the agricultural and natural resources at risk within the study area and attempts to identify options to manage the potential risks.

South Broomehill-Gnowangerup Area : Catchment Appraisal Report 2001, Tim D. Overheu, Western South Coast Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

This report covers the South Broomehill-Gnowangerup area in Western Australia, incorporating eight sub-catchments: Wadjekanup, Peringillup, Pindellup, Jam Creek, Woodyarrup, Upper Pallinup, Gnowangerup and Jackitup, and the townsites of Broomehill, Tambellup and Gnowangerup. This report focuses on the agricultural and natural resources at risk and attempts to identify options to manage the potential risks within the area.

North Jerramungup Fitzgerald Area : Catchment Appraisal Report 2001 (Reviewed 2007), Tim D. Overheu, Western South Coast Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

This report covers the North Jerramungup Fitzgerald zone, an amalgamation of the smaller sub-catchments of Jacup, Fitzgerald, Mallee Road and part of Hamersley River, North West Jerramungup, North Jerramungup and North Needilup in Western Australia. This report primarily focuses on the agricultural and natural resources at risk within the study area and attempts to identify options to manage the potential risks.

Lort And Young Rivers Catchment : Catchment Appraisal 2001, Jamie Bowyer, Esperance Catchment Support Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

Using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal process, this report summarises current information for the Lort and Young Rivers Catchment, 75 kilometres west of Esperance in Western Australia. The Rapid Catchment Appraisal (RCA) process is one of the processes included in the strategy to tackle salinity and its management in Western Australia. The RCA process provides a 'snap shot' of information on the risk and impact to agricultural production and natural resources within regional geographic catchments.

Yarra Yarra Catchment : Rapid Catchment Appraisal Report 2001, M Clarke

Resource management technical reports

Using the Rapid Catchment Appraisal process, this report summarises current information for the Yarra Yarra Catchment, Northern Agricultural Region in Western Australia. The Rapid Catchment Appraisal (RCA) process is one of the processes included in the strategy to tackle salinity and its management in Western Australia. The RCA process provides a 'snap shot' of information on the risk and impact to agricultural production and natural resources within regional geographic catchments.

Blackwood Catchment : Katanning Zone (Zone 6) : Catchment Appraisal 2001, Henry Brockman, Blackwood Rapid Catchment Appraisal Team (Wa)

Resource management technical reports

The aim of this report is to document the extent of salinity and land degradation within the Katanning zone, Western Australia, and management options aimed at reducing recharge and land degradation.

Social And Economic Data For Regional And Natural Resource Management In Western Australia's South West Catchment : Results Of The 2006 Landholder Survey, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia, South West Catchments Council (W.A.), Michael Hanslip, Australia. Bureau Of Rural Sciences.

All other publications

This report presents a summary of the key findings from a mailed survey to 2,000 landholders in the South West Region of Western Australia in 2006. The survey gathered information on the key social and economic factors affecting landholder decision-making about the adoption of practices expected to improve the management of natural resources in the region. The response rate for the survey was 69.4%.

The South West Catchment Council, Western Australian Department of Agriculture and Food and the Bureau of Rural Sciences were key project partners. Funding was from a mix of national, state and regional programmes, including the Natural …

Agenda: Sustainable Use Of The West's Water, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Sustainable Use of the West's Water (Summer Conference, June 12-14)

Conference organizers and/or faculty included University of Colorado School of Law professors David H. Getches, Lawrence J. MacDonnell, Teresa A. Rice, Elizabeth A. Rieke and Charles F. Wilkinson.

Sustainable development is on the policy agenda for the '90s. What does sustainability mean? Is it a realistic concept? Are water rights compatible with sustainable use? The Center's 16th annual summer conference will explore the meaning of sustainability in the context of the West's demands, development, and natural values. Presentations by leading experts will address the broad concept of sustainable development, with a particular look at Arizona's experience. The focus will be …

G93-1191 Glossary Of Water-Related Terms, William L. Kranz, Delynn Hay, James W. Goeke, David Gosselin

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

This NebGuide is a glossary of water quantity, quality and human health related terms involving water. Terms are defined in contexts that could affect Nebraskans. We depend upon water for our very existence. The impact of water quality and quantity issues has never been greater. Yet the terminology used to describe the water we drink, the water we provide to plants and animals, the water stored underground, in lakes, rivers, and oceans, is not well understood by many Nebraskans. This listing of water-related terms is intended to reduce the potential for misunderstanding presentations made by elected officials, environmental agencies and …

Land Resources In The Northern Section Of The Peel-Harvey Catchment, Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia Map, Dennis Van Gool

Land resources series

Land Resources Map and Land Capability table for the northern section of the Peel-Harvey catchment. Prepared to assist nutrient management and land use planning in the southern section of the Peel-Harvey catchment.

The Oombulgurri Project Clancy Committee Report, D J. Clancy, P Mccosker, C Mayberry, A J. Millington, P Ryan

All other publications

In early August the Oombulgurri community requested assistance in the following terms.

"On behalf of the Oombulgurri Community, we invite assistance in developing the grain and pasture cropping at Oombulgurri. We have experimented with peanuts, sorghum, and many varieties of vegetables. This has tested the reality of hopes to expand acreage and varieties to become self-sufficient in stock feed. The Farm and Garden Guild now needs the expertise of your services to plan a four-year programme. vie need assistance in choosing from the many options, opinions and advices available from Australia and elsewhere, for grain production, pastures, methods appropriate to …