Agriculture Commons^™

Aquaponics And Basil Plant Density, Danika L. Macmaster, Brook Murphy, Dudley Burton

STAR Program Research Presentations

Aquaponics is the use of water from a fish tank to provide nutrients to plants in a soil-less environment. The rocks cultivate the bacteria that turns the ammonia into nitrates that the plants need, and the plant bed functions as a filter for the fish tank. In this study, with the guidance of Doctor Dudley Burton, Doctor Brook Murphy, we researched the optimal plant density for basil in an Aquaponics system. We attempted to control or measure all the other variables to consider, as to isolate the variable of distance between plants. The water flow was spread through the plant …

Development Of A Public Education Website: Building Bridges Over Water, Angelina Mckee

Agricultural Education and Communication

Website created by Angelina McKee to educate the public about water resource issues. Water is the basic unit of life, water resources are the basis for what societies and ecosystems are founded upon. Water shortages and droughts are more prevalent in our ever-changing world. It is no shock that there are discrepancies between various stockholders on either sides of the dry riverbed. This senior project resulted in the development of a website that addresses global water resources, water use in California, water conservation, and water allocation. The website informs the public on water resources and related issues and will hopefully …

Bee Colony Startup And Cost Analysis, Marisela Herrera

BioResource and Agricultural Engineering

The increase in demand for European Honey bee pollination along with colony collapse disorder has caused bee pollination rental fees to greatly increase. This project intended to determine how effective and economically feasible it would be for almond growers to begin raising their own hives for pollination. It was determined the biggest challenges were organizing and finding employees who were knowledgeable about bee keeping. When looking at the cost it was clear that even with the current cost per hive the startup costs were still less than the total rental fees for a single pollination season.

Once the hives have …

Project Proposal And Development Plan For A New Security Gate At Swanton Pacific Ranch, K. Morgan Perry

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop a prototype gate for Cal Poly’s Swanton Pacific Ranch in Santa Cruz, CA. Swanton Pacific Ranch requested that the author design and build a 21’x5’ single-retractable gate for Swanton Pacific Ranch to help decrease the security issues that have recently arisen at the facility. The design and format of this project are focused towards the desires and goals set forth by Swanton Pacific Ranch and the Operations Manager, Steve Auten in order to obtain a certain outcome. This project provides an outline of what needs to be done in order to produce …

Effect Of Grape-Leaf Potassium Content On Life-History Traits Of Willamette Spider Mite, Eotetranychus Willamettei (Mcgregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae), Michael Paul Sotelo

Horticulture and Crop Science

Vitis vinifera L. cv. Chardonnay vines were fertilized to approximate baseline, low, medium, and high grape-leaf potassium contents, relative to viticultural target values. From those vines, twelve replicates of leaf-discs were made per fertilizer treatment. The leaf-discs were populated with individuals of Willamette spider mite, Eotetranychus willamettei (McGregor) and maintained in a plant growth chamber (25°C, 14L:10D h). Data pertaining to maturation time (days), pre-oviposition period (days), lifetime fecundity (eggs / ♀), and longevity (days) of E. willamettei was recorded daily. Petiole analysis revealed that the grape-leaf potassium contents were greater than target values. Respective to fertilizer treatment, the actual …

Teacher Internship Report - Anderson Union High School, Kathryn L. Teixeira

Agricultural Education: Graduate Internship Reports

This internship/project report includes validation documents required in meeting the quality criteria for secondary-level programs of instruction in agriculture. The documents are concurrently used for the Agriculture Incentive Grant review process at Anderson Union High School conducted by representatives of the California Department of Education. The internship included the practical application of occupational skills related to the horticulture industry and modification to the Greenhouse facilities at Anderson Union High School by improving ergonomics of greenhouse tables, replacing the existing siding of storage facilities and installing concrete walkways within the greenhouse. Students in the Agricultural Department were integral in all parts …

Student Apathy As Defined By Secondary Agricultural Education Students, Ann M. De Lay, Benjamin G. Swan

Agricultural Education and Communication

Student motivation continues to be a source of concern for educators. This phenomenological study captured the voices of secondary agriculture students as they shared their perspectives and experiences surrounding student apathy. Four focus group interviews were conducted at four central California high schools with distinguished agriculture programs. The following question guided the research: What experience do secondary agriculture students have with student apathy in their academic environments? Findings suggest student apathy is born of personal choice and grown through mediocre teaching, archaic assessment and the absence of learning purpose. Recommendations suggest students, teachers, the local school and teacher educators form …

Updated Ethography For European Starlings (Sturnus Vulgaris) In Central Coast Vineyards, Vic A. Guerrero

Wine and Viticulture

No abstract provided.

Supervised Agricultural Experience Handbook: How To Graft Tomatoes, Lauren Elliott

Agricultural Education and Communication

The Purpose of this project was to create a handbook that could be used by high school agricultural programs to implement grafting of tomatoes. It could be used as a Supervised Agricultural Experience entrepreneurship project for a student or a fundraiser for the high school program as a whole. The handbook provides a resource with step-by-step procedures for the entire process grafting tomatoes entails. It is hoped that the handbook gives guidance but also leaves room for interpretation for educational purposes.

An Index Of California Regulations Affecting Rice Growers, Maddie Dunlap

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purposed of this project was to identify and compile California regulations that affect rice growers. The final product was an index designed for rice growers and their representatives to be used lobbying efforts with regulators and elected officials. The index serves to illustrate the intensive regulations that rice growers face in California. Areas of focus include water quality, air quality, labor and pesticides indirectly.

The Effects Of Implementing Cow Cooling For Oostdam Dairy: Benefits From Milk Production, Feed Intake, And Reproduction, Mark Oostdam

Dairy Science

Heat stress has a major effect on management decisions for a dairy operation because of the decrease in the cows productivity. Dairy cattle loose efficiency of economic production due to lower milk yields and decreased pregnancy rates. Milk loss due to heat stressed cows in California averages a loss of 293 kg of milk/cow/year(St.-Pierre et al., 2003), and with milk prices reaching record highs, dairies are losing out on increased revenue opportunity. Increases in reproductive infertility from heat stress also affect revenue for a dairy operation by reducing conception rates (Hansen 1997) and pregnancy rates, which causes the average days …

Sustainable Fire Clearance Using Goats Teaching Unit, Elida Noren Moore

Agricultural Education and Communication

This project was created in order to fulfill the need of creating a unit of teaching for sustainable fire brush clearance using goats. The beginning goes over all the literature that was used to help create the project as well as the thought process that was followed in order to write the unit. These decisions were crucial for figuring out what was going to be included in the unit as well as the activities and lecture prompts that are provided. The unit covers everything from fire history and fire regulations in the state of California, to the care and treatment …

Central Coast Groundfish Species And Fillet Identification Manual, Robbie Milla

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to create a manual that would aid fishermen and fish consumers in the successful identification of various groundfish species and their fillets. The manual was crafted with quality photographs to give the viewer a vivid depiction of the targeted groundfish species. The images were taken to specifically target the identification characteristics of each fish species. It was the hope of the author to educate anyone who was interested in the groundfish fishery. The manual includes: basic groundfish regulations, groundfish species identification, and groundfish fillet identification.

The History Of Trial Gardens, Hallie Schmidt

Horticulture and Crop Science

Essay explores the history of home gardening and seed industry in America and the conditions that led to the development of the All-America Selections.

The Effect Of Mulch Type And Thickness On The Soil Surface Evaporation Rate, Michael Mcmillen

Horticulture and Crop Science

There is a continual drive to conserve water and improve irrigation efficiency in agriculture, especially in regions where water resources are limited and regulated. Mulching is one cultural practice which can be used to reduce water needs. Using certain agricultural byproducts as mulch is a sustainable practice which can provide other benefits as well such as improving soil. Wheat straw, grass clippings, and leaf debris are fairly abundant byproducts which can be used as mulch. An experiment was conducted to determine which of these readily available mulching materials would be best at conserving soil moisture, and at which thicknesses, 5, …

Lower San Luis Obispo Creek Stewardship Plan, Raven Lukehart, Daniel Bohlman

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

No abstract provided.

Pesticide Regulation Differences Of The U.S., Chile, And Mexico On Imported Berries, Kayla Felicia Gardener

Agribusiness

Growing consumer demand for knowledge in the area of food safety and producer accountability on what is applied to fresh produce is resulting in a greater need for transparency in the industry. Additionally, the demand for safe, fresh produce year round has led to extensive international trade and consumers to wonder if imported produce is of the same quality of that in produced in the U.S. The study analyzes the differences and similarities between pesticide application tolerance standards, and labels for applied use on berries produced in the U.S., Mexico, and Chile. This is done by reviewing tolerance information and …

Humboldt County Agriculture Education: Forestry, Nursery, And Dairy Production, Alayna Renner

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to create middle school agriculture curriculum for the top three agriculture commodities in Humboldt County. It was designed and created specifically for Humboldt County to educate the upcoming generations about the unique and diverse agriculture industry Humboldt County provides. It is hoped that this easy and ready to use curriculum will get the students interested and involved in the agriculture industry in the future years. It includes a teacher’s aide outline, student handouts, a Power Point, and an activity handout.

Effects Of Chelating Agents On Texture Of Lowfat Cheddar Cheese, Mariela Fernanda Poveda

Master's Theses

Effects of two types of chelating agents on proteolysis and texture properties of low fat Cheddar cheese (LFC) were analyzed and compared to full fat Cheddar (FFC) control during ripening for 120 days at 8°C. We hypothesized that chelating agents would bind calcium ions from cheese matrix to give a softer curd due to a decrease of protein-protein interactions and simultaneously increasing moisture content. Cheese milk containing (0.59% fat) was divided into three lots (A, B & C). Sodium citrate (3Na) and disodium EDTA (EDTA) were added to A & B at the rate of (0.02% and 0.2% respectively. C …

Evaluation Of The Brock Center For Agricultural Communication, Jennifer Ray

Agricultural Education and Communication

The author of this project currently serves as one of the Student Associates of the Brock Center for Agricultural Communication and the Editor-in-Chief of both Ag Circle and PolyCulture magazines. This past year, she served as the student representative on the Advisory Council for the Agricultural Education and Communication Department. Additionally the author has served as the Cal Poly Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow (ACT) Chapter President and currently serves as the National Second Vice President of the organization. The author’s experience with all of these aspects of the Cal Poly Agricultural Communication program has guided in producing this report. The …

Urban Agriculture Stormwater Management In California Cities, Rachel L. Cohen

Master's Theses

Cities within California are beginning to incorporate urban agriculture into their land use designations. Prompted by residents and local organizations, cities are hoping to capture the benefits that urban agriculture provides. Research has shown that urban agriculture renews and beautifies neighborhoods, provides healthy food choices, increases public health, has the potential to help with stormwater runoff, creates jobs, and fosters community. In the last few years, several California cities have made headlines as they have adopted new zoning codes that include urban agriculture.

In reviewing these new zoning codes and exploring the topic of urban agriculture, it became evident that …

An Educational Video And Research Experiment On The Longevity Of Chicken Eggs, Kyle Patrick Mcdonald

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to create a video designed to educate the public about chicken egg storage and refrigeration. The information in the video was based on a research experiment performed by the author, which was designed to measure the chronological decline of internal egg quality over a ten-week period. By creating an educational video about the longevity of chicken eggs, it is hoped that consumers will learn to keep their eggs past their sell-by dates. This project includes an educational video as well as an outline for a research project.

Effect Of Ph And Temperature On The Binding Interactions Of Caffeine And Chlorogenic Acid With Sodium Caseinate, Emily S. Kong

Master's Theses

Coffee is a popular and well-loved beverage consumed worldwide by millions of people every day. While most patrons of coffee do so because of its unique and satisfying taste, consumers may be unaware of the potential beneficial health effects it also imparts. The antioxidants found in green coffee beans collectively known as chlorogenic acids (CGA) and caffeine are two of the most abundant bioactive compounds present in coffee. Both these bioactive compounds have been implicated in many studies to impart a wide range of health benefits, from reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, to their use as aides in …

Vineyard Layout And Design For A Pinot Noir Vineyard In The Santa Rita Hills Ava, Joseph G. Pollock

Horticulture and Crop Science

The Sta. Rita Hills AVA is an important area for California pinot noir. To develop a pinot noir vineyard requires a substantial amount of research to be done before any planting occurs in the soil. The purpose of this project was to study the facets of planting a vineyard from a fallow field and then construct a design for the finished vineyard. The site is located on an unused portion of a ranch property in roughly the middle of the AVA. Climatological data places the potential site within acceptable parameters for growing pinot noir. The soil on site is Arnold …

Judging Market Goats, Matthew M. Marshall

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop a judging guide for FFA members who participate in Livestock Judging Contests. One of the classes to be judged is Boer goat market wethers. Resources from breeders, industry judges, and handouts were utilized. The PowerPoint that was created can be used as a tool for students to learn the basics of market goat judging. This can also be a useful guide for students who are interested in selecting market goats as a supervised agricultural experience project.

Effect Of Post Manufacture Thermal Dip Treatment On Proteolysis Of Commercial String Cheese During Storage, Melissa Karen Hsu

Master's Theses

String cheese, a Mozzarella cheese, has the unique ability to string in fibrous strands when pulled apart. Graders judge string cheese by its stringy texture; samples with copious amounts of string are awarded high ratings. But just as the texture of natural cheeses softens with time, the stringy texture of string cheese can diminish with age too.

Age related softening in cheese is due primarily to an important biochemical event known as proteolysis, which is attributed to inherent milk proteinases, residual coagulant activity, and enzymes from the lysis of starter culture microorganisms. It is hypothesized that a post manufacture heat …

Revision Of The Agricultural Education And Communication Department Senior Project Manual, Cassie Burrows

Agricultural Education and Communication

The purpose of this project was to develop an up-to-date senior project manual for students of the Agricultural Education and Communication Department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The previous manual was revised to include the most current information regarding the requirements of the senior project in the department, as most of the information had become outdated and no longer reflected the expectations of the department. The new design and format was created specifically to assist students in writing their senior project manuscript as well as in properly presenting their project within the manuscript. As a result of …

Generating A Nutritional Dairy Cow Ration Based On Green Waste Out Of San Luis Obispo County, Nicole Mendoza

Dairy Science

The objective of this literature review was to assess the accessibility and utilization of waste like products for inclusion into the dairy ration in San Luis Obispo County. With feed prices continually rising, alternatives to the very expensive feedstuffs should be continually explored. In this review, papers based on grocery store waste, viticulture waste, Cal Poly waste, and crop waste were explored to determine the feasibility of including these products into the dairy ration economically. Aspects evaluated were availability, nutrient composition, storing and handling and a viability of undertaken this system to supplement dairy cattle feeding. As a result it …

A Business Model For The Small-Scale, Start-Up, Organic Jersey Dairy, Jim Moreda

Dairy Science

To determine the financial feasibility and stability of starting a small-scale organic jersey dairy in Northern California, given the changes and restrictions that must take place in all aspects of production while operating organically. Using a unique combination of ownership and borrowing, I have created a business model made to appropriately fit the organic dairy system, addressing every area of the operation whether it be business or animal related. Through experience, reviews, and research of organic techniques allowable to apply, I was able to reveal and identify specific areas of husbandry and financing in which I would need to excel …

Increasing California Dairy Exports To Japan And South Korea, Kristina Soper

Dairy Science

The opportunities for increasing exports of California dairy products to the Japanese and South Korean markets were determined by identifying current obstacles in the California dairy industry and determining the characteristics of consumers in the Japanese and South Korean markets. As the largest milk-producing state and the supplier of 7.5% of total U.S. dairy exports, California’s economic activity greatly affects the rest of the nation and the world. The trends in the California dairy industry include increasing total milk production and per-cow milk production, a diminishing number of total dairy operations, and a rising number of large dairy operations. These …