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Full-Text Articles in Agriculture

Effect Of Land Use Change On South Texas Bats, Katharine Leigh Jones Dec 2017

Effect Of Land Use Change On South Texas Bats, Katharine Leigh Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Bats were acoustically recorded in South Texas over the summer of 2017. Nine species of bats were recorded and identified.


Removal Of Lead And Arsenic From Aqueous Solution By Biochar Produced From Locally-Sourced Biomass, Sergio I. Mireles Jul 2017

Removal Of Lead And Arsenic From Aqueous Solution By Biochar Produced From Locally-Sourced Biomass, Sergio I. Mireles

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated the effectiveness of four adsorbent materials, pyrolyzed corn stover, orange peel, pistachio shell, and magnetic biochar for their ability to adsorb lead (Pb) and arsenic (As III, As V) from aqueous solution. An increase in adsorption was seen as the pH of the solution increased from pH 2 to pH 6. Magnetic orange peel biochar with Fe3O4 particles precipitated on the surface of biochar was synthetized by co-precipitation and used for arsenic adsorption. Initial pH value had an influence on the adsorption behavior of As (III) and As (V). In the pH range of 2–6, As (V) …


Multifunctionality Of Cover Crops On Organic Vegetable Farms In South Texas, Savannah M. Rugg May 2017

Multifunctionality Of Cover Crops On Organic Vegetable Farms In South Texas, Savannah M. Rugg

Theses and Dissertations

Situated in deep South Texas, the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is considered one the most productive agricultural regions in the southern US. With the highest concentration of organic farms in the state (Hidalgo county), finding management practices that comply with organic certification is increasingly pertinent. Cover cropping can serve multiple functions in an agroecosystem such as: suppressing weeds, increasing soil organic matter (SOM), increasing soil nitrates, and enhancing soil biodiversity. The four cover crops (lablab, sunn hemp, sudangrass, and pearl millet) were assessed to see their potential to increase soil nitrogen, to increase soil organic matter, and to suppress …


Genetic Variation In Two Economically Important Arthropod Vectors Of Citrus Diseases, Alejandra Fuentes May 2017

Genetic Variation In Two Economically Important Arthropod Vectors Of Citrus Diseases, Alejandra Fuentes

Theses and Dissertations

Arthropod vectors are agriculturally and ecologically important because they transmit numerous plant pathogens. Commonly, control strategies for vector-borne plant pathogens focus on suppression of vector populations. Genetic variation studies in pest populations provide useful information for biological control, understanding pesticide resistance, and inferring global movement patterns. In chapter I, genetic variation of worldwide populations of Diaphorina citri, the vector of Citrus greening disease, was examined to assess potential sites of origin of invasive populations. The results showed population structure at regional levels, suggesting limited gene flow and revealing patterns of invasion. In chapter II, I explored the community of …