Agriculture Commons^™

The Effect Of Two Common Herbicides On The Growth And Development Of Two Anuran Species (Boreorana Sylvatica And Dryophytes Chrysoscelis), Jerica Eaton

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Amphibian populations have been declining globally since the 1950s. Many species that have experienced declines are viewed as 'environmental indicators' that reveal habitat degradation. Declines can be attributed to several factors, including chemicals used in agriculture, such as Roundup and Atrazine. Agrochemicals contaminate water bodies through runoff or leaching and cause alterations to aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the effects of herbicide usage on two wild anuran populations using wood frogs (Boreorana sylvatica) and Cope’s gray tree frogs (Dryophytes chrysoscelis) as a model. We determined the effect of the herbicides at two concentrations, a high concentration …

Evaluation Of Biochar As A Remediation Tool For Aminopyralid Contaminated Compost, Steven James Parris

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Aminopyralid is a synthetic auxin herbicide which is applied to grass pastures to control broadleaf weed populations. Aminopyralid can contaminate compost through inputs derived from treated pastures such as manure and grass clippings. This possibility poses the threat of inadvertent herbicide exposure to sensitive vegetable plants through using compost contaminated with aminopyralid. Biochar can absorb pollutants and has a synergistic effect with compost when applied to the compost mixture. This study examined the relationship between biochar and aminopyralid through compost consisting of dairy manure and sawdust 1:1 mixture, aminopyralid (10μg/kg), and biochar at four treatment levels of total mass of …

Economic Impact Of Cervid Farming In Kentucky, Hunter Groves

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Cervid farming, an agricultural endeavor, has gained prominence in Kentucky in recent years. The main objectives of this study were to estimate the economic contribution that the breeding sectors have on the state, measure the economic contribution of high-fence cervid hunting on the Commonwealth, and investigate the combined economic impact that the industry brings to the economy. The research provided a contextual background and explained the concept of cervid farming and the history of cervid farming. A literature review explored the existing body of knowledge on cervid farming from around the country and identified the gaps within current research. Methodologically, …

Contaminant Transport Mechanisms And Source Tracking In Karst Groundwater Systems Under Agricultural Land Use, Shreya Pandey

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Karst areas in general face severe groundwater contamination problems that can degrade their water quality. In comparison to other landscapes, groundwater within karst regions is more susceptible to contamination. The situation gets worse when agriculture is practiced in these karst regions, because the nutrients and bacteria like nitrates and E. coli (Escherichia coli) are released into the groundwater systems which contaminate the water quality of those karst groundwater systems. This research aims to study the impacts of these contaminants, specifically nitrates and E. coli., by identifying the contaminant transport mechanisms and source tracking of these contaminants in the groundwater under …

Climate-Smart Agriculture In Southern Kenya: An Assessment Of Factors Influencing Crop Development And Productivity, Matthew Bowers

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Globally, the adverse effects of climate change are forcing farmers to adapt their practices or risk crop failures. Throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, agriculture is the largest source of food, income, and employment, so threats such as climate change can put millions of lives and livelihoods in peril if modifications are not made to the existing system. Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) is a potential solution, as CSA techniques aim to increase the productivity and resilience of land affected by climate change. While CSA is a relatively new conceptual approach, many traditional and Indigenous techniques can be considered “climate-smart”. Understanding what biotic and abiotic …

Ua12/2/2 Talisman: Pulse, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Spring 2024 Talisman:

• Hunter, Leah. Pulse
• Muscutt, Carson. High on Bluegrass – Jordan Riehm
• Meyers, Jeffrey. Science of Movement – Exercise Science
• Murray, Debra. Pasture to Plate – Agriculture
• Murray, Debra. Vegetarian Tortilla Soup
• Coffee, Bobbi. Passion, Pain, Curiosity – Innovation Campus
• Story, Miriam. Drafts of a Postcard (October 2023)
• Johnston, Katelyn. Beyond Sound – Deaf
• Hunter, Leah. One Good Week – Madison Weis
• Alali, Cecilia. Crafted Cadence – Speech Team
• Blankenship, Alisa. Loving You
• Sandlin, Ellie. Here After – Death
• Booth, Pandora. Rooted in Rhythm – Step Shows
• Booth, Pandora. Horoscopes
• Pulse Playlist

Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry Method Development For The Determination Of Β–Defensins In Bovine Milk, Elisha Ogbebor

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Bovine mastitis is caused by a wide range of pathogens which results in a substantial economic loss for the dairy cattle livestock industry. β-defensins are a part of the innate immune system and act as the first line of defense against mastitis in bovine. β-defensins (~6- 10kDa) are antimicrobial peptides that contain about 28 to 67 amino acids, the presence of six cysteine residues results in their three disulfide bonds and a β-sheet structure. A few β- defensins have been identified in cows based on the site of occurrence and time of expression in tissue, but not in milk. A …

Towards The Quantification Of Estrone And 17Β-Estradiol Conjugates In Dairy Cattle Urine Sorptive Stir Bar Extraction And Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectometry, S.M. Istiak Ahmed

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The global concern regarding the presence of compounds with estrogenic properties in the environment has grown significantly. Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are environmental pollutants that disrupt the endocrine systems of both wildlife and humans. Estrogens, with their potent estrogenic effects, are particularly noteworthy among the various substances with endocrine-disrupting properties. They are of concern due to their prevalence in the environment, especially due to dairy waste contamination. These lipophilic compounds can accumulate in livestock fat tissues, potentially entering the human food chain. Sulfated forms of estrone and β- estriol, which exhibit a higher degree of saturation than their non-conjugated counterparts, have …

Pearley, Lamont Jack, B. 1974 (Fa 1426), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1426. Audio interviews by WKU student Lamont Pearley of the husband-and-wife proprietors of Need More Acres Farm in Scottsville, Kentucky. They discuss their lives as farmers, agricultural practices, and sustainable farming. One interview includes a transcript and the other includes an index/log.

Effects Of Exercise When Transitioning From Free Choice Tall Fescue (Lolium Arundinaceum) Grass Diet In Late Summer To Free Choice Tall Fescue Hay Diet In Late Fall On Plasma Fructosamine Concentrations, Insulin Levels, Body Weight, And Body Condition Scores Of Stock Horse Mares And Gelding, Riley Brown

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Equine exercise may influence a horse’s metabolic and physiological functions. Studies can help to prove this linkage, and to better understand the nutritional requirements of the horse. The parameters that are being evaluated are plasma-fructosamine concentrations, insulin levels, body weight (lbs.), and body condition score (BCS) as a measurement of obesity. Eight horses used in this study were split into two groups; Worked horses were exercised three times a week while the unworked horses were not exercised. All eight horses were fed an ad libitum diet of tall fescue grass and hay for 127 days.

Forage samples were collected to …

Ua37/46 Charles Taylor Faculty/Staff Personal Papers, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Personal papers of Charles Taylor.

Ua1c11/124 Charles Taylor Photo Collection, Wku Archives

WKU Archives Collection Inventories

Photographs removed from Charles Taylor's personal papers.

Agriculture Education Teacher Perspectives On Stem In Secondary Classrooms -A Delphi Study, Nicholas Kyle Porter

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Recent statistics tell us that the number of jobs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) related fields are growing at a rapid rate, it is projected that STEM related careers will grow 17% between 2008 and 2018 (Langdon, n.d.). Within these areas lies agriculture. Given the shift of career opportunities, such as in the areas of research and development, a change has to be made in the way students are educated within agriculture. The ultimate goal of all educators is to better prepare students for their future careers and endeavors because these students are the future of our food …

Liquid Chromatography With Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method Development For The Determination Of Β–Defensins In Bovine Milk, Symone T. Whalin

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Bovine mastitis, caused by a wide array of pathogens, results in a substantial economic loss for the dairy cattle livestock industry. β-defensins are a part of the bovine’s innate immune system and act as the first line of defense against mastitis. Only foundational research has been done on β-defensins’ ability to treat and prevent mastitis. There have been no analytical methods reported in the literature for analyzing β-defensins in bovine milk. This research aims to create an analytical approach to determine β-defensins in bovine milk. It is challenging to determine an analyte in a complex sample matrix, and milk is …

Ua12/2/1 Up Next On The Hill, Vol. 97, No. 6, Wku Student Affairs

WKU Administration Documents

Magazine edition of the College Heights Herald for the period Feb. 14 to March 21, 2022.

• Collins, Michael. I Went to School There? University Plan Marks New Era of Campus for Next Generation of Students
• Trickett-Wile, Arthur & Jake Jones. Like Farmer, Like Son – Alex Burke
• Stover, D.J. Gun Violence Hasn’t Left, from a Survivor of Marshall County
• Lanuzza, Izzy. International Bonds Key to WKU Tennis Success

Mining 30 Years Of Conifer Records At The Baker Arboretum, Monika Decker

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Only limited data had been published on the survivability of specimens within public gardens. This may be due to not enough data collected or how vast the plant selections are in the gardens. The Baker Arboretum has collected data by accessioning plant collections over a period of 30 years. The Baker Arboretum has its specimens GIS mapped on the 115-acre property for easy location and detection of the the woody ornamental plants. However, little research is available to understand which coniferous specimens have the best success in the garden. In this study, six separate binomial logistic regressions were run to …

Evaluation Of Supplementing Whole Cottonseed Within Feedlot Rations During The Stockerphase Of Production With The Goal Of Increasing Average Daily Gain, Emily Lauren Cook

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Beef calves are weaned at 6-months of age and enter the stocker phase of beef production. Stocker producers have the primary goal of adding weight inexpensively to increase profit on weaned calves. Whole cottonseed is an inexpensive feed ingredient that is popularly top-dressed within dairy and finishing beef diets and is high in protein and energy. During three periods lasting 50-days (fall 2019, fall 2020, and spring 2020), freshly weaned calves were placed on a finishing ration with the goal of increasing average daily gain. Base rations were calculated at 25% tall fescue hay, 23% corn, and 52% distillers’ solubles. …

Effects Of Solid Matrix One-Step Planting Practice On Cool Season Turfgrass Germination In Unfavorable Conditions, Ben Duncan

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The transition zone in the United States is a difficult area to grow and establish turfgrasses. To establish or repair damaged turfgrass areas, seed priming is an often-used practice. Turfgrass companies and researchers are expanding the practice of solid matrix priming to the practice of one step planting. These products contain seed, fertilizers, and often some type of inert matter and/or mulch. This study took place in Bowling Green, KY and Knoxville, TN during the same period to investigate the effects of using these one step planting products compared to standard cool season turfgrass seeding practices. Two Pennington and two …

Drought In The Breadbasket Of America And The Influence Of Oceanic Teleconnections, Grace Campbell

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

From 1980 to 2020, drought events accounted for 11.4% of the billion-dollar disasters in the United States (U.S.) yet caused the second highest total amount in damages at $236.6 billion. With the average cost of a drought being upwards of $9.5 billion, these natural disasters can create serious problems in agriculture. Drought is defined as a period of below average precipitation that causes damage to agriculture and water supply. Previous research has linked drought events in the U.S. Great Plains to oceanic teleconnections in the Pacific and Atlantic basins, indicating the influence of the El Niño – Southern Oscillation (ENSO), …

Enhancing Wku Sustainable Food Systems Through Education And Local Agriculture Development, Chloe Cooper

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

In an effort to increase the amount of locally sourced food utilized by dining services at WKU, the Office of Sustainability, WKU Restaurant Group, and the WKU Agriculture & Research Education Center have partnered to establish garden spaces on campus properties. This project developed a detailed plan for implementation of this effort. In addition, this project established a plan to educate students and the local community alike on the benefits of sustainable farming and locally-sourced food, while also creating profiles on local farmers from whom the university could buy crops in order to further supplement items for dining services. Using …

Farmers’ Markets & College Students: Shaping Our Shared Community And Bridging The Barrier With On-Campus Interaction, Emma Grace Vaughn

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This project studies the relationship between college students and farmers' markets, with the goal of overcoming known barriers of student participation. A survey conducted at an on-campus farmers' market, Market on the Avenue, details the impact of bringing these events to Western Kentucky University and looks towards the improvement of future markets. The purpose of this evaluation is to understand how effectively this event bridges the known barriers inhibiting WKU student participation in farmers’ markets, and to develop survey data into recommendations for improvement.

Antibiotic Resistant Gene Concentrations In Bacteria In Groundwater From Agricultural Waste, Koji Barnaby

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

The overuse of antibiotics has led to an increase in antibiotic resistant bacteria since some antibiotics are sent into the wastewater system by waste produced by both humans and agriculture, making exposure to these bacteria more likely. The evolution of these bacteria in groundwater is of particular concern, as groundwater is used as a source of drinking water, and infections by these bacteria would be more difficult to treat. There are no policies in place to monitor or regulate antibiotic resistance bacteria in groundwater, leaving the threat to public health unknown. The study area of Crumps Cave in Smiths Grove, …

Primary Reasons For Not Attending Farmers' Market. Do Market Features And Consumer Characteristics Matter?, Autumn Milliner

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The number of farmers’ markets has been growing, but consumer attendance does not appear to rise at the same rate. The overall purpose of this study was to investigate primary reasons for not attending. Specific objectives were: (1) describe the consumer characteristics of individuals who do not attend farmers’ markets (2) investigate the consumer characteristics and market amenities that influence a consumer’s choice to not attend a farmers market (3) estimate the variables that impact a consumer’s level of interest in subscribing to a CSA and (4) assess and estimate the relationship between consumer characteristics and their willingness to pay …

Online Shoppers Spending On Fresh Produce; Do Those On Government Assistance Spend Less?, Wyatt Tucker Lucas

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

This study applies an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model to explain differences in the amount that online shoppers might spend per month on fresh produce, given specific consumer characteristics. It also uses a multinomial logit model to determine the relative probability of online shoppers spending more or less, given specific consumer characteristics. The independent variable of interest in both models is whether or not the respondent is a recipient of a government assistance food program. These analyses used data from a stratified random sample of 1,205 online shoppers residing in the southern region of the United States. “Online shoppers” in …

Bodyweight Management And Relationship To Health In The Horse (Equus Caballus), Beverly Ann Gartland

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The health of the horse is of interest to animal caretakers. Horses that fall within a prescribed range of bodyweight and body condition may be healthier than horses that are lower or higher. Two studies were conducted related to body weight and condition of the horse. The first study examined if restricting the amount of space available for horses to graze could reduce bodyweight without having a strong impact on time budgets of the horse or removing horses from pasture. This method was determined to be effective in preventing weight gain, although there was an increase in grazing behavior displayed …

York, Mack Sherman, 1889-1962 (Sc 3502), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Manuscript Collection Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Manuscripts Small Collection 3502. Documents relating to tobacco farming and sales by Mack Sherman York, Auburn, Kentucky. Includes warehouse and growers association receipts, notices of acreage allotments and marketing quotas, information about tobacco price supports, and notices of referendums.

Effects Of Supplemental Whole Cottonseed On Weaned Calf Production, Zachary Debord

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

This study compared the effect of supplemental whole cottonseed in a weaned calf ration on cattle productivity. Feed is the main cost for livestock production. Whole cottonseed supplementation may increase production and reduce the cost of gain for the ration. During the study, 18 beef calves were weaned and split into two groups and fed, with and without WCS, for 50 days to determine the effect of supplemental whole cottonseed. Productivity was determined by measuring average daily gains for each group and comparing cost of gain for each ration. It was determined that WCS did increase productivity of weaned calves …

Bridging The Food Gap: Founding And Sustaining A Food Recovery Network Chapter At Wku, Elaine Losekamp

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Food waste is a pervasive global issue with many environmental and social repercussions. While about one-third of all food produced for human consumption goes to waste, many people in the United States and the world are affected by food insecurity. Food recovery, the process of rescuing edible food that would otherwise go to waste and delivering to hungry people, is an effective solution for both food waste and food insecurity. The author of this capstone created a food recovery program at Western Kentucky University (WKU) in January 2019 and has grown the program’s scope and impact since that time. This …

Maharrey, Cynthia Saddler, B. 1969 (Fa 1359), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1359. Student folk studies project titled “The Intersection of Yesteryear Farming and the Eco/Org Healthy Food Movement” which includes an interview with Jerald Anderson “Jerry” Hicks by Cynthia Saddler Maharrey about farming in Fleming County, Kentucky. Project includes an audio interview, PowerPoint presentation, and color photographs related to Hicks and his farm. The interview is archived in the WKU Sound Archives.

Bowles, Hunter Joe, B. 1996 (Fa 1384), Manuscripts & Folklife Archives

Folklife Archives Finding Aids

Finding aid only for Folklife Archives Project 1384. Interviews with honey and mushroom producers in southcentral Kentucky, conducted by Hunter Bowles in fall 2019 for a WKU folk studies class in foodways.