Agriculture Commons^™

Yield And Nutritive Quality Of Fresh And Ensiled Reduced Lignin Alfalfa In Monoculture And Diculture With Novel Tall Fescue, Morgan Boss

All Theses

The objectives of this research were to: (1) evaluate the yield, nutritional value, and digestibility of fresh and ensiled reduced lignin alfalfa (RLA; Medicago sativa L.) in monoculture and when mixed with novel endophyte-infected tall fescue (F; Festuca arundinacea) in comparison to a conventional alfalfa (CA) cultivar; and (2) evaluate ensiled samples under varying DM concentrations; with or without inoculant. A trial was prepared as a randomized complete block design with 4 replicates per treatment. Treatments included reduced lignin alfalfa (RLA), conventional alfalfa (CA) and tall fescue (F) plots as well as RLA/F and CA/F plots. Plots were harvested on …

5-Year Strategic Direction, 2024–2028: Institute Of Agriculture And Natural Resources, University Of Nebraska–Lincoln, Institute Of Agriculture And Natural Resources University Of Nebraska-Lincoln

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources: Institute Publications

IANR: Integrating Learning, Discovery, and Engagement for an Even Better Nebraska

Includes an introduction, description of the components of the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, the IANR pillars, stratgeic aims for 2024–2028, and a section on implementation.

Assessing Health Implications Of Monarch Butterfly Populations And Behaviors, Kira Goldman, Kelsey E. Fisher Dr.

Honors Scholar Theses

Pollinator populations have seen massive declines over the past decade due to anthropogenic activity and climate change posing serious threats to the health of humans and ecosystems (Ulyshen & Horn, 2023). As agents responsible for the production of about 35% of micronutrient rich food crops necessary for adequate nutrition to lead healthful lives and prevent nutrition associated diseases, pollinator decline is a public health concern (Aizen et al., 2009). Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) serve as bio indicators for the health of pollinator populations because of their analogous habitat and food resources shared with many other pollinator species, including bees and …

Stories Of Motivation And Values Of Small-Scale Farmers In Jamaica And The United States, Raquel Taylor

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

Small-scale farmers add to global and local food systems through various means such as connecting communities to local food and support economies. Small-scale farms can address issues related to food and nutritional security. However, farming can be a challenging career to engage in, especially for those who are small-scale farmers. Matters related to succession, higher paying off-farm employment, policies, and more can make it challenging to engage in farming. Leaving the question of what would motivate someone to engage in small-scale farming. Motivation can be viewed through multiple lenses; this study chose to use self-determination theory to understand the motivations …

Proposing Urban Agroforestry Designs For Lincoln, Nebraska: A Model From Berlin, Germany, Noah Johnson

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

Given the threat of a worsening climate crisis, there is a strong need for community and ecosystem resilience. Diverse urban agroforestry systems have the potential to accomplish both and meet many of the objectives outlined in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska’s climate action plan. Additionally, Berlin, Germany could provide an effective model for Lincoln in this regard given the city’s extensive history of established urban agroforestry systems. The objective of this study then is to develop a design for an urban agroforestry site modeled on Berlin’s allotment gardens and tailored to Lincoln’s needs. The methods for creating this design included …

Genome-Wide Association Study/ Genomic Prediction Of Cowpea Seed Protein And Black Seed Coat Color In Cowpea, Yilin Chen

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp) is a crucial crop in many regions, serving as a vital protein source for humans and livestock. Addressing the need to enhance its nutritional quality and make it easier to cultivate cowpeas of specific colors, this study utilized genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify markers associated with protein content and seed coat color patterns in cowpea.

In the protein content study, a GWAS was conducted on 161 cowpea accessions using 110,155 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Seven significant SNP markers were identified, all located at a locus on chromosome 8 associated with the gene Vigun08g039200, enhancing …

Agriculture 4.0 And Beyond: Evaluating Cyber Threat Intelligence Sources And Techniques In Smart Farming Ecosystems, Hang T. Bui, Hamed Aboutorab, Arash Mahboubi, Yansong Gao, Nazatul H. Sultan, Aufeef Chauhan, Mohammad Z. Parvez, Michael Bewong, Rafiqul Islam, Zahid Islam, Seyit A. Camtepe, Praveen Gauravaram, Dineshkumar Singh, M. A. Babar, Shihao Yan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The digitisation of agriculture, integral to Agriculture 4.0, has brought significant benefits while simultaneously escalating cybersecurity risks. With the rapid adoption of smart farming technologies and infrastructure, the agricultural sector has become an attractive target for cyberattacks. This paper presents a systematic literature review that assesses the applicability of existing cyber threat intelligence (CTI) techniques within smart farming infrastructures (SFIs). We develop a comprehensive taxonomy of CTI techniques and sources, specifically tailored to the SFI context, addressing the unique cyber threat challenges in this domain. A crucial finding of our review is the identified need for a virtual Chief Information …

Impact Of Early-Season Postemergence Co-Applications Of Foliar And Residual Herbicides On Crop Injury, Growth, And Yield In 2,4-D- And Dicamba-Tolerant Cotton (Gossypium Hirsutum L.), Logan N. Vallee

LSU Master's Theses

Studies were conducted in 2021 through 2023 at the LSU AgCenter Dean Lee Research and Extension Center near Alexandria, LA to determine the sensitivity of 2,4-D- or dicamba- tolerant cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) to an early season application of a Group 15 and foliar-only herbicides. Both studies were randomized complete block designs with a two-factorial arrangement of treatments with four replications. In the dicamba-tolerant cotton study, Factor A consisted of no foliar-herbicide, dicamba alone, glyphosate alone, or dicamba plus glyphosate. Factor B consisted of either no Group 15 residual herbicide, acetochlor, or S-metolachlor. In the 2,4-D- tolerant cotton …

Barriers To Participation In Research Sae Projects And Ffa Agriscience Fair Competitions, Jessica Hall

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Agricultural education plays a pivotal role in preparing students for careers in the ever-evolving field of agriculture. This study investigates the professional development and training needs of school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers in the context of research SAE projects and participation in FFA agriscience fair competitions. Through a comprehensive literature review and empirical inquiry, this study aims to identify teachers' confidence levels, perceived importance of tasks, professional development needs and barriers hindering student and teacher involvement in these activities. The research objectives were structured to address key aspects of SBAE teacher preparedness and student engagement. Findings reveal areas where teachers …

Investigating Autonomous Ground Vehicles For Weed Elimination, Abraham Mitchell

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The management of weeds in crop fields is a continuous agricultural problem. The use of herbicides is the most common solution, but herbicidal resistance decreases effectiveness, and the use of herbicides has been found to have severe adverse effects on human health and the environment. The use of autonomous drone systems for weed elimination is an emerging solution, but challenges in GPS-based localization and navigation can impact the effectiveness of these systems. The goal of this thesis is to evaluate techniques for minimizing localization errors of drones as they attempt to eliminate weeds. A simulation environment was created to model …

Plant Model Of Α-Synucleinopathy: Expression Of Α-Synuclein A53t Variant In Hairy Root Cultures Leads To Proteostatic Stress And Dysregulation Of Iron Metabolism, Jasmina Kurepa, Kristen A. Bruce, Greg A. Gerhardt, Jan A. Smalle

Neurology Faculty Publications

Synucleinopathies, typified by Parkinson’s disease (PD), entail the accumulation of α- synuclein (αSyn) aggregates in nerve cells. Various αSyn mutants, including the αSyn A53T variant linked to early-onset PD, increase the propensity for αSyn aggregate formation. In addition to disrupting protein homeostasis and inducing proteostatic stress, the aggregation of αSyn in PD is associated with an imbalance in iron metabolism, which increases the generation of reactive oxygen species and causes oxidative stress. This study explored the impact of αSyn A53T expression in transgenic hairy roots of four medicinal plants (Lobelia cardinalis, Artemisia annua, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Polygonum multiflorum). In all …

Evaluation Of Critical Weed-Free Period For Three Sweetpotato (Ipomoea Batatas) Cultivars, Emmanuel G. Cooper, Stephen L. Meyers, Jeanine Arana, Katherine Jennings, Ashley Adair, Kevin D. Gibson, William G. Johnson

Department of Horticulture & Landscape Architecture Faculty Publications

Sweetpotato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.] is a staple crop that provides nutritional benefits to humans globally, but it is subject to yield loss when competing with weeds, especially during the early stage of establishment. Yield loss can vary widely based on the cultivar, production environment, weed species, and management techniques. To address this challenge, we conducted field research at the Samuel G. Meigs Horticulture Research Farm, Lafayette, IN, and at the Southwest Purdue Agricultural Center, Vincennes, IN, in 2022 to determine the effect of sweetpotato cultivar on the critical weed-free period. The experiment was a split-plot design, with weed-free interval …

Flood Timing And Flood Loss Impact On Effectiveness Of Florpyrauxifen-Benzyl Coated On Urea In Rice, Bodie L. Cotter, Jason K. Norsworthy, Thomas R. Butts, Trenton L. Roberts, Andy Mauromostakos

Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Florpyrauxifen-benzyl has generated complaints and concerns around rice injury and off-target movement to soybean since its commercial launch in 2018. Developing a precise method for applying florpyrauxifen-benzyl was imperative for its continued use. Experiments were conducted in 2020 and 2021 to evaluate rice weed control as influenced by preflood application interval and flood loss following florpyrauxifen-benzyl at 30 g ai ha⁻¹ applied as a spray or coated on urea. In a preflood application experiment, coating florpyrauxifen-benzyl on urea and applying it the day of flood establishment and 5 and 10 d prior to flooding (DPTF) resulted in lower yellow …

Assessing Consumer Willingness To Pay For Zinc-Biofortified Rice – The Case Of Colombia, Sara Ann Oswalt

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Hidden hunger, a form of undernourishment caused by micronutrient deficiencies, remains a critical global challenge affecting billions worldwide. Biofortification of staple crops, such as rice, offers a promising solution to address this problem. However, changes in the physical and culinary characteristics due to biofortification may hinder consumer acceptance and limit the benefits of this approach. This research explores consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for zinc-biofortified rice in Cartagena, Colombia. A non-hypothetical experimental auction, including 400 consumers in five different locations within Cartagena, was conducted to analyze the impact of information, socioeconomic factors, and consumer nutrition knowledge on WTP …

Impact Of Strategic Postweaning Supplementation On March- And May-Born Yearling Range Heifer And Calf Growth And Performance In The Nebraska Sandhills, Josie Nicole Crouch

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Three experiments were conducted at the Gudmundsen Sandhills laboratory near Whitman, Nebraska. Experiment 1, a retrospective regression analysis, evaluated the impact of heifer percentage of mature body weight (BW) at breeding on heifer performance, subsequent pregnancy rates, and calf production. Overall pregnancy rates were greater (P < 0.01) for heifers at 60 to 70% of mature BW than 50 to 55%, with no differences in pregnancy rates (P ≥ 0.15) after 2-years of age. Heifers at 50 to 60% of mature BW had a greater (P = 0.05) proportion give birth in the first 21-d. A higher percentage of mature BW at breeding resulted in greater (P < 0.01) BW at birth and weaning for offspring.

Experiments 2 and 3 were 3-year studies that evaluated the impact …

Artificial Insemination And Fetal Programming In Beef Production Systems, Dempster M. Christenson

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Pregnancy to artificial insemination and late gestation fetal programming of the next calf crop are central to genetic development, reproductive longevity, calf crop productivity, and efficiency of cow/calf ranching. The purposes of this research are to find methods to improve pregnancy rate to artificial insemination, the growth and reproductive health of pregnant heifers, and the productivity of their offspring. In the first of four studies we found that extending the period of progesterone administration in an estrus synchronization protocol did not significantly hasten estrus response or increase pregnancy rate to artificial insemination, but timing of estrus within the melengestrol acetate …

Adding Parasite Resistance To A Hair Sheep Breeding Objective, Robert M. Forbes

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The United States Hair Sheep Index was designed to increase total weight of lamb weaned per ewe lambing (TW) using estimated breeding values (EBV) for direct (DWWT) and maternal (MWWT) weaning weight, and number of lambs born (NLB) and weaned (NLW), as selection criteria. Producers are interested in adding post-weaning fecal egg count EBV (PFEC), an indicator of parasite resistance, to the index to achieve genetic change in both TW and PFEC.

First, the effects of adding PFEC alongside TW to the breeding objective of indexes that used either phenotypes or EBV as selection criteria were studied. Since MWWT …

Feeding Dried Distillers' Grains With Solubles To Lactating Dairy Cattle: Whole Animal Energy Utilization And Manure Biogas Production, Grant Michael Fincham

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

When DDGS are fed to lactating dairy cattle, the observed response in energy supply, milk production, and methane production varies among studies. One potential reason for these observed discrepancies is the nature of the diet formulation itself. Furthermore, little research has been conducted to examine how dietary changes can affect dairy cattle manure composition and methane production in an anaerobic manure digester. In order to gain a better understanding of these topics, we conducted two experiments. The first experiment was conducted to test how the manipulation of lactating dairy cattle diets affects energy utilization, milk production, methane production, and manure …

The Future Of The Organization Of The Petroleum Exporting Countries, Mikayla Gross

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is a multinational and intergovernmental organization that dictates the petroleum exportation policies of 13 countries: Algeria, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, the Republic of the Congo, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela (About Us, 2023). The mission of OPEC is to ensure a stable supply of petroleum through its shared policies for its Member Countries and consumers (Our Mission, 2023). Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela founded OPEC in 1960 under the foundations and principles that dictated the international world order. Those foundations and principles …

Describing Benefits, Challenges, And Barriers Of Offering Adolescent Programs At Public Gardens In The United States, Hiliary Rodgers

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Research shows a lack of educational programs for the adolescent audience at public gardens in the United States. Along with benefits that adolescent programs create for the institutions that offer them, there are also challenges associated with designing programs for this specific audience, and barriers preventing public gardens from offering them. There is little research related to adolescent programs at public gardens in the United States, aside from a 2010 study by Purcell et al. that explored the benefits, challenges, and barriers of adolescent programs. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence of adolescent programs at public gardens in …

Cooperating Teacher Mentorship Behaviors And Job Satisfaction As Predictors Of Agricultural Education Interns’ Intent To Teach, Sarah Frances James

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Almost a quarter of agricultural education graduates do not teach SBAE upon graduating (Foster et al., 2024), however, this attrition has not been widely studied and reasons for this decision have not been identified. To increase the number of qualified teachers entering the classroom, the reasons for this attrition must be identified and addressed by universities. This study was conducted to investigate possible relationships between cooperating teacher mentorship behaviors, job satisfaction, and intent to teach in spring 2024 agricultural education interns. A survey, which combined the student teacher view part of Nesbitt and Barry’s (2023) cooperating teacher best practices instrument …

Advancing Qualitative Inquiry In Agricultural Communications: An Analysis Of Theories, Methodologies, And Standards For Quality, Karli Yarber

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation offers a deep dive into the evolving landscape of qualitative research within the field of agricultural communications. Through a trio of research articles, this research critically assesses the application of theories, methodologies, and standards for quality across studies published in six disciplinary journals from 2003 to 2023. The first manuscript explores the theoretical frameworks guiding qualitative research in agricultural communications, uncovering a diverse but scattered theoretical underpinning with Framing, Diffusion of Innovations, and Uses and Gratifications Theory emerging as the most prevalent. The second manuscript meticulously examines the methodologies employed, revealing a growing acceptance and application of qualitative …

In-Service Needs Of Selected Arkansas Agriculture Teachers Related To Precision Agriculture Systems, Henry Ofosu Akwah

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Precision Agriculture (PA) entails the use of computer technology, including software and hardware, together with good agronomic practices to effectively utilize resources available to growers. PA may enhance profitability, sustainability, resilience, and efficiency when implemented successfully. The aim of this study was to identify, assess, and describe the PA in-service needs of selected high school agriculture teachers in Arkansas. Forty-four teachers participated in the study, recruited through convenience sampling during the annual Arkansas agriculture in-service workshop held at Camp Couchdale in July 2023. A survey instrument was developed, and all forty-four participants provided complete responses. The survey included twenty-nine PA …

Assessing The Impact Of Spraying An Enterococcus Faecium-Based Probiotic On Day-Old Broiler Chicks At Hatch On The Incidence Of Bacterial Chondronecrosis With Osteomyelitis Lameness Using A Staphylococcus Challenge Model, Anh Dang Trieu Do, Amanda Anthney, Khawla Alharbi, Andi Asnayanti, Antoine Meuter, Adnan Ali Khalaf Alrubaye

Poultry Science Faculty Publications and Presentations

Bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO) lameness is a bone disease characterized by the translocation of bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract, which colonize microfractures in broiler leg bones caused by rapid animal growth rate and weight gain, resulting in lameness. As such, BCO lameness represents a significant challenge for the poultry industry. This study aims to evaluate the effect of spraying broiler chicks on d0 at hatch with an Enterococcus faecium probiotic on the incidence of BCO-induced lameness, utilizing a Staphylococcus aureus challenge model. There were four treatments: (1) negative control (no probiotic + no challenge, NC); (2) positive control (no …

Analyzing The Use Of Agricultural Literacy Assessments: A Descriptive Study Of The Implementation Of The Judd-Murray And The Longhurst-Murray Agricultural Literacy Instruments, Taryn S. Whitaker

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive snapshot of how the JMALI and LMALI agricultural literacy assessment instruments have been implemented within the United States. It was concluded that the greatest number of respondents used the assessment instruments as formal assessment diagnostic tools to determine agricultural knowledge and improve instruction. When assessments are used as intended, the likelihood they will effectively achieve their intended goals increases.

This study was the first step in determining how agricultural literacy assessments are currently being used. However, future research should focus on improving the collection of agriculture literacy assessment scores and …

Disaster Plant Pathology: Smart Solutions For Threats To Global Plant Health From Natural And Human-Driven Disasters, Berea A. Etherton, Robin A. Choudhury, Ricardo I. Alcalá Briseño, Romaric A. Mouafo-Tchinda, Aaron I. Plex Sulá, Manoj Choudhury, Ashish Adhikari, Si Lin Lei, Nattapol Kraisitudomsook, Jacobo Robledo Buritica

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Disaster plant pathology addresses how natural and human-driven disasters impact plant diseases, and the requirements for smart management solutions. Local to global drivers of plant disease change in response to disasters, often creating environments more conducive to plant disease. Most disasters have indirect effects on plant health through factors such as disrupted supply chains and damaged infrastructure. There is also the potential for direct effects from disasters, such as pathogen or vector dispersal due to floods, hurricanes, and human migration driven by war. Pulse stressors such as hurricanes and war require rapid responses, while press stressors such as climate change …

Utilization Of The NuTrack System To Objectively Evaluate Changes In Active And Passive Behaviors Of Group-Housed Nursery Pigs Exposed To An Endotoxin Challenge, Aaron Holliday

Department of Animal Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study aimed to evaluate the changes in activity of group-housed, newly weaned pigs challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). At weaning, pigs (n = 192, 5.73 ± 1.8 kg) were stratified by sex, litter, and body weight (BW) and randomly assigned to one of three treatments (16 pigs/pen, 4 pens/treatment): 1) Saline-injected (SAL), 2) 50% challenged [50%-LPS) – only half of the pigs in a pen (8 pigs) were challenged with LPS and 3) 100% challenged (100%-LPS) – all pigs in a pen were challenged with LPS. Pigs in the SAL and 32 in the 50%-LPS treatment received a 3.0 …

Next-Generation Crop Monitoring Technologies: Case Studies About Edge Image Processing For Crop Monitoring And Soil Water Property Modeling Via Above-Ground Sensors, Nipuna Chamara

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

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced rapidly in the past two decades. Internet of Things (IoT) technology has advanced rapidly during the last decade. Merging these two technologies has immense potential in several industries, including agriculture.

We have identified several research gaps in utilizing IoT technology in agriculture. One problem was the digital divide between rural, unconnected, or limited connected areas and urban areas for utilizing images for decision-making, which has advanced with the growth of AI. Another area for improvement was the farmers' demotivation to use in-situ soil moisture sensors for irrigation decision-making due to inherited installation difficulties. As Nebraska …

Sheep And Goat Industry Funding Scheme Annual Report 2022/2023, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

The Sheep and Goat Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) has been operating since 2010 to address biosecurity threats relevant to the Western Australian (WA) sheep and goat industry. The Scheme was established by regulation under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 to enable sheep and goat producers to identify pest and disease priorities at a whole-of-industry level and raise funds for activities to address these priorities.

There are currently three Industry Funding Schemes in operation. In addition to the Sheep and Goat IFS, there is a Cattle IFS and a Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS. The three IFSs operate in …

Consultation Summary For Proposed Declared Pest Rates 2024/2025, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity published reports

Before determining a rate, the Minister for Agriculture and Food is required to consult with owners of the land to be rated, as described in the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management (Declared Pest Account) Regulations 2014 (the Regulations).

The annual process for consultation enables the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to gauge landholder perception on the proposed Declared Pest Rate (DPR) in accordance with the Regulations.