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Full-Text Articles in Plant Sciences

Characterizing Bentgrass Distribution With Spatial And Biological Data To Support Ecological Risk Assessment In Connecticut, Carol Auer, Collin Ahrens, Jinwon Chung, Thomas Meyer Jan 2009

Characterizing Bentgrass Distribution With Spatial And Biological Data To Support Ecological Risk Assessment In Connecticut, Carol Auer, Collin Ahrens, Jinwon Chung, Thomas Meyer

Plant Science Presentations and Proceedings

Genetically-modified (GM) crops must be assessed before they are released into the environment. Our research examines the potential for gene flow and negative ecological impacts from the release of GM turfgrasses. Gene flow can produce hybrid offspring with transgenes and novel traits that could change the ability of the plant to survive and spread. If hybrid offspring have an advantage in the environment, they could become invasive and/or affect other components of our ecosystems. Creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera) is a common, non-native turfgrass that is a weed and could hybridize with other Agrostis species. At present, United States Department of …


Ecological Risk Assessment Of Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) In Connecticut., Carol Auer, Geoffrey Ecker Jan 2009

Ecological Risk Assessment Of Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum) In Connecticut., Carol Auer, Geoffrey Ecker

Plant Science Presentations and Proceedings

A native of North America, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a hardy rhizomatous perennial with an expansive range. The U.S. Department of Energy has identified switchgrass as a promising biofuel crop for low-input agriculture and marginal lands (Fig. 1). This has prompted research on improvement through genetic modification (GM). Before any new GM crop can be released, regulators must evaluate not only the modified plants, but also potential negative impacts to the environment. For example, hybridization between closely-related species could result in the transfer of GM traits to relatives (gene flow) creating new weeds or invasives. The objective of this research …


Relationships Between Soil Nitrate Desorbed From Anion-Exchange Membranes, Canopy Reflectance And Nitrate Leaching Losses From Cool-Season Lawn Turf., Thomas J. Barry, Karl Guillard, Salvatore S. Mangiafico Jan 2009

Relationships Between Soil Nitrate Desorbed From Anion-Exchange Membranes, Canopy Reflectance And Nitrate Leaching Losses From Cool-Season Lawn Turf., Thomas J. Barry, Karl Guillard, Salvatore S. Mangiafico

Plant Science Articles

Nutrient leaching studies are expensive and require expertise in water collection and analyses. Less expensive or easier methods that estimate leaching losses would be desirable. The objective of this study was to determine if anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) and reflectance meters could predict nitrate (NO3-N) leaching losses from a cool-season lawn turf. A two-year field study used an established 90% Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.)-10% creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) turf that received 0 to 98 kg N ha-1 month-1, from May through November. Soil monolith lysimeters collected leachate that was analyzed for NO3-N concentration. Soil NO3-N was estimated with …


Quantifying Turfgrass-Available N From Returned Clippings Using Anion-Exchange Membranes, Kelly L. K.Opp, Karl Guillard Jan 2009

Quantifying Turfgrass-Available N From Returned Clippings Using Anion-Exchange Membranes, Kelly L. K.Opp, Karl Guillard

Plant Science Articles

Returning clippings can provide N to turf, but the amount of plant-available N derived from clippings is not easy to quantify. An accurate estimate of N released by clippings would be useful in guiding turf N fertilizer recommendations. The objective of this study was to determine if anion-exchange membranes (AEMs) could be used to quantify plant-available soil N when clippings are returned. A greenhouse and two field experiments were set out in randomized block designs using a factorial arrangement of 2 clipping practices [removed (CRM) and returned (CRT)] and 4 rates of N fertilization (0 to 392 kg N ha-1 …