Agricultural Science Commons^™

El Salvador President Tony Saca Releases Sorghum Forage Hybrid “Centa Ss - 44", Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

President of the Republic of El Salvador, Don Elias Antonio Saca, on May 17, 2006 officially gave the green light to the opening of the agricultural year 2006-2007. Speaking in the city of Turin in the western department of Ahuachapán, El Salvador, he informed the nation’s thousands of farmers that the opportune moment to begin planting had again arrived. The Chief of State let it be known that this celebration in Turin was a clear signal to the nation’s farmers that the Government of El Salvador pledges its support to assist the farming community in producing the necessary food for …

El Presidente De El Salvador Tony Saca Libera El Híbrido De Sorgo Para Forrajes “Centa Ss - 44”, Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

El 17 de Mayo del 2006 el Presidente de El Salvador Don Elias Antonio Saca, oficialmente inauguró el año agrícola 2006- 2007. En su discurso en la ciudad de Turín localizada en el Departamento de Auachapán al oeste de El Salvador, el presidente informó a los miles de agricultores de la nación que era el momento oportuno para comenzar a sembrar nuevamente. El jefe del estado les dejó conocer a todos los agricultores de la nación, que esta celebración en Turín era una clara evidencia que el gobierno de El Salvador prometía su ayuda en asistir a la comunidad granjera …

Centa Ss-44, Nuevo Híbrido De Sorgo Para Forraje En El Salvador, Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

Uno de los problemas que más acosa el desarollo de la industria lechera en Centro América es la falta de forraje de buena calidad, lo cual se traduce en baja producción tanto de leche como de carne y en aumento en los costos de producción. Muchos ganaderos productores de leche, en su búsqueda por un adecuado forraje para alimentar el hato de vacas, utilizan híbridos de sorgo o maíz de baja calidad lo cual resulta en pérdidas económicas.

En el caso del sorgo, el mayor problema es la falta de cultivares que tengan los siguientes atributos 1) sean tempranos, 2) …

Centa Ss- 44, New Sorghum Forage Hybrid For El Salvador, Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

One of the major problems plaguing the development of the Central American dairy industry is the lack of good quality forage which results in low milk and meat production and an increase in production costs. Many dairy farmers, in their search for suitable forage to feed their cattle herds, utilize poor quality sorghum or maize hybrids which can result in economic losses.

In the case of sorghum, the major problem is a lack of cultivars that (1) are early, (2) grow rapidly, (3) are of proper plant height, (4) are resistant to diseases, (5) have high yield potential and (6) …

Effects Of Forage Management On Pasture Productivity And Phosphorus Content, M. M. Haan, J. R. Russell, J. L. Kovar, W. J. Powers, J. L. Benning

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The objectives of the current study were to determine the amounts of above- and below-ground plant biomass production, P uptake by forage, and P concentration of cool-season grass forage as influenced by management and season. Five forage management treatments were evaluated over 3 years in smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss) pastures. Management practices were: ungrazed (U), hay harvest/fall stockpile grazing (HS), rotational stocking to residual sward heights of 10 (10R) or 5 (5R) cm, and continuous stocking to maintain sward height at 5 cm (5C). Forage samples were hand-clipped within and outside grazing exclosures monthly from April through November …

Molecular Serotyping Of Escherichia Coli O111:H8, Lisa M. Durso, James L. Bono, James E. Keen

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

AccurateE. coli serotyping is critical for pathogen diagnosis and surveillance of non-O157 Shiga-toxigenic strains, however few laboratories have this capacity. The molecular serotyping protocol described in this paper targets the somatic and flagellar antigens of E. coli O111:H8 used in traditional serotyping, and can be performed routinely in the laboratory.

An Algorithm For Corn Nitrogen Recommendations Using A Chlorophyll Meter Based Sufficiency Index, Gary E. Varvel, Wally Wilhelm, J. F. Shanahan, James S. Schepers

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Nitrogen fertilizer continues to be the major input influencing corn (Zea mays L.) yield in the Midwest. Improved N recommendations should result in greater N use efficiency and producer profit while reducing surface and groundwater contamination. This study was conducted to develop a plant-based technique to detect and correct N deficiencies during the season. Chlorophyll meter readings and grain yield were collected from corn in irrigated monoculture corn and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–corn cropping systems with four hybrids and five N fertilizer application rates in the Platte Valley near Shelton, NE. Normalized chlorophyll meter readings (sufficiency index, …

An Algorithm For Corn Nitrogen Recommendations Using A Chlorophyll Meter Based Sufficiency Index, G. E. Varvel, W. W. Wilhelm, J. F. Shanahan, J. S. Schepers

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Nitrogen fertilizer continues to be the major input influencing corn (Zea mays L.) yield in the Midwest. Improved N recommendations should result in greater N use efficiency and producer profit while reducing surface and groundwater contamination. This study was conducted to develop a plant-based technique to detect and correct N deficiencies during the season. Chlorophyll meter readings and grain yield were collected from corn in irrigated monoculture corn and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–corn cropping systems with four hybrids and five N fertilizer application rates in the Platte Valley near Shelton, NE. Normalized chlorophyll meter readings (sufficiency index, …

Sorghum: A Substitute For Maize In The West Africa Poultry Industry, Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

With the declining relative prices of chicken compared with other meats, poultry consumption per capita in the USA has been increasing, while that of other meats has been stagnant or declining. Similar developments are occurring in West Africa.

There is interest in substituting sorghum for maize in poultry rations, in the U.S. and in West Africa, for both broiler and egg production. In contrast to maize, which is a thirsty plant and requires large amounts of water, sorghum offers farmers the ability to grow a crop where other crops do not produce well. In Niger, West Africa, locally produced sorghum …

Sorghum: A Substitute For Maize In The Nicaraguan Poultry Industry, Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

The coffee crisis brought widespread unemployment, poverty and hunger to parts of Nicaragua. In some regions, 33% of the area’s children suffer malnutrition and child mortality claims ten out of every thousand children. Partially, in response to the coffee crisis, there is interest in promoting the poultry industry in Nicaragua, and international aid agencies are assisting Nicaraguan farmers with poultry projects. For example, the Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, Inc. is currently managing a poultry project in Nicaragua called Gallinas de Patio, or backyard chickens. The project provides material and technical assistance to Nicaraguan families, enabling them to successfully raise …

Loss Of Alkaline Earth Elements By Runoff From Agricultural Watersheds, M. A. Elrashidi, D. Hammer, M. D. Mays, C. A. Seybold, S. D. Peaslee

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The loss of agricultural chemicals in runoff from agricultural land is a major cause of poor surface water quality in the United State. Scientists (Natural Resources Conservation Service) developed a technique using climatic, hydrologic, and soil survey information to estimate the impact of agricultural watersheds on natural water resources. The objective of this study was to apply this technique on the Wagon Train (WT) watershed to predict loss of alkaline earth elements (calcium [Ca], magnesium [Mg], barium [Ba], and strontium [Sr]) by runoff from soils and to estimate elements loading into WT reservoir. The predicted losses of Ca, Mg, Ba, …

Reactive Oxygen Species, Aba And Nitric Oxide Interactions On The Germination Of Warm-Season C4-Grasses, Gautam Sarath, Guichuan Hou, Lisa M. Baird, Robert B. Mitchell

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as a source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) significantly stimulated germination of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) seeds with an optimal concentration of 20 mM at both 25 and 35°C. For non-dormant switchgrass seeds exhibiting different levels of germination, treatment with H₂O₂ resulted in rapid germination (days) of all germinable seeds as compared to seeds placed on water. Exposure to 20 mM H₂O₂ elicited simultaneous growth of the root and shoot system, resulting in more uniform seedling development. Seeds of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) and …

Sorghum: Nutritional Feed For U.S. And African Poultry, Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

Grain sorghum, an important dryland crop in the Central Great Plains of the United States, is adapted to growing in areas where low and erratic rainfall and high temperatures limit production of other crops such as maize and soybeans. The United States is the largest producer of grain sorghum with 6 million acres devoted to production of this crop in 2005. Kansas produces more grain sorghum, commonly known as milo, than any other U.S. state. Kansas growers value sorghum because it performs well in many types of soils and weather. More than 80% of the sorghum produced in Kansas is …

Soil Carbon Dynamics During A Long-Term Incubation Study Involving 13C And 14C Measurements, Ronald F. Follett, Eldor A. Paul, Elizabeth G. Pruessner

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Soil organic matter is the earth's largest terrestrial reservoir of carbon (C). Thus, it serves as a major control on atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels. To better understand these controls, decreases in soil organic C (SOC), soil microbial biomass (SMB) C, and the role of SMB as a source of mineralizable C were measured during a long-term incubation (853 days) without added substrate. The 2 soils used were a Weld loam (fine montmorillonitic, mesic, Aridic Paleustoll) from near Akron, Colorado, and a Duroc loam (fine silty, mixed mesic Pachic Haplustoll) from near Sidney, Nebraska. The Akron soil was …

Sorghum Porridge: Fast Food In West Africa, Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

Sorghum porridge, sold as a fast food on the streets of the West African village of Dan Boulde, Niger? That is the goal of Purdue cereal chemist Bruce Hamaker and his graduate student Moussa Moustapha. Yes, these scientists are developing a process to speed up the arduous process of food preparation, such as the traditional West African tô from sorghum flour.

Why an instant sorghum food? The process of preparing many of the traditional foods is time consuming. West African women have many duties and don’t have the energy to spend hours preparing a meal after a day of weeding …

Enhancing Nest Sites For Native Bee Crop Pollinators, Mace Vaughan, Scott Hoffamn Black

Agroforestry Notes (USDA-NAC)

The European honey bee receives most of the credit for crop pollination, but the number of managed honey bee hives is half of what it was in the 1950s; and this number continues to decline primarily because of honey bee pests and diseases. Native bees, however, contribute significantly to crop pollination and, on farms with sufficient natural habitat located nearby, may even provide all of the required pollination for some crops. In order to support the native bee community, it is essential to provide nesting sites in addition to floral resources. Unfortunately, intensively managed farm landscapes often lack the untilled …

Proceedings Of The 34th Annual Meeting Of The Southern Soybean Disease Workers (February 18-19, 2007, St. Louis, Missouri), Daniel H. Poston, Michael E. Schmidt, J. Allen Wrather, Jason Bond, Stephen R. Koenning

Southern Soybean Disease Workers: Conference Proceedings

Southern United States Soybean Disease Loss Estimates for 2006. SR Koenning

Stratego 250 EC, Broad Spectrum Disease Control in Soybeans. JR Bloomberg, RA Myers, and R Kraus

Asian Soybean Rust: Efficacy of Selected Fungicides and Observations on Their Use. RW Schneider, CL Clark, EP Mumma, and CG Giles

Effects of Light Intensity and Darkness Period on Infection of Soybean Rust in Controlled Conditions. J Mo, T Guo, X Li, and XB Yang

Identification of Maturity Group 3 and 4 Soybean Cultivars and Lines Resistant to Cercospora sojina by Field Screening and Molecular Markers. A Wrather, R Mian, G Shannon, J …

Greater Diversity Of Shiga Toxin-Encoding Bacteriophage Insertion Sites Among Escherichia Coli O157:H7 Isolates From Cattle Than In Those From Humans, Thomas E. Besser, Nurmohammad Shaikh, Nicholas J. Holt, Phillip I. Tarr, Michael E. Konkel, Preeti Malik-Kale, Coilin W. Walsh, Thomas S. Whittam, James L. Bono

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

E. coli O157:H7, a zoonotic human pathogen for which domestic cattle are a reservoir host, produces a Shiga toxin(s) (Stx) encoded by bacteriophages. Chromosomal insertion sites of these bacteriophages define three principal genotypes (clusters 1 to 3) among clinical isolates of E. coliO157:H7. Stx-encoding bacteriophage insertion site genotypes of 282 clinical and 80 bovine isolates were evaluated. A total of 268 (95.0%) of the clinical isolates, but only 41 (51.3%) of the bovine isolates, belonged to cluster 1, 2, or 3 (P < 0.001). Thirteen additional genotypes were identified in isolates from both cattle and humans (four genotypes), from only cattle (seven genotypes), or from only humans (two genotypes). Two other markers previously associated with isolates from cattle or with clinical isolates showed similar associations with genotype groups within bovine isolates; the tir allele sp-1 and the Q_933W allele were under- and overrepresented, respectively, among cluster 1 to …

An African Pearl Finds A Home In The U.S., Intsormil

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

Pearl millet, a crop native to the harsh growing conditions of Sub Saharan Africa, is now finding a new home in the U.S. Although pearl millet has been grown for livestock forage in the U.S. for over 100 years, new uses for pearl millet and genetic improvement of the crop have recently caused pearl millet grain production to blossom.

INTSORMIL, in collaboration with the USDA-ARS and the University of Georgia, by breeding new hybrids and identifying new uses has provided a transfusion for pearl millet production in the U.S. The collaboration has resulted in the production of high quality grain …

Intsormil 2007 Annual Report, John M. Yohe, Kimberly Christiansen, Joan Frederick

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

The 2007 INTSORMIL Six Year Report presents the progress and notable achievements by the Sorghum/Millet CRSP during the period of July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2007. These results are an outcome of partnerships between scientists at seven U.S. Land Grant Universities (Kansas State University, Mississippi State University, Ohio State University, University of Nebraska, Purdue University, Texas A&M University and West Texas A&M University), scientists of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture at Tifton, Georgia and the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and National Universities in nineteen countries in Central America, West Africa, East Africa and …

Highly Variable Patterns Of Linkage Disequilibrium In Multiple Soybean Populations, D. L. Hyten, Ik-Young Choi, Qijian Song, Randy C. Shoemaker, Randall L. Nelson, Jose M. Costa, James E. Specht, P. B. Cregan

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Prospects for utilizing whole-genome association analysis in autogamous plant populations appear promising due to the reported high levels of linkage disequilibrium (LD). To determine the optimal strategies for implementing association analysis in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.), we analyzed the structure of LD in three regions of the genome varying in length from 336 to 574 kb. This analysis was conducted in four distinct groups of soybean germplasm: 26 accessions of the wild ancestor of soybean (Glycine soja Seib. et Zucc.); 52 Asian G. max Landraces, the immediate results of domestication from G. soja; 17 Asian Landrace …

Evects Of In Vivo Exposure To Deet On Blood Feeding Behavior And Fecundity In Anopheles Quadrimaculatus (Diptera: Culicidae), Rui-De Xue, Arshad Ali, Donald R. Barnard

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

This study determined the effects of contact with DEET on guinea pig skin on mortality, probing time, blood feeding rate, engorgement time, and fecundity responses in female Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say. Exposure, in this manner, to 10% DEET (in ethanol) for 5min, resulted in 98% mortality in mosquitoes after 24 h. The median probing time (PT₅₀) required by females, when exposed to 0.1%, 1.0%, and 10% DEET, was significantly (P< 0.0001) longer (12.5, 12.1, and 19.1 s, respectively) than the 6.8 s required by females to probe ethanol-treated skin (control). Similarly, mean blood feeding rates in populations of females exposed to 1.0% DEET for ≤5min (14.4%) was 6x lower (P <0.001) (85.5%) than in females exposed to ethanol-treated skin, whereas the mean engorgement time on skin treated with 1.0% DEET (66.3 s) was significantly shorter (P<0.0001) than for females feeding on the control guinea pigs (105.9 s). The mean number of mature oöcytes per female (fecundity) in treatment (1.0% DEET) and control mosquitoes was not significantly different. The responses to DEET observed in this study suggest that repeated exposure of female A. quadrimaculatus populations to this repellent, in laboratory bioassays, could result in confounding of toxicant and repellent effects and inaccurate estimates of DEET repellency.

Fish And Wildlife Benefits Associated With Wetland Establishment Practices, Charles A. Rewa

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Efforts to establish wetlands through restoration and creation actions have increased in recent decades in response to regulatory and voluntary incentive programs. This paper summarizes the findings of studies conducted to document fish and wildlife response to these practices. The majority of published studies describe bird response to wetland restoration, with most reporting bird communities in restored wetlands to be similar to those of natural reference wetlands. Studies also indicate that invertebrates and amphibians generally respond quickly to and colonize newly established wetland habitats. Key factors reported as correlated with wildlife species richness include wetland size, availability of nearby wetlands …

Feed Grains Backgrounder, Linwood Hoffman, Allen Baker, Linda Foreman, C. Edwin Young

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The U.S. feed grain sector, largest of the major U.S. field crops, faces unprecedented demand conditions. The size and speed of the expanding use of corn by the ethanol industry is raising widespread issues throughout the U.S. agricultural sector. Debate is ongoing over the use of grain for fuel instead of for food or feed and the adequacy of future grain supplies. Increased productivity (yield) and additional area from land planted to competing crops, land enrolled in conservation programs, or idled land is expected to provide an increased supply of feed grains. In 2003, U.S. feed grain farms had an …

Effect Of Drying On Phosphorus Distribution In Poultry Manure, Heidi W. Dail, Zhongqi He, M. Susan Erich, C. Wayne Honeycutt

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Laboratory drying may alter manure phosphorus (P) distribution. The effects of freeze, air (22 °C), and oven (65 °C) drying on sequentially fractioned poultry manure P were examined. Higher drying temperatures resulted in lower percentage of dry matter. Increased H₂O- and decreased sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)-extractable P with drying provided evidence that drying increases poultry manure P solubility. Labile fractions were predominantly inorganic P (P_i), whereas sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) fractions had significant amounts of organic P (P_o). Drying altered H₂O- and NaHCO₃-extractable P_i but …

Efficiency Of Gene Silencing In Arabidopsis : Direct Inverted Repeats Vs. Transitive Rnai Vectors, Sergei A. Filichkin, Stephen P. Difazio, Amy M. Brunner, John M. Davis, Zamin K. Yang, Udaya C. Kalluri, R. S. Arias, Elizabeth Etherington, Gerald A. Tuskan, Steven H. Strauss

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

We investigated the efficiency of RNA interference (RNAi) in Arabidopsis using transitive and homologous inverted repeat (hIR) vectors. hIR constructs carry self-complementary intron-spliced fragments of the target gene whereas transitive vectors have the target sequence fragment adjacent to an intron-spliced, inverted repeat of heterologous origin. Both transitive and hIR constructs facilitated specific and heritable silencing in the three genes studied (AP1 , ETTIN and TTG1). Both types of vectors produced a phenotypic series that phenocopied reduction of function mutants for the respective target gene. The hIR yielded up to fourfold higher proportions of events with strongly manifested reduction …

Classification Of Dry-Milled Maize Grit Yield Groups Using Quadratic Discriminant Analysis And Decision Tree Algorithm, Kyung-Min Lee, Timothy J. Herrman, Scott R. Bean, David S. Jackson, Jane Lingenfelser

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

A genetically and environmentally diverse collection of maize (Zea maize L.) samples was evaluated for physical properties and grit yield to help develop a standard set of criteria to identify grain best suited for dry milling. Application of principal component analysis (PCA) reduced a set of approximately 500 samples collected from six states to 154 maize hybrids. Selected maize hybrids were placed into seven groups according to their dry-milled grit yields. Regression analysis explained only 50% of the variability in dry-milling grit yield. Patterns of differences in the physical properties for the seven grit yield groups implied that the …

Pollination Biology Of A Disjunct Population Of The Endangered Sandhills Endemic Penstemon Haydenii S. Wats. (Scrophulariaceae) In Wyoming, Usa, V. J. Tepedino, T. L. Griswold, T.R. Toler, B. A. Bradley, J. L. Hawk

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

We studied the breeding system and flower visitors of the endangered plant, Penstemon haydenii, at several south-central Wyoming, USA occurrences. In agreement with earlier studies of the species 300 km to the east in Nebraska, we found Wyoming plants to be self-incompatible and pollinator-dependent for sexual reproduction. Flower visitors were several species of native bees in the families Apidae (particularly bumblebees), Halictidae (small sweat bees), and Megachilidae (especially in the genus Osmia); and the masarid wasp Pseudomasaris vespoides. Especially important was Osmia brevis, an abundant megachilid bee, and one of only two species (the sweat bee …

Growth And Pubertal Development Of F1 Bulls From Hereford, Angus, Norwegian Red, Swedish Red And White, Friesian, And Wagyu Sires, E. Casas, D. Lunstra, Larry V. Cundiff, Johny Joe Ford

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

The objective of the study was to characterize body growth, testicular development, and puberty from 8 to 14 mo of age in bulls (n = 120) produced by mating sires from Hereford, Angus, Norwegian Red, Swedish Red and White, Friesian, and Wagyu breeds to MARC III (¹⁄₄ Hereford, ¹⁄₄ Angus, ¹⁄₄ Red Poll, and ¹⁄₄ Pinzgauer) cows. Traits evaluated were birth weight, weaning weight (at 215 d), yearling weight, ADG from 8 to 14 mo of age, paired testicular volume growth from 8 to 14 mo of age, age at puberty (determined by production of 50 × 10⁶ sperm …

Mitigation Of Shallow Groundwater Nitrate In A Poorly Drained Riparian Area And Adjacent Cropland, Jennifer H. Davis, Stephen M. Griffith, William R. Horwath, Jeffrey J. Steiner, David D. Myrold

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Riparian ecosystems, through their unique position in the agricultural landscape and ability to influence nutrient cycles, can potentially reduce NO₃ loading to surface and ground waters. The purpose of this study was to determine the fate of NO₃ in shallow groundwater moving along a lateral flowpath from a grass seed cropping system through an undisturbed mixed-species herbaceous riparian area. Soil A (30–45 cm) and C horizon (135–150 cm) NO₃, dissolved oxygen, and nitrous oxide concentrations were significantly higher in the cropping system than the adjacent riparian area. Nitrate concentrations in both horizons of the riparian soil …