Agricultural Science Commons^™

Restoring Tallgrass Prairie Species Mixtures On Leafy Spurge-Infested Rangeland, Robert A. Masters, Daniel Beran, Roch E. Gaussoin

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

Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) reduces northern Great Plains rangeland carrying capacity. Treatment strategies were evaluated that suppressed leafy spurge and facilitated establishment of mixtures of native grasses and legumes on range sites near Mason City and Tilden, Nebr. Glyphosate at 1,600 g a.i. (active ingredient) ha^-1 was applied with or without imazapic at 140 or 210 g a.i. ha^-1 in October 1995. In April 1996, standing crop was burned or mowed. Mixtures of native grasses [big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), little bluestem (Schizachyrium …

Modeling Vegetative Buffer Performance Considering Topographic Data Accuracy, Jason M. Brothers, Dean E. Eisenhauer, Matthew J. Helmers, Michael G. Dosskey, Thomas G. Franti

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

Riparian buffers are a promising tool in efforts to reduce sediment contribution to streams. Models that predict the capacity of buffers to trap sediment have recently been developed. A number of parameters that are required to conduct such modeling efforts are derived from the topography of the site. In this study, three topographic data sources were used to generate the model input for an agricultural field with a riparian buffer. The runoff and sediment transport in the system was then simulated for three years. As a result, the area that contributed runoff and sediment to the buffer was substantially different …

Arkansas Agriculture Situation And Outlook 2001, Bruce L. Ahrendsen, Eric J. Wailes, Bruce L. Dixon, Andrew Mckenzie, Tony E. Windham

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

Many farmers in Arkansas and other parts of the United States are experiencing financial stress. The purpose of this special report is to highlight the situation of Arkansas farmers and to offer an outlook for 2001. The report emphasizes the production, price, income, financial, farmland value, and interest rate outlook for Arkansas farmers and considers the impact of the macro economy on agriculture. In addition, price risk management and pre-harvest marketing strategies for farmers are presented.

Miscellaneous Publication 009/2001 - Pistachios Western Australia An Income Producing Reforestation Opportunity For The Wheatbelt, Andrew Quinn

Horticulture published reports

Faced with a rising water-table, salt and acid land impacts, the Western Australian Wheatbelt requires significant changes to traditional farming system models.

Part of this drive towards improved sustainability is the need to re-plant substantial areas to tree belts or blocks. One of the limiting factors in the widescale adoption of on-farm tree planting is the narrow range of opportunities to generate income from these sites.

This report presents a model for the development of a Pistachio nut industry with production integrated into existing Wheatbelt farming systems. In addition to offering significant environmental benefits, the Pistachio tree offers the opportunity …

Western Australian Avocado Industry Survey - 2000, Alec Mccarthy

Horticulture research reports

Key components of the project: The avocado industry in Western Australia has been steadily growing over the past 15 years. During this time there has been no comprehensive survey of the industry to determine its size and production base. This survey aimed to collect information from as many commercial avocado growers as possible about tree numbers, age, yield, markets, growing methods and general industry knowledge.

Industry significance: This survey will provide comprehensive data on the avocado industry that will enable producers, packers, marketeers, investors, etc to have greater confidence in their various decision makings.

Key outcomes: Significant increases in annual …

Mutations In The Csgd Promoter Associated With Variations In Curli Expression In Certain Strains Of Escherichia Coli O157:H7, Gaylen A. Uhlich, James E. Keen, Robert O. Elder

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

Single-base-pair csgD promoter mutations in human outbreak Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains ATCC 43894 and ATCC 43895 coincided with differential Congo red dye binding from curli fiber expression. Red phenotype csgD::lacZ promoter fusions had fourfold-greater expression than white promoter fusions. Cloning the red variant csgDEFG operon into white variants induced the red phenotype. Substrate utilization differed between red and white variants.

Erythropoietin Mrna Expression In Pig Embryos, H. G. Klemcke, J. L. Vallet, R. K. Christenson, P. L. Pearson

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

To address whether altered erythropoietin (EPO) synthesis might be involved in prenatal pig mortality, studies were conducted to measure porcine embryonic EPO mRNA expression during early gestation (days 24–40). Three pig models differing in embryonic survival from days 24–40 were investigated: intact white crossbred gilts (INT), white crossbred gilts that were unilaterally hysterectomized-ovariectomized before puberty and whose pregnant uterus constituted a crowded environment (UHO), and prolific, intact Meishan gilts (ME). A partial cDNA for porcine EPO, developed via reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction procedures was used to generate a 32P-labeled probe for use in Northern analyses. In an initial …

Modeling A Spring Wheat Crop Under Elevated Co2 And Drought, S. Grossman-Clarke, P. J. Pinter Jr., T. Kartschall, B. A. Kimball, D. J. Hunsaker, G. W. Wall, R. L. Garcia, R. L. Lamorte

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

• The simulation model DEMETER was used here to investigate which mechanisms led to a larger CO₂ effect on biomass production and yield of a spring wheat crop under drought compared with unlimited water supply.

• Field data of the free-air CO₂enrichment (FACE) wheat experiments in Arizona (1993–94) were used to test the model. The influence of a particular mechanism leading to a higher CO₂effect under drought was investigated by eliminating the influence of the other causes on the simulation results on selected days during the growing seasons.

• A larger CO₂effect under …

Market Prospects Organic Carrots & Other Vegetables, Steven Mccoy

Horticulture published reports

This report provides a brief overview of the market opportunity for West Australian organically grown carrots and other vegetables grown in rotation with carrots. The report outlines market opportunities and important aspects of the local WA, interstate and export markets for consideration by conventional carrot growers with an interest in investing in the production of carrots grown organically, certified in compliance with the Australian "National Standards for Organic and Biodynamic Production".

Management Of Soil Organic Matter And Gypsum For Sustainable Production In The Carnarvon Horticultural District Of Western Australia, R.S.B. Greene, A.J. Lin, D. C. Parr

Agriculture reports

Soil quality is critically important for the long-term production of high quality and high yielding fruit and vegetable crops in the Carnarvon horticultural district of Western Australia. A stable soil structure is essential for good soil quality.

Plant-Derived Oils Reduce Pathogens And Gaseous Emissions From Stored Cattle Waste, Vincent H. Varel, Daniel N. Miller

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

Carvacrol and thymol in combination at 6.7 mM each completely inhibited the production of short-chain volatile fatty acids and lactate from cattle waste in anoxic flasks over 23 days. Fecal coliforms were reduced from 4.6 x 10⁶ to 2.0 x 10³ cells per ml 2 days after treatment and were nondetectable within 4 days. Total anaerobic bacteria were reduced from 8.4 x 10¹⁰ to 1.5 x 10⁷ cells per ml after 2 days and continued to be suppressed to that level after 14 days. If the concentration of carvacrol or thymol were doubled (13.3 mM), either …

A Strategic Marketing Analysis Of The Western Australian Olive Industry, Francis D'Emden

Horticulture published reports

A recent survey of Western Australian olive growers has revealed the rapid expansion of the State's Olive Industry, with at least 1.7 million olive trees to be planted in the next two to four years in Western Australia. NSW and SA are currently the dominant producers with around 64% of olive trees planted in those States.

This analysis concentrates on the olive oil market, as most groves have been planted to varieties suited to olive oil production. Approximately 4% of trees are table varieties, most of which have been planted amongst groves of predominantly oil or dual-purpose varieties.

Western Australia …

Evaluation Of Gel Filtration Resins For The Removal Of Pcr-Inhibitory Substances From Soils And Sediments, Daniel N. Miller

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

A variety of gel filtration resins (Sephadex G200 and G150; Sepharose 6B, 4B and 2B; Bio-Gel P100, P200; and Toyopearl HW 55, HW 65, and HW 75) were evaluated for their efficacy in removing PCR-inhibitory substances from feedlot soil DNA crude extracts using gravity-flow disposable columns. Sepharose resins demonstrated the best properties for DNA purification when compared to other gel filtration resins, and Sepharose 2B was the most efficient purification resin based upon flow rate and the elution of DNA and humic acids from the columns. A method for purifying large solution volumes of DNA extract economically was also developed …

Intsormil 2001 Annual Report, John M. Yohe, Thomas Crawford Jr., Joan Frederick, Dorothy Stoner

INTSORMIL Impacts and Bulletins

Presently, worldwide, more than 800 million people are hungry and over one billion are desperately poor, and food demand is increasing rapidly. The majority of poor live in rural areas in developing countries and agricultural and food systems development is vital to economic growth; improving environmental quality; strengthening nutrition, health and child survival; improving the status of women; and promoting democratization. It is estimated that, between 1980 and 2030, the population ofow- and middle-income countries will more than double-to seven billion, compared with one billion for high-income countries. In the next 35 years, 2.5 billion people will be added to …

Bulletin 4474 - Exotic Diseases - Horses, Agriculture Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

An exotic disease is a disease that is not present in Australia.

If an exotic disease did occur in Australia it would cause production losses, stock deaths and stop exports of primary production. When export markets are lost they can only be re-established once it is proven the disease is eradicated.

Composting Of Feedlot And Dairy Manure: Compost Characteristics And Impact On Crop Yields, Galen E. Erickson, Terry J. Klopfenstein, Walker Luedtke, Mark Schroeder, Charles A. Francis, Gary Lesoing

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Since 1993, approximately 17,600 tons of beef feedlot and dairy compost have been spread on 1,100 acres. Crop yields were measured to determine the impact of a one-time compost application by using no-compost check strips in large-scale production fields. Adding compost to irrigated corn, irrigated soybeans, and dryland corn acres significantly increased yields, with four-year average increases of 2.3, 1.5, and 2.7%, respectively. For all crops measured, the response to compost was greatest the first year following application and declined linearly in subsequent years. The increased yield from compost application offsets spreading costs using average prices for crops.

High-Throughput Genotyping For A Polymorphism Linked To Soybean Cyst Nematode Resistance Gene Rhg4 By Using TaqmanTm Probes, Khalid Meksem, Eliza Ruben, David L. Hyten, Michael E. Schmidt, David A. Lightfoot

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

An individual soybean breeder can generate over one hundred thousand new genotypes each year. The efficiency of selection in these populations could be improved if these genotypes were effectively screened with one DNA marker that identified an important gene, and if laboratory throughput was high and costs were low. Our aim was to develop a rapid genotyping procedure for resistance to the soybean cyst nematode. A high-throughput genotyping method was developed with fluorogenic probes to distinguish between two insertion polymorphisms in alleles of an AFLP marker that is located about 50 kbp from the Rhg4 gene candidate. The assay uses …

Conversion Of Aflp Bands Into High-Throughput Dna Markers, K. Meksem, E. Ruben, D. L. Hyten, K. Triwitayakorn, D. A. Lightfoot

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

The conversion of AFLP bands into polymorphic sequence-tagged-site (STS) markers is necessary for high-throughput genotype scoring. Technical hurdles that must be overcome arise from genome complexity (particularly sequence duplication), from the low-molecular- weight nature of the AFLP bands and from the location of the polymorphism within the AFLP band. We generated six STS markers from ten AFLP bands (four AFLPs were from co-dominant pairs of bands) in soybean (Glycine max). The markers were all linked to one of two loci, rhg1 on linkage group G and Rhg4 on linkage group A2, that confer resistance to the soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera …

Farming Systems To Manage Salinity. Farmer Directed Research, Development And Extension. Research Results 2001, Richard Olive

Natural resources published reports

More and more of Western Australia's agnicultural lands are becoming saline. Currently it is estimated that about 18 milliion ha of land are affected to a greater or lesser degree by salinity causing production losses estimated at about $70 million a year.

Unless ways are found to halt and reverse the salinisation of land it is estimated that another 4.4 million ha could become saline over the next 50 years.

Grain growers and the Federal Government, through the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC). are investing $12 4 million in R&D across Australia to develop productive solutions to the salinity …

Improving Irrigation For Ord Sugar Cane, Jim Engelke, Joe Sherrard, Gae Plunkett, Tim Triglone

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Major changes are underway in irrigation practices for the Ord sugar industry as it moves to implement recent findings on improving irrigation efficiency and managing rising groundwater. Significant improvement in efficiency is expected by more accurately matching water application with crop water requirements and by minimising drainage losses through improved water application techniques.

Based on findings from this work, drying off may not be an appropriate strategy for the ORIA as a means of improving crop sucrose content, but could allow for some reduction in water use towards the end of the crop cycle without adversely impacting on sucrose yield. …

Genetic Analysis Of Kafirins And Their Phenotypic Correlations With Feed Quality Traits, In Vitro Digestibility, And Seed Weight In Grain Sorghum, C. Hicks, S. R. Bean, G. L. Lookhart, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, K. D. Kofoid, M. R. Tuinstra

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Twenty-three entries of grain sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench), including eight inbred lines (five males and three females) and 15 hybrids, were evaluated to determine the proportion of γ, αII, and β-αI-kafirins and their association with contents of crude protein, fat, and starch; protein digestibility; in vitro dry matter disappearance; and seed weight. The male lines included three normal-seeded lines (TX2737, TX435, and P954063) and two large-seeded lines (Eastin1 and PL-1). Female lines consisted of three common U.S. seed parent lines (Wheatland, Redlan, and SA3042). The lines and their hybrids were grown under dryland conditions at two locations in …

Seed Physiology, Production & Technology: Germination, Emergence, And Yield Of 20 Plant-Color, Seed-Color Near-Isogenic Lines Of Grain Sorghum, Jeffrey F. Pedersen, J. J. Toy

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Although there is growing demand for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] with white seed and tan plant color, there is limited information on the overall agronomic fitness of sorghum with these characters. A set of experiments was conducted to evaluate the combined effects of plant color and seed color on sorghum germination, emergence, and agronomic performance. Twenty near-isogenic lines with red seed/tan plant (RT), red seed/purple plant (RP), white seed/ tan plant (WT), white seed/purple plant (WP) phenotypes were tested under field and laboratory conditions. Plant color X seed color interactions were not significant. Purple plant color phenotypes had higher …

Fisheries Occasional Publication No. 31 - Feeding Lupins To Fish: A Review Of The Nutritional And Biological Value Of Lupins In Aquaculture Feeds, Brett Glencross

Fisheries Occasional Publications

Lupins are the harvested seed of species from the Lupinus genus, a group within the leguminous bean and pea family Fabaceae. Legumes are particularly valuable agricultural crops because of their capacity to provide a grain crop and also fix and return nitrogen to soils and improve the soil value for further cropping. The oilseeds, soybeans and peanuts are also leguminous plants, though traditionally they have been cropped for their oil value, whereas lupins, are cropped for both their protein and nitrogen fixing value (Gladstones, 1998; Perry et al., 1998).

The three key commercial species of lupins are L. angustifolius (Narrow-leafed …

Distinctive Hydrocarbons Of The Black Dump Fly, Hydrotaea Aenescens (Diptera: Muscidae), David A. Carlson, Ulrich R. Bernier, Jerome A. Hogsette, Bruce D. Sutton

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

Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann), the black dump fly, is a potential biological control agent originally from the western hemisphere, now found in many parts of the Palearctic region except for the United Kingdom, where it cannot be imported for any reason. A complication of classical biological control is the problem of strain identification, as one must be able to somehow mark or follow a particular strain that has been introduced into the field or is contemplated for release. Gas chromatographic analysis of the surface hydrocarbons of pooled and individual dump fly adults resulted in reproducible hydrocarbon patterns that differentiated widely distributed …

Gas Exchange And Photosynthetic Acclimation Over Subambient To Elevated Co2 In A C3-C4 Grassland, Laurel J. Anderson, Hafiz Maherali, Hyrum B. Johnson, H. Wayne Polley, Robert B. Jackson

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

Atmospheric CO₂ (C_a) has risen dramatically since preglacial times and is projected to double in the next century. As part of a 4-year study, we examined leaf gas exchange and photosynthetic acclimation in C₃ and C₄ plants using unique chambers that maintained a continuous C_a gradient from 200 to 550 µmol mol^-1 in a natural grassland. Our goals were to characterize linear, nonlinear and threshold responses to increasing C_a from past to future C_a levels. Photosynthesis (A), stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf water-use efficiency (A/g_{s …}

Dis And Distributed Watershed Models I, Jurgen Garbrecht, Fred L. Ogden, Paul A. Debarry, David R. Maidment

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

The increasing proliferation of spatial data, geographic information systems (GIS), and models for hydrologic applications provide many new investigation opportunities but also present a number of challenges for the uninitiated water resources practitioner. This two-part paper is intended for the practicing engineer who wants to expand into the arena of spatial data and distributed watershed modeling. It provides an integrated overview of the multiple facets of data-GIS-modeling issues and a source of background information for selection and application of GIS in watershed modeling. This first paper addresses selected spatial data issues, data structures and projections, data sources, and information on …

Automated Gas Sampling System For Laboratory Analysis Of Ch4 And N2O, Spencer L. Arnold, Timothy B. Parkin, John W. Doran, Bahman Eghball, Arvin R. Mosier

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

Analyzing the flux of CH₄ and N₂O from soil is labor intensive when conventional hand injection techniques are utilized in gas chromatography. An automated gas sampling system was designed and assembled from a prototype developed at the National Soil Tilth Laboratory in Ames, IA. The sampler was evaluated for accuracy and precision when attached to a Varian 3700 gas chromatograph configured with flame ionization and electron capture detectors. The automated gas sampling system is easy to operate and provides acceptable results (standards ranging from 1.0–5.0 ppmv CH₄ and 0.342–2.0 ppmv N₂O had coefficients of …

Evidence For The Innervation Of Sperm Storage Tubules In The Oviduct Of The Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo), S. L. Freedman, V. G. Akuffo, M. R. Bakst

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

The presence of neural tissue and smooth muscle elements in the vicinity of the oviductal sperm storage tubules at the uterovaginal junction was assessed by several modes of light microscopy. Isolated neurones and small ganglia were identified in the uterovaginal junction of the turkey oviduct. The nerve cell bodies were observed in the tunica mucosa by bright field microscopy. Immunoreactivity against neurofilament antibody and recombinant fragment C of the tetanus toxin reacted with nerve fibres and the nuclei of neurones. Fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed that nerve fibres continued from the base of the tunica mucosa into …

Wheat Polyphenol Oxidase: Distribution And Genetic Mapping In Three Inbred Line Populations, Tigst Demeke, Craig F. Morris, Kimberly A. Garland-Campbell, Garrison E. King, James A. Anderson, Hak-Gil Chang

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

The enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO) has been implicated in discoloration of Asian noodles. The recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations, M6/‘Opata 85’, NY18/CC, and ND2603/‘Butte 86’ were used to investigate the distribution, chromosome location, and number of loci involved in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) PPO. PPO activity was measured by means of the substrates L-DOPA (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-alanine) and L-tyrosine. The M6/Opata 85 RIL population had a normal distribution, while the ND2603/Butte 86 RIL population had a bimodal distribution for PPO activity (L-DOPA assay).

Burakin Focus Catchment Report, Mike Clarke

Natural resources published reports

The Burakin Focus Catchment Project was developed between farmers and Agriculture _ Western Australia. The project was designed to give farmers an understanding of the salinity processes occurring within the Catchment and suggestions on appropriate management.

Work began in the Catchment early in 1999 and was complete at the end of 2000. Intensive hydrological investigations formed the basis of the study, which was complemented by surface water control and revegetation strategies. Agronomic issues associated with sandplain soils were raised by the farmers at the initial meeting and this led to a soil survey to determine the pH status of the …