Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Field Research Report: Results From The Enreec Vri Field For The 2021, 2022, And 2023 Crop Seasons, Derek M. Heeren, Ali T. Mohammed, Eric Wilkening, Christopher M. U. Neale, Alan L. Boldt, Ankit Chandra, Precious Nneka Amori, Ivo Z. Goncalves, Yeyin Shi, Guillermo R. Balboa

Department of Biological Systems Engineering: Conference Presentations and White Papers

Long-term irrigation management research has been conducted from 2014 to 2023 for corn and soybean at the Eastern Nebraska Research, Extension, and Education Center (ENREEC) Variable Rate Irrigation (VRI) Field located in subhumid east-central Nebraska (in the Lower Platte North Natural Resources District). The objective of this report was to present the overall results from the VRI Field for 2021 to 2023. Across the three growing seasons, there were the following irrigation treatments: Best Management Practice (BMP), 50% BMP, 125% BMP, rainfed, Spatial ET Modeling Interface (SETMI), SDD1, SDD2, machine-learning-based Cyber-Physical System (CPS), a student team recommended rate, and industry …

Integrating Livestock And Cropping Systems: Interseeding Cereal Rye Into Corn For Late Season Grazing, K. J. Soder

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Corn (Zea mays) grown for grain is harvested too late in the year in many temperate regions to establish a cover crop to provide winter ground cover and an opportunity for late season grazing. The objective of this project is to evaluate the effect of interseeding cereal rye (Secale cereale) into corn for use as grazed forage after corn grain harvest on corn grain yield and additional grazing day/ha. In a 4-year study, corn was planted (64,246 plants/ha) in spring on two, 4.8-ha fields in central Pennsylvania. Cereal rye was interseeded (135 kg/ha) into the corn …

Perennializing Marginal Croplands: Going Back To The Future To Mitigate Climate Change With Resilient Biobased Feedstocks, Salvador Ramirez Ii, Marty R. Schmer, Virginia L. Jin, Robert B. Mitchell, Catherine E. Stewart, Jay Parsons, Daren D. Redfearn, John J. Quinn, Gary E. Varvel, Kenneth P. Vogel, Ronald F. Follett

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

Managing annual row crops on marginally productive croplands can be environmentally unsustainable and result in variable economic returns. Incorporating perennial bioenergy feedstocks into marginally productive cropland can engender ecosystem services and enhance climate resiliency while also diversifying farm incomes. We use one of the oldest bioenergy-specific field experiments in North America to evaluate economically and environmentally sustainable management practices for growing perennial grasses on marginal cropland. This long-term field trial called 9804 was established in 1998 in eastern Nebraska and compared the productivity and sustainability of corn (Zea mays L.)—both corn grain and corn stover—and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum …

Assessing The Evaporation Method For Soil-Water Retention Curve Development And Comparison Of Soil-Water Characteristics Across Different Tillage Practices In A Furrow-Irrigated Corn (Zea Mays L.) System, Jeferson Prass Pimentel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The thesis comprises three studies. The first study in this thesis (Chapter I) focused on a six-year corn field experiment to assess the influence of conservation agricultural practices on soil properties and their long-term effects on water-use efficiency and yield. Non-tillage management did not significantly reduce soil bulk density compared to conventional tillage, as no differences were observed between non-tillage and tillage systems throughout the 6-year experiment. There was no difference in total water-use efficiency among soil management practices in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. Even though in one year of the study, a significant 24 kg ha-1 mm-1 improvement …

Near-Term Effects Of Perennial Grasses On Soil Carbon And Nitrogen In Eastern Nebraska, Salvador Ramirez Ii, Marty R. Schmer, Virginia L. Jin, Robert B. Mitchell, Kent M. Eskridge

Department of Statistics: Faculty Publications

Incorporating native perennial grasses adjacent to annual row crop systems managed on marginal lands can increase system resiliency by diversifying food and energy production. This study evaluated (1) soil organic C (SOC) and total N stocks (TN) under warm-season grass (WSG) monocultures and a low diversity mixture compared to an adjacent no-till continuous-corn system, and (2) WSG total above-ground biomass (AGB) in response to two levels of N fertilization from 2012 to 2017 in eastern Nebraska, USA. The WSG treatments consisted of (1) switchgrass (SWG), (2) big bluestem (BGB), and (3) low-diversity grass mixture (LDM; big bluestem, Indiangrass, and sideoat …

Alternatives To Corn For Baiting Wild Pigs, Justin A. Foster, Lee H. Williamson, John C. Kinsey, Ryan L. Reitz, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Nathan P. Snow

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

We examined dietary preferences of wild pigs to discern possible bait alternatives to corn. Captive trials were conducted during spring and fall 2021 in the Wild Pig Research Facility at Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Hunt, Texas, USA. We conducted 2‐choice tests by allowing wild pigs to feed ad libitum on soybeans, split peas, mealworms, and peanuts (spring 2021), and oats, acorns, earthworms, and peanuts (fall 2021), always with corn available as a second choice for reference. In each trial, we used proportion of test bait eaten versus total bait eaten, and relative access to both food sources as indices of …

Effects Of Corn Supplementation On Serum And Muscle Microrna Profiles In Horses, Clarissa Carver, Jason E. Bruemmer, Stephen Coleman, Gabriele Landolt, Tanja Hess

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Laminitis associated with equine metabolic syndrome causes significant economic losses in the equine industry. Diets high in non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) have been linked to insulin resistance and laminitis in horses. Nutrigenomic studies analyzing the interaction of diets high in NSCs and gene expression regulating endogenous microRNAs (miRNA) are rare. This study's objectives were to determine whether miRNAs from dietary corn can be detected in equine serum and muscle and its impacts on endogenous miRNA. Twelve mares were blocked by age, body condition score, and weight and assigned to a control (mixed legume grass hay diet) and a mixed legume hay …

Changes In Wild Pig (Sus Scrofa) Relative Abundance, Crop Damage, And Environmental Impacts In Response To Control Efforts, Joseph W. Treichler, Kurt C. Vercauteren, Charles R. Taylor, James C. Beasley

USDA Wildlife Services: Staff Publications

Background

As the population and range of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) continue to grow across North America, there has been an increase in environmental and economic damages caused by this invasive species, and control efforts to reduce damages have increased concomitantly. Despite the expanding impacts and costs associated with population control of wild pigs, the extent to which wild pig control reduces populations and diminishes environmental and agricultural damages are rarely quantified.The goal of this study is to quantify changes in wild pig relative abundance and subsequent changes in damages caused by invasive wild pigs in response to …

Methods For Improving Potassium Fertilizer Recommendations For Corn In South Dakota, Andrew J. Ahlersmeyer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Corn (Zea mays L.) is a vital commodity in South Dakota’s agricultural sector. Optimal corn production occurs when there are sufficient mineral nutrients in the soil, especially potassium (K). Applications of K fertilizer are used when soil test K (STK) levels are deficient. Therefore, producers need reliable, thoroughly tested fertilizer recommendations to make profitable decisions and maintain environmental stewardship. South Dakota K fertilizer recommendations have not been updated in nearly 20 years. Simultaneously, changes in corn genetics, management practices, and climate patterns suggest that the critical soil test value (CSTV) for STK may have shifted in that same time frame. …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2021, Victor Ford, Jason Kelley, Nathan Mckinney Ii

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The 2021 edition of the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies Series includes research results on topics pertaining to corn and grain sorghum production, including weed, disease, and insect management; economics; sustainability; irrigation; post-harvest drying; soil fertility; mycotoxins; cover crop management; and research verification program results. Our objective is to capture and broadly distribute the results of research projects funded by the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board. The intended audience includes producers and their advisors, current investigators, and future researchers. The Series serves as a citable archive of research results.

Research Proposal For An Assessment Of The Potential For The Arbuscular Fungi “Rhizophagus Irregularis” To Aid In Corn Uptake And Availability Of Iron, Caitlin Costello

Student Research Symposium

Global iron deficiency is one factor contributing to malnutrition and varied health conditions. This deficiency accounts for 841,000 deaths and approximately 35,057,000 “disability-adjusted life years lost” (Stoltzfus, R. J. 2003). One way to combat this is to maintain or increase the iron uptake of the globe’s major crops. Research has shown that certain types of mycorrhizal fungi can increase the nutrient uptake of plants. To further this research, we will look at the arbuscular fungi Rhizophagus irregularis and its potential relationship with a short harvest corn variety. This type of mycorrhizal fungi improves plant nutrition including the plant’s ability to …

Multi-Criteria Evaluation Model For Classifying Marginal Cropland In Nebraska Using Historical Crop Yield And Biophysical Characteristics, Andrew Laws

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Marginal cropland is suboptimal due to historically low and variable productivity and limiting biophysical characteristics. To support future agricultural management and policy decisions in Nebraska, U.S.A, it is important to understand where cropland is marginal for its two most economically important crops: corn (Zea mays) and soybean (Glycine max). As corn and soybean are frequently planted in a crop rotation, it is important to consider if there is a relationship with cropland marginality. Based on the current literature, there exists a need for a flexible yet robust methodology for identifying marginal land at different scales, which …

Evaluation Of Long-Term Degree-Days Estimated With Several Methods For Corn In Nebraska, Usa, S. Dai, M. Shulski, H. Yang, R. Elmore

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Forage Management For Extending The Grazing Season, David W. Koch, C. M. Lux, J. W. Flake

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Studies were conducted to determine ways to extend grazing season with forages adequate to meet the needs of grazing animals and to reduce the cost of livestock production. Perennial grasses were swathed, windrowed and left in the field until they were winter-grazed with bred heifers. Corn (Zea mays L.) was stockpiled for winter grazing with lambs and ewes. Windrowed grasses increased in acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) compared with stored hay, but crude protein content, heifer weight gain and body condition change was similar for both forages. An economic value of $218 ha^-1 from …

The Effects Of Cover Crops In An Integrated Livestock/Continuous Corn Cropping System In East-Central Mississippi, Ken Randolph Waddell

Theses and Dissertations

There is growing interest within the agricultural industry on how cover crop systems affect soil health and economic productivity in integrated crop-livestock systems. This study investigated the combined effects of cover crop species; no-till and conventional till; and grazed (G) and un-grazed (UG) in a continuous corn (Zea mays) production system in east-central Mississippi. Cover crops were established in the fall of 2019 and 2020 in two separate field studies. Corn yield was not affected by grazing or tillage but was affected by cover crop species. We then compared the difference in cover crop species treatments with their respective corn …

Alternative Cropping Systems With Self Reseeding Annual Legumes In A Mediterranean Environment, E. Campiglia, F. Caporali, R. Mancinelli

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Self-reseeding winter annual legumes (subclover and snail medic) have the potential to induce a significant shift towards a less energy-intensive and more environmentally friendly management in the modern and specialized cereal cropping systems. Nevertheless their use is practically unknown in mixed stands with winter cereals, where they can contribute to supply nitrogen and to reduce herbicides input. We conceived an alternative cropping system where an annual legume performs, respectively, as living mulch in a winter cereal (winter wheat), as a cover crop after reseeding and as dry mulch for the succeeding summer cereal (corn). Trials carried out at the Tuscia …

Forage Production From Perennial Vs. Annual Crop R~ On In Sandy Soils In Egypt, Z. Abdelhalim, O. Niemeläinen, I. A. Hanna, A. M. Rammah

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Forage production was studied on newly reclaimed sandy soil in Egypt trom perennial lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and two annual crop rotations. The cropping systems were: A) lucerne, B) berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) in the winter followed by pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br. Emend. Stantz.) in the summer and C) triticale (XX Triticosecale Wittm.) (forage cut + grain harvest) in the winter followed by maize (Zea mays L.) (grain + stover) in the summer. Mean annual dry matter yields (t ha^-1 ) were 20.65, 26.59 and 27.48 from A, B and C, respectively. However, …

Carry-Over Effect In Forage Rotations On Newly Reclaimed Sandy Soil In Egypt, Z. Abdelhalim, O. Niemeläinen, I. A. Hanna, A. M. Rammah

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

This study was carried out to investigate the carry-over effect of a preceding crop on the productivity of the following crop in various rotations in newly reclaimed lands in Egypt. The productivity of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), maize (Zea mays L.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) in summer season were much higher following berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) or lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) than after wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in both years of the study. Soyabean was the best summer …

Supplementation Of Dairy Cows Under Alfalfa Grazing Conditions With Ground Corn, A. R. Castillo, L. A. Romero, O. R. Quaino, E. A. Comeron, M. C. Gaggiotti

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Two trials were carried out during the Autumn of 1991 and 1992 to investigate the effects of corn supplementation on lactational performance of dairy cows under alfalfa grazing. Forty two multiparous Holstein cows with 30-60 days in milk were used in a randomized continuous design with covariance analysis. The treatments were 0.0, 3.5 and 7.0 kg.day^-1 of corn grain supplementation (T1, T2 and T3 respectively) in 1991 and 0.0, 3.0, 6.0 and 9.0 kg.day^-1 (T1, T2, T3 and T4 respectively) in 1992. Six cows per treatment were used divided in 3 cows per grazing paddock. Dry matter (DM) …

The Effect Of Feed Supplementation And Sward Characteristics On The Ingestive Behaviour Of Grazing Ewes, C. H. E. C. Poli, Marta G. Da Rocha, C. C. Pires, Luis H. E. Farinatti, D. Montagner, G. Bica

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of protein/energy supplementation and sward physical characteristics on grazing behaviour of lactating ewes grazing Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.). The experiment was carried out in the spring of 1999 at the Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. The grazing behaviour was assessed in two periods: 2 and 3 September, and 8 and 9 October of 1999, using a group of twelve yearling ewes. Groups of four ewes were either supplemented (with 1% of the animals live weight) with soybean meal (protein source), with corn (energy source) or not supplemented. The …

Nitrogen Fertilizer Showed Little Effect On First- And Second-Year Corn Yield And Quality Following Alfalfa, Bailey Brent Shaffer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Silage corn (Zea mays L.) following alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a common crop rotation in Utah and southern Idaho. This is done, in part, to take advantage of residual nitrogen (N) fixed by bacteria that work in symbiosis with the roots of alfalfa. After alfalfa is terminated, much of the N that was fixed by the plant is released into the soil and becomes available for use by the rotational crop. This reduces the amount of N fertilizer that growers need to apply. The Utah Fertilizer Guide currently recommends an N credit to a rotational crop following …

Comparison Of Production And Cost Between Conventional And Organic Forage Crops, Jong-Duk Kim, C. H. Kwon, S. H. Chae, C. H. Kim

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Clopyralid Uptake Of Contaminated Compost‐Fertilised Corn, Ryuichi Uegaki, Munehiro Ebato, Madoka Sutoh, Yimin Cai

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

No abstract provided.

Beneficial Effect Of Injected Air Into Subsurface Drip Irrigation (Sdi) On Plant Growth Using Runoff From A Feedlot, D Dissanayake

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Due to water scarcity and increasing food demand, nonconventional water sources (e.g., human and animal wastewater) represent a valuable alternative to traditional water resources for agricultural use. Among these alternatives, treated animal wastewater, particularly feedlot runoff may represent a valuable solution in states like Nebraska due to its abundance. Subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) is a low-pressure micro-irrigation system that delivers water to the crop root zone through buried drip tapes with embedded emitters at fixed intervals. Despite multiple advantages (great water application uniformity, high water use efficiency, and improve fertilizer application), SDI can lead to poor aeration in the rhizosphere …

Analysis Of Finite Element Method On Dynamic Contact Of Corn Ear, Xinping Li, Ma Lei

Journal of System Simulation

Abstract: According to the arrangement law of corn ear kernels, the solid model and the finite element model of the corn ear were established. ANSYS LS-DYNA software was used to analyze the distribution and transmission of stress on the corn ear shocked by wedge impact head. The simulation shows that on the corn ear the Von Mises of the region which is shocked is bigger than other region. Initial phase of the impact head shocking the corn ear, the Von Mises concentrate on both sides of shocked corn kernels. With the falling of the impact head, the Von Mises transmit …

Decoding The Corn Field: Building Third-Grade Students’ Ideas About Plant Inheritance And Variation, D. Cisterna, E. Ingram, D. Bhattacharya, R. Roy, C. Forbes

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Corn Response To Wastewater-Recycled Phosphorus Fertilizers, Shane R. Ylagan, Kristofor R. Brye

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The ability to recycle phosphorus (P) from wastewaters could provide a sustainable, continuous source of P that might also help protect surface water quality from P enrichment. The mineral struvite (MgNH4PO4 · 6H2O) is an understudied material that can be created from P- and nitrogen (N)-containing wastewater and has been shown to have agricultural fertilizer value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrochemically precipitated struvite (ECST), chemically precipitated struvite (Crystal Green; CG), diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), rock phosphate (RP), and triple superphosphate (TSP) on corn (Zea mays) response in a greenhouse pot study. …

Statistical And Machine Learning Methods Evaluated For Incorporating Soil And Weather Into Corn Nitrogen Recommendations, Curtis J. Ransom, Newell R. Kitchen, James J. Camberato, Paul R. Carter, Richard B. Ferguson, Fabián G. Fernández, David W. Franzen, Carrie A. M. Laboski, D. Brenton Myers, Emerson D. Nafziger, John E. Sawyer, John F. Shanahan

John E. Sawyer

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer recommendation tools could be improved for estimating corn (Zea mays L.) N needs by incorporating site-specific soil and weather information. However, an evaluation of analytical methods is needed to determine the success of incorporating this information. The objectives of this research were to evaluate statistical and machine learning (ML) algorithms for utilizing soil and weather information for improving corn N recommendation tools. Eight algorithms [stepwise, ridge regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso), elastic net regression, principal component regression (PCR), partial least squares regression (PLSR), decision tree, and random forest] were evaluated using a dataset …

Factors Influencing The Spatial Distribution Of Southern Rust In Corn, Justin Bailey

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Southern rust caused by the fungus Puccinia polysora (Underwood) is the most economically important foliar disease in corn (Zea mays) (Linnaeus) (Cyperales: Poaceae)) for Arkansas. The objective of this work was to determine distribution of southern rust in corn and to determine factors that may control its distribution.

During the 2017 and 2018 season, seven corn fields in Arkansas were rated for southern rust. After disease confirmation, fields were marked with GPS sample point locations in a grid pattern across the entire field. Ratings for disease severity were taken below, at, and above the ear leaf at each point every …

Comparing Strip Trials Of Chicken Litter, Compost, Hog Manure, And Wet Cattle Manure On Soil Fertility, Tanner Douma, Emily Hummel, Wendi Jo Vande Voort

Student Work

Utilizing agriculture animal and biodegradable waste can reduce the input costs of fertilizers while enhancing the soil. This comparative study focuses on the nutrient values soil receives from agricultural waste. The central objective was, “Due to the historical over-application of manure leading to environmental concerns, a comparative study of soil fertility and economic viability of manures and compost are analyzed in a one-year study”. On an 18.7 acre corn plot, 11 strips were applied with four different manure types, which were randomized, during the 2017 growing season. Chicken litter, compost, hog manure, wet cattle manure, and control strips were replicated …