Earth Sciences Commons^™

Production And Utilization Of High-Quality Cold-Hardy Forages, D W. Koch, C Kercher, D Agee, R Jones

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grazing is generally the least expensive method of forage utilization ; however, in temperate climates the growing season is relatively short and perennial forages are at peak nutritive value for a relatively short time. Brassica spp. have several characteristics which make them prime candidates for extending the grazing season : (1) they mature rapidly (Guillard and Allinson, 1984); (2) they are frost tolerant and maintain high nutrient value well during cold weather (Jung et al., 1984); and (3) they can be established with minimum tillage techniques (Jung et al., 1984; Koch et al., 1987). The purpose of this study was …

Multispecies Grazing Systems In Iowa, Midwestern Usa, W F. Wedin, M A. Sanderson, C Ohlsonn, D G. Morrical

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Combining species of grazing animals such as cattle and sheep into appropriate grazing systems may help producers to use grazing land resources more efficiently (Heinemann, 1970 ;Van Keuren and Parker, 1967: Winrock, 1985). Earlier pasture research on lands unsuited for row-crop production has shown that renovation to incorporate a pasture legume has been very beneficial (Wedin et al., 1967). Yet, grazing manage­ment has lagged behind legume incorporation and fertilization (Wedin, 1985). Practices used in animal management must be taken into account in new grazing systems. In midwestern USA, producers commonly buy stocker steers in spring to take advantage of ample, …

Implications Of Grazing Experiments Which Employ Only One Grazing Level Per Treatment, David I. Bransby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Stocking rate is one of the most powerful driving variables in grazing ecosystems, but its influence on animal production is mediated through effects on pasture sward state, and associated effects on quantity and quality of forage consumed by animals. Consequently, confounding important sward state char­acteristics with treatments in grazing experiments will often mask treatment effects and lead to erroneous conclusions. While this problem has generally been recognized (e.g. Mott and Lucas, 1952; Wheeler et al. 1973 ; Hodgson, 1985), attempts to overcome it appear to be less than satisfactory. The aim of this paper is to discuss methods of stocking …

Experiments And Extension Of The Utilization And Improvement Of Sandy Rangelands In Nei Monggol (Inner Mongolia) Autonomous Region, China, Hou Yong-Zhang, Bai Ri-Sheng, Li Xhang-Chun

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There are about 60 million ha. of rangelands available for livestock in Nei Monggol (Inner Mongolia) Autonomous Region. In the great vast area of rangelands there are 4 rather large sandy rangelands: 1) the Hulun Beir Sandy Rangeland; 2) the Kerching Sandy Rangeland ; 3) the Hunshandak Sandy Rangeland ; and 4) the Maowoos Sandy Rangeland. Their total area covers about 20.8 million ha and accounts for more than 1/3 of that available in N. M. A. R.

The Hulun Beir Sandy Rangeland located in the northeast part of N. M.A. R. - N 47° 40'-50°12' E 118°3!'-121°03' 355 km …

Production De Viande Bovine Et Ovine Sur Prairie Dans Les Monts Sudetes, Janina Fatyga

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Par suite du depeuplement des villages et de !'abandon de la culture dans des zones situees en altitude dans !es Sudetes, on y observe l'accroissement de la superficie des paturages perma­nents. Des 1968, on y cree des zones de pature OU en ete de jeu­nes bovins et des ovins provenant des fermes situees plus bas sont conduits en permanence. L'importance du phenomene est illustre par le fait qu'a present, sur le terrain d'une seule region de Walbrzych, il y a 103 bases de pature d'une superficie de 7.000 ha, appartenant a 54 fermes d'etat ou paissent environ 25.000 ovins et …

A Standard Livestock Unit (Slu) For Defining Stocking Rate In Grazing Studies, D J. Minson, P C. Whiteman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The weight of animals and hence their intakes vary between grazing experiments and at different stages of the same study but the results are often presented as though these differences do not affect grazing pressure (Roberts, 1980). Thus we have sheep/ha and cattle/ha, with no indication of the effects that differences in intake and hence grazing pressure might have on the pasture/animal interaction. Pastures are utilized by different classes of stock and there is a need to have a common basis for comparing their productivity. These problems would be over­come by the use of a Standard Livestock Unit (SLU).

Updated Take Estimates Of Marine Turtles In The Guajira Peninsula, Venezuela, Royner Carrasquero-Labarca, Matthew Ware, Jordano Palmar, Daniela Rojas-Cañizales, Héctor Barrios-Garrido

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

The Guajira Peninsula is one of the most important foraging grounds areas for marine turtles in Venezuela. There, five species converging: the green turtle, hawksbill, loggerhead, leatherback, and olive ridley. The Wayuú indigenous people are inhabits of the Guajira Peninsula. They have a close relationship with these animals, and for generations, they have used these species as subsistence resources. Marine turtle take has always occurred in this area and has historically been high; it is still happening now, but the current extent is unknown. For that reason, we aimed to assess and update the estimate for marine turtles take in …

First Insight On The Genesis Of Iron Oxide-Hydroxide Biospeleothems In Rancho Chico Lava Tube, Mexico, Rafael López-Martínez, Elizabeth Solleiro-Rebolledo, Rocio Alcántara-Hernández, Teresa Pi Puig, Sergey Sedov, Daisy Valera Fernández, M. Nayeli Luis-Vargas, Yasmany Lima Vera, Jesús Solé, Ramon Espinasa-Pereña

International Journal of Speleology

Iron is a common element in lava tube systems, typically observed as thin crusts or inferred from the reddish coloration of secondary mineral deposits. In this study, we describe iron oxide-hydroxide biospeleothems discovered in the Rancho Chico Lava Tube, located within the Xalapa Monogenetic Volcanic Field in Mexico. We adopt an integrative approach combining petrography, soil micromorphology, scanning electron microscopy, mineralogy, and 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding. DNA sequencing reveals the presence of microorganisms such as Acidithiobacillus, Gallionella, and members of the Leptospirillaceae family, which may be involved in the oxidation of Fe²⁺ within the lava tube. The source …

Enhancing Water Scarcity Resilience In Egypt Through Machine Learning-Driven Phenological Crop Mapping And Water Use Efficiency Analysis, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Shahryar Fazli, Aqil Tariq, Rejoice Thomas, Cyril Rakovski, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Agriculture forms the backbone of Egypt’s economy, with the Nile Valley and Delta serving as key production zones for crops like wheat, rice, and clover. However, the sector faces mounting pressure from water scarcity, as it depends almost entirely on the Nile for irrigation, making it necessary to map major crops for assessing Water Use Efficiency (WUE) and informing agricultural planning. In this study, we used machine learning (ML) techniques—specifically Support Vector Machine (SVM) to time-series phenological data and optical indices (Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Bare Soil Index (BSI), Land Surface Water Index (LSWI), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), and …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2024, Jason Kelley, Travis Faske

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The 2024 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, nematode, and insect management; economics; irrigation; agronomics; soil fertility; drone use; 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.

The reports inform and guide our long-term recommendations, but should not …

Exposure To Metoprolol And Propranolol Mixtures On Biochemical, Immunohistochemical, And Molecular Alterations In The American Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica, Andrew Salinas, Md Saydur Rahman

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Pharmaceutical drugs, particularly beta-blockers (e.g., metoprolol, propranolol, etc.), are extensively used to treat human cardiovascular conditions, yet pose significant risks to non-target aquatic organisms when introduced into coastal and marine environments via wastewater effluent. This study aimed to investigate the effects of short-term exposure (one week) to environmentally relevant concentrations of metoprolol and propranolol (MP) mixtures (low-dose: 50 ng/L propranolol and 250 ng/L metoprolol, and high-dose: 250 ng/L propranolol and 650 ng/L metoprolol) in the American oyster (Crassostrea virginica, a commercially and ecologically important marine bivalve mollusk) under controlled laboratory conditions. Histopathological assessments revealed structural damage to gills, …

Clearing Cloudy Or Coloured Water On Farms In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Cloudy or coloured water can be a nuisance when used for household purposes, and sometimes be unsuitable for livestock, irrigation, or crop spraying. The following is for general information only, it is recommended that people seek expert advice for treating cloudy or coloured water.

Wildlife Road Mortalities During Covid-19 Pandemic-Related Lockdown In South Texas: A Comparative Survey, Bradley Evan Beer, Kevin W. Ryer, Md Saydur Rahman, John H. Young Jr., Richard J. Kline

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Mortalities of wildlife caused by collisions with vehicles along roads are increasing in prevalence, threatening the existence of various species and populations. The COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown provided an opportunity to gain a better understanding of how wildlife vehicle mortality occurrences change in response to anthropogenic variables and how varying survey methods influence obtaining mortality data. In this study, data were collected in three observation periods: pre-lockdown (PreL), during lockdown (DL), and post-lockdown (PostL) in south Texas. There were 194 wildlife mortalities recorded during weeks 4–27 of 2020. Results of this study showed that road mortality survey counts did not change …

Turtle Creek Tree Restoration Project, Rebecca Beneroff, Risa Kanefsky, Max Dicerbo, Pj Newhart, Amanda Mitchell

Final Reports in ENST 411: Environmental Community Projects

Over the course of this project our group members Rebecca, Max, PJ, Amanda, and Risa worked closely with Jim Knight and Brian Auman from Turtle Creek Park to help research, plan, and execute a tree transplanting event that would be efficiently implemented and environmentally sound. This work involved extensive preparatory work in the park including soil testing, bare leaf tree identification, tree and shrub species characterization, and recommendation. The entire process was rooted in the most up to date literature and scientific practices surrounding bare root tree nurseries, existing land management plans, invasive species and public park management, ecological succession, …

Proceedings Of The 12th Research Symposium At Mammoth Cave National Park, Pat Kambesis Editor, Lee Anne Bledsoe Editor, Ana K. Celis Editor

Mammoth Cave Research Symposia

Proceedings of the 12th Research Symposium at Mammoth Cave National Park: Celebrating 100 Years of Scientific Research & Resource Management in the Mammoh Cave Region.

Remotely Sensed High-Resolution Soil Moisture And Evapotranspiration: Bridging The Gap Between Science And Society, Jingyi Huang, Vinit Sehgal, Laura V. Alvarez, Luca Brocca, Shuohao Cai, Rui Cheng, Xinghua Cheng, Jinyang Du, Bassil El Masri, K. Arthur Endsley, Yilin Fang, Jie Hu, Mahesh Jampani, Md Golam Kibria, Gerbrand Koren, Lingcheng Li, Laibao Liu, Jiafu Mao, Hernan A. Moreno, Angela Rigden, Mingjie Shi, Xiaoying Shi, Yaoping Wang, Xi Zhang, Joshua B. Fisher

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

This paper reviews the current state of high-resolution remotely sensed soil moisture (SM) and evapotranspiration (ET) products and modeling, and the coupling relationship between SM and ET. SM downscaling approaches for satellite passive microwave products leverage advances in artificial intelligence and high-resolution remote sensing using visible, near-infrared, thermal-infrared, and synthetic aperture radar sensors. Remotely sensed ET continues to advance in spatiotemporal resolutions from MODIS to ECOSTRESS to Hydrosat and beyond. These advances enable a new understanding of bio-geo-physical controls and coupled feedback mechanisms between SM and ET reflecting the land cover and land use at field scale (3–30 m, daily). …

Changes In Elephantgrass Plant Components With Maturity: 1. Percentage Dry Yield, P Mislevy, F G. Martin, M B. Adjei

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) biomass can be a source of energy for tropical regions of the world because of its high dry matter production (Mislevy et al., 1986 ; Prine et al., 1987). Research has shown the production of energy (meth­ane) from biomass can be best understood through systems analysis methodology that integrates the availability of land, climate, production inputs, plant quality, etc. To assess avail­able technology and identify information gaps Biomass to Methane (Biomet) models have been developed to determine the impacts of basic growth processes in response to the crops environment (Mishoe et al., 1987). Biomass growth …

Teneurs En Constituants Parietaux Et En Matieres Azotees Des Ligneuz Fourragers D'Afrique Occidentale, A R. Kone, D Richard, H Guerin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dans !es pays intertropicaux d'Afrique, l'elevage est surtout extensif et l'alimentation du betail est essentiellement basee sur le paturage nature! ou la strate ligneuse (arbres, arbustes) fournit des fourrages verts pendant la periode seche de l'annee, periode pendant laquelle le tapis herbace est sous forme de paille sur pied. Les ligneux sont done tres importants dans l'alimentation des ruminants domestiques et ii est necessaire d'en connaitre la composition chimique comme dans le cas des fourrages herbaces.

Evaluation Of Tree Legumes Species At Different Agroclimatic Zones Of Indonesia, Mas'ud Panjaitan, R Jessop, W W. Stur

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The population of Indonesia is over 145 million and more than 56 % of them earn their living from agriculture (Bi. Stat. Ind., 1983). A major problem in the development of improved animal production has been the shortage of feed and the generally low nutritive value of tropical forages which limit livestock pro­duction in Indonesia (Asian Agriculture Survey, 1969). The production of feed of adequate quality for ruminants is an important consideration particularly for small holders. In many situations, nitrogen fixing legume trees can be used as a high protein feed supplement which improves the utilization of grasses and crop …

Valeur Nutritive D'Un Parcours Mixte A Acacia Cyanophylla, Atriplex Nummularia Et Medicago Arborea, Y Saadani, C Kayouli

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

II existe tres peu de donnees concernant la valeur nutritive des arbustes fourragers ; les rares etudes realisees en Tunisie ont porte surtout sur leur productivite, la charge animale et sur leur appetence (Hamrouni et Sarson, 1975; Ben Boubaker, 1985). L'objectif de ce travail est d'etudier la valeur nutritive des feuilles et brindilles d' Acacia cyanophylla, d' A triplex nummula­ria et de Medicago arborea ainsi que leur contribution dans la ration de caprins et d'ovins.

Utilization Of Native Mediterranean Fodder Trees By Dairy Goats, M Meuret

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Few data are available on utilization of fodder trees and shrubs by lactating goats. In most cases, predictions of animal performances on the basis of recommendations obtained from standard reference trials, do not correspond with production results achieved on the farm. Using measurements in digesti­bility cages and on rangelands (chromic oxide marker), we recorded intake, apparent digestibility of diets and perform­ances of goats well used to rangelands and browsing fresh oak foliage (Quercus ilex and Quercus pubescens).

Phenols As Defensive Compounds In Birch (Betula Spp.) Metabolism Of Platyphylloside In Goats, Rabbits And Hares, R T. Palo, G Iason, P G. Knutsonn

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbivores of the boreal forest like moose (Alces alces), hares (Lepus spp.) and birds (Tetranoidae) use birch as a major feed source. The tree is of medium preference to the animals and is low in available nutrients for most of the year. Apart from a high amount of lignified cell walls it also contains con­siderable amounts oflow molecular phenolic substances (Palo, 1984). A herbivore feeding on birch could thus be excepted to ingest large amounts of phenols. These are in general enough fat soluble to enter animal cells expected to ingest large amounts of …

Forage Production And Nutritive Value Of Leucanea Leucoephala In Southern Puerto Rico, L E. Tergas, R Milton Martinez, A V. Mendez Cruz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Leucaena leucocephala (L.) is a perennial schrub native to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, considered by investigators as a valuable forage legume because of its capacity for high production of digestible forage with a high protein content and tolerance to drought in semiarid regions with annual rainfall less than 1,000 mm (Skerman, 1977). The soil fertility of the semiarid region in southern Puerto Rico is adequate, but rainfall distribution is limiting for forage production and nutritive value. There is a demand for a suit­able and inexpensive source of high quality forage to improve the diet of the grazing cattle …

Effect Of Chemical Composition Of Roughages On Their Degradation Characteristics In The Rumen And Their Relationship With The < In Vitro > Organic Matter Digestibility, S Lopez, Dolores Carro, J S. Gonzales, Conchita Carpintero

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The microbial fermentation of feeds in the reticulo-rumen allows ruminants the utilization of feeds with amounts of cell wall components, i.e. roughages. This rumen fermentation can be affected by the feed chemical composition and numerous techniques have been developed for its determination (Van Soest, 1982). The objective of the present work is to investigate the effect of the chemical composition of forages preserved under differ­ent methods on their degradation characteristics in the rumen determined by the « in sacco » method and to study the rela­tionships between the « in vitro» organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and the rumen degradability.

Rumen Degradation Of Various Grass Species At Different Stages Of Growth, L J. Halliday

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The species and cultivars sown depends on the farming sys­tem practiced. These developing swards are however, always invaded by native species including Agrostis, Paa and Festuca spp. which are generally referred to as 'weed' grasses. While the merits of Lolium spp. are well documented (Minson et al. 1960; Norton, 1982) information on the weed grasses is limited (Hag­gar, 1976). The potential for milk and meat production is dependent on the supply of utilizable nutrients to the animal's tissues which in turn is largely governed by the ability of rumen microbes to degrade plant cell walls. Although the degradability of dry …

Apparent Digestibility, Dynamics Of Rumen Fermentation And Sites Of Digestion Of Hays Of Leucaena Leucocephala (Lam) De Wit Cv. Peru, N M. Rodreiguez, I Borges

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Protein deficiency, among others, is a common problem for livestock production in tropical regions. The use oflegumes has been suggested as a solution and Leucaena leucocephala has shown a great potential due to its capacity of nitrogen (N) fix­ation and dry matter (DM) production (NAS, 1984). However, very little is known about its nutritive value regarding its protein-energy balance and the process of digestion. The present work aimed the evaluation of the nutritive value of hays of Leucaena leucocephala cut at two stages of growth, through trials of apparent digestibility, dynamics of rumen fer­mentation and partition of digestion.

In Situ Degradation Of Cell Wall Neutral Sugars Of Normal And Brown Midrib Sorghum X Sudangrass Hybrids, K J. Moore, J O. Fritz, E H. Jaster

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The nutritive value of forage for ruminants is limited by the digestibility of the complex polysaccharides cellulose and hemicellulose by rumen microbes. In grasses, the polysacchar­ide fraction of the cell wall is composed largely of polymers of neutral sugars and to a lesser extent uronic acids. Cellulose is a high molecular weight linear polymer of B-1 ➔ 4) linked D­gluco-pyranose units. Hemicellulose is a complex mixture of linear and branched-chain heteropolymers containing xylose, arabmose, mannose, galactose, glucose, and uronic acids (Van Soest, 1982). Lignification of the cell wall is a primary factor limiting the digestion of cell wall polysaccharides. Close …

Feed Evaluation Using Mobile Dacron Bags And Influences Of The Diet Composition, H Anzola, F N. Owens

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Mobile Nylon Bag (MNB) technique has been used successfully in protein nutrition studies with swine (Sauer et al., 1983) to determine amino acid availability from protein in specific feedstuffs. Canadian researchers also have tested this technique to predict site of digestion in ruminants (Kirkpatrick and Kennelly, 1987). Differences in small intestinal digestion may explain why animal responses differ to dietary protein sources which have similar ruminal escape values (Owens, 1986). The MNB holds promise to appraise the intestinal avail­ability of undegraded dietary protein though further develop­mel).t and testing are needed. The objective of this experiment was to examine the …

Prediction Of Digestibility And Protein From Growing Degree-Days For Crested And Western Wheatgrass, A` B. Franck, J F. Karn

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Morphological development of crops, including cool-season forage grasses, is mainly a function of air temperature. Mor­phological development of plants has been predicted from ther­mal units expressed as growing degree-days (GDD) (Franck, 1985 ; Wang, 1960). The use of thermal units also provides a predictive measure for managing forages based on growth stages rather than dates. However, forage digestibility ��nd crude protein (CP) content generally decrease as morphological development and time increase (Kamstra, 1973 ; Kilcher and Troelsen, 1973). The relationship between thermal units and forage digestibility and CP has not been defined for crested and western wheatgrasses. The primary purpose …

Forage Quality Of Coast Cross 1 Bermudagrass On Intestinal Digestion Of Dietary Amino Acids, G Coto, Hanna Meier, Patrica Malgarez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this work was to study the digestibility of dietary amino acids found in the fibrous material, considering the qual­ity of the forage offered as the sole feeding source.