Agricultural Science Commons^™

Analysis Of The Soil Health Of Pastures Over-Seeded With Winter Annuals, Kathleen M. Bridges

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Utilizing winter annuals in livestock pastures reduces feed costs of hay, and provides additional vegetative cover that is beneficial to the soil. However, how this practice affects the soil microbial communities has not been well studied. Two sites were included in this study. Both were commercial cattle grazing operations that over-seeded a mixture of grasses, legumes, and brassicas into pastures dominated by bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum). Soil health was assessed using a suite of physical, chemical, and biological properties. Soil physical assessments included bulk density and aggregate stability. Soil chemical assessments included macronutrients, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total …

Quantitative Appraisal Of Non-Irrigated Cropland In South Dakota, Shelby Riggs

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This appraisal attempts to remove subjectivity from the appraisal process and replace it with quantitative analysis of known data to generate a fair market value of the subject property. Two methods of appraisal were used, the income approach and the comparable sales approach. For the income approach, I used the average cash rent for the region, the current property taxes for the subject property, and a capitalization rate based on Stokes' (2018) capitalization rate formula to arrive at my income-based valuation. For the comparable sales approach, I utilized Stokes' (2018) research in optimization modeling to estimate a market value for …

Urban Agriculture And Small Farm Water Use: Case Studies And Trends From Cache Valley, Utah, Tyler Pratt, L. Niel Allen, David E. Rosenberg, Andrew A. Keller, Kelly Kopp

Publications

The landscape of water in Utah is changing due to population growth, conversion of agricultural land to urban development, and increasing awareness of water scarcity. At the same time, Utah is experiencing a growing number of urban and small farms, but knowledge of water use in this sector is limited. Better understanding of what occurs at the field level on urban and small farms can aid state water use estimates and conservation efforts, and assist farmers in moving towards wiser water management. For the 2015 growing season, we performed irrigation evaluations for 24 urban and small farms in Cache Valley, …

Overexpression Of The Sorghum Bicolor Sbccoaomt Alters Cell Wall Associated Hydroxycinnamoyl Groups, Hannah M. Tetreault, Erin D. Scully, Tammy Gries, Nathan A. Palmer, Deanna L. Funnell-Harris, Bruce S. Dien, Gautam Sarath, Thomas E. Clemente, Scott E. Sattler

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is a drought tolerant crop, which is being developed as a bioenergy feedstock. The monolignol biosynthesis pathway is a major focus for altering the abundance and composition of lignin. Caffeoyl coenzyme-A O-methyltransferase (CCoAOMT) is an S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-dependent O-methyltransferase that methylates caffeoyl-CoA to generate feruloyl-CoA, an intermediate required for the biosynthesis of both G- and S-lignin. SbCCoAOMT was overexpressed to assess the impact of increasing the amount of this enzyme on biomass composition. SbCCoAOMT overexpression increased both soluble and cell wall-bound (esterified) ferulic and sinapic acids, however lignin concentration and its composition …

Elucidating Sorghum Biomass, Nitrogen And Chlorophyll Contents With Spectral And Morphological Traits Derived From Unmanned Aircraft System, Jiating Li, Yeyin Shi, Arun-Narenthiran Veeranampalayam-Sivakumar, Daniel P. Schachtman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) provide an efficient way to phenotype cropmorphology with spectral traits such as plant height, canopy cover and various vegetation indices (VIs) providing information to elucidate genotypic responses to the environment. In this study, we investigated the potential use of UAS-derived traits to elucidate biomass, nitrogen and chlorophyll content in sorghum under nitrogen stress treatments. A nitrogen stress trial located in Nebraska, USA, contained 24 different sorghum lines, 2 nitrogen treatments and 8 replications, for a total of 384 plots. Morphological and spectral traits including plant height, canopy cover and various VIs were derived from UAS flights …

Lu Horticulture Notes October 2018, Touria Eaton

LU Horticulture Notes

LU Horticulture Notes October 2018 issue provides updates on the horticulture program, information on the USDA Sustainable Agriculture grant, a LU Horticulture Program effort to train inmates at Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Missouri, and agritourism in the bootheel region of Missouri.

LU Horticulture Notes is published by Cooperative Extension and Research Program and edited by Dr. Touria Eaton, assistant professor of horticulture.

Plant Litter Quality Affects The Accumulation Rate, Composition, And Stability Of Mineral-Associated Soil Organic Matter, S. Carolina Córdova, Dan C. Olk, Ranae N. Dietzel, Kevin E. Mueller, Sotirios V. Archontouilis, Michael J. Castellano

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

Mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) is a relatively large and stable fraction of soil organic matter (SOM). Plant litters with high rates of mineralization (high quality litters) are hypothesized to promote the accumulation of MAOM with greater efficiency than plant litters with low rates of mineralization (low-quality litters) because litters with high rates of mineralization maximize the synthesis of microbial products and most MAOM is microbial-derived. However, the effect of litter quality on MAOM is inconsistent. We conducted four repeated short-term incubations (46-d each) of four plant litters (alfalfa, oats, maize and soybean) in two low-carbon subsoils (sandy loam and silty …

Pemban Farmer Agency In Adapting To Climate Change, Rachael Hood

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

As a result of climate change, agricultural societies will be challenged by a variety of altered conditions, including increased severe weather events, saltwater intrusion, pest and disease outbreaks, and higher temperatures. The island of Pemba, in the Zanzibar archipelago, is home to many small-scale agriculturalists. During this study, I interviewed Pemban farmers in the districts of Wete and Micheweni about their awareness of the impacts of climate change and the mitigation strategies that they have implemented. The results from Pemba were compared to relevant academic literature regarding climate change to explore whether disparities exist between models of climate change in …

Summaries Of Arkansas Cotton Research 2017, Fred Bourland

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

No abstract provided.

Sustainably Improving Kenya's Coffee Production Needs More Participation Of Younger Farmers With Diversified Income, Lydia W.I. Wairegi, Mica Bennett, Generose Nziguheba, Ashiraf Mawanda, Carlos De Los Rios, Edidah Ampaire, Laurence Jassogne, Pamela Pali, David Mukasa, Piet J.A. Van Asten

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

Kenya's Arabica coffee is highly rated in the world and is a major source of income for over half a million smallholder farmers. Production has declined by 50% over the past 25 years despite efforts by initiatives. This study tries to unravel what drives coffee production in Kenya. Data were collected on six cooperatives through household interviews and discussions with farmers, cooperative officials, and key informants. Yields ranged from ten to 3889 kg/ha/year, averaged 474 kg/ha/year and were positively correlated with intensity of crop management (r = 0.09, P < 0.05). Coffee represented about 25–50% of total household income. The oldest farmers (average 63 years) were poorer, had less diversified income sources and managed coffee less intensively than younger farmers. Intensity of management differed among cooperatives and was positively correlated with trust in the cooperative (r = 0.209, P < 0.001). Households that received credit from marketers were 30% more likely to use fertilizers than other households. We show that the yield gap can be closed by existing practices, and intensification is influenced by household characteristics and services received. We conclude that increasing the participation of young farmers in coffee production and creating an enabling environment for intensification can have a positive and sustainable effect on national production.

The Effect Of Ingredient-Specific Calorie Information On Calories Ordered, Christopher R. Gustafson, Eliana Zeballos

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Providing calorie labeling is a widely used strategy to combat obesity. However, there is little evidence that the availability of calorie information at food-away-from-home establishments has an effect on food choices. Listing calorie information for each ingredient, though, may allow customers to avoid high-calorie items that add little to their enjoyment. Data from a natural experiment were used to compare total calories ordered before and after the provision of per-ingredient versus for build-your-own sandwiches, and per-sandwich for pre-defined sandwiches, at a supermarket sandwich counter. Sandwich order slips from a Lincoln, Neb. supermarket were collected from December 15, 2016 to February …

Phylogenomic Evidence For Ancient Recombination Between Plastid Genomes Of The Cupressus-Juniperus-Xanthocyparis Complex (Cupressaceae), Andan Zhu, Weishu Fan, Robert P. Adams, Jeffrey P. Mower

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Background: Phylogenetic relationships among Eastern Hemisphere cypresses, Western Hemisphere cypresses, junipers, and their closest relatives are controversial, and generic delimitations have been in flux for the past decade. To address relationships and attempt to produce a more robust classification, we sequenced 11 new plastid genomes (plastomes) from the five variously described genera in this complex (Callitropsis, Cupressus, Hesperocyparis, Juniperus, and Xanthocyparis) and compared them with additional plastomes from diverse members of Cupressaceae.

Results: Phylogenetic analysis of protein-coding genes recovered a topology in which Juniperus is sister to Cupressus, whereas a tree based on …

Lu Horticulture Notes September 2018, Touria Eaton

LU Horticulture Notes

LU Horticulture Notes September 2018 issue covers efforts towards compliance with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, its exemptions, a discussion of the science behind root systems, Facebook marketing tips for small farmers, and pests to monitor. It also provides a profile on a Flint, Michigan woman's experience starting a sustainable homestead from scratch on 40 acres in Ripley county, Missouri.

LU Horticulture Notes is published by Cooperative Extension and Research Program and edited by Dr. Touria Eaton, assistant professor of horticulture.

Canola Agronomy Research In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia, Jackie Bucat, Andrew Blake

Bulletins 4000 -

The Tactical Break Crop Agronomy Project and the Achieving Stable and High Canola Yield Across the Rainfall Zones of WA Project were initiatives originating from a Western Panel Spring Tour of the low rainfall zone. The panel was focussed on investing in research and development to support the expansion of canola into low-medium rainfall zones where it could be incorporated into short-phase cropping systems. The importance of managing nitrogen application in soil with declining organic matter as farms moved from a long pasture phase system was paramount. Furthermore, understanding the management changes required to transition from OP to hybrid canola …

2019 Barley Variety Sowing Guide For Western Australia, Blakely Paynter, Georgia Trainor, Jeremy Curry

Bulletins 4000 -

This bulletin is designed as a reference to help determine which barley variety to grow in your region. It provides market feedback, relative grain yield and grain quality comparisons, disease ratings, agronomic information and herbicide tolerance ratings for all malt barley varieties segregated in Western Australia (WA), those in Stage 2 of malt accreditation with Barley Australia and selected feed varieties (Tables 1 to 11; Figures 1 to 16).

The decision whether to grow barley with a malt or feed classification depends on five main factors:

(1) Premium paid for different varieties when segregated.

(2) Relative grain yield of malt …

Push–Pull Farming System In Kenya: Implications For Economic And Social Welfare, Menale Kassie, Jesper Stage, Gracious Diiro, Beatrice Muriithi, Geoffrey Muricho, Samuel T. Ledermann, Jimmy Pittchar, Charles Midega, Kahn Zeyaur

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

This study examines the farm-level economic benefits and aggregate welfare impacts of adopting push–pull technology (PPT)—an innovative, integrated pest and soil-fertility management strategy—with a set of household- and plot-level data collected in western Kenya. The evaluation is based on a combination of econometric and economic surplus analysis. Treatment effect estimates are used to assess the technology-induced shift in the maize supply curve, which is then used as an input to the economic surplus analysis. Finally, the aggregate poverty impact is computed using the economic surplus estimates. We observe that the adoption of PPT led to significant increases in maize yield …

Effects Of Fruit Position In Standard Place Pack Cartons And Gamma 1 Irradiation On The Postharvest Quality Of ‘Barnfield’ Navel Oranges, Karina Cruz Rodriguez (Friscia), José De Jesús Ornelas-Paz, Vrani Ibarra-Junquera, Maria Criselda Toto, Akanksha Jain, Anuradha Prakash

Food Science Faculty Articles and Research

The objective of this study was to determine if oranges in the top and bottom layers within a Standard Place Pack were impacted differently by irradiation after long-term storage. ‘Barnfield’ Navel oranges were packed in Standard Place Pack cartons and treated with 0, 0.15, or 1 kGy of gamma irradiation. The fruit were stored for 3 weeks at 5 °C and then for 1 week at 20 °C. After storage, the fruit from the top and bottom layers were separately evaluated for quality. The development of stem-end rind breakdown (SERB) was the main cause of quality loss and was greater …

Mobile Elements Shape Plastome Evolution In Ferns, Tanner A. Robison, Amanda L. Grusz, Paul G. Wolf, Jeffrey P. Mower, Blake D. Fauskee, Karla Sosa, Eric Schuettpelz

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Plastid genomes display remarkable organizational stability over evolutionary time. From green algae to angiosperms, most plastid genomes are largely collinear, with only a few cases of inversion, gene loss, or, in extremely rare cases, gene addition. These plastome insertions are mostly clade-specific and are typically of nuclear or mitochondrial origin. Here, we expand on these findings and present the first family-level survey of plastome evolution in ferns, revealing a novel suite of dynamic mobile elements. Comparative plastome analyses of the Preridaceae expose several mobile open reading frames that vary in sequence length, insertion site, and configuration among sampled taxa. Even …

Pengaruh Kondisi Genangan Dan Pemupukan Silika Terhadap Hasil Dan Kualitas Padi Dua Kultivar Poso, Tati Nurmala, Wan Priando, Meddy Rachmadi

Jurnal Kultivasi

Padi dapat dibudidayakan dalam kondisi sebagai padi sawah ataupun padi gogo. Padi kultivar lokal asal Poso umumnya dibudidayakan dengan sistem padi gogo yang produktivitasnya rendah namun memiliki rasa pulen (amilase tinggi 20-25%). Pupuk silika dengan sistem budidaya sawah bisa mengoptimalkan hasil dan kualitas hasil. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui kultivar Poso yang mana yang produktivitasnya tinggi dengan rasa pulen, yang diberi dosis pupuk silika, dalam sistem budidaya yang tepat. Penelitian dilaksanakan bulan Agustus 2016 sampai dengan bulan Januari 2017, di Kebun Percobaan Fakultas Pertanian UNPAD Jatinangor. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Split-Split Plot, dalam 3 ulangan. Petak utama adalah Kultivar 36-Super dan …

Pengaruh Sistem Tanam Dan Tinggi Genangan Air Terhadap Produktivitas Tanaman Padi Kultivar Mekongga Di Kabupaten Karawang, Rommy Andhika Laksono, Yudi Irawan

Jurnal Kultivasi

Program peningkatan ketahanan pangan diarahkan untuk dapat memenuhi kebutuhan pangan masyarakat di dalam negeri dari produksi pangan nasional. Salah satu bahan pangan nasional yang diupayakan ketersediaannya tercukupi sepanjang tahun adalah beras yang menjadi makanan pokok bagi sebagian besar penduduk Indonesia. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendapatkan sistem tanam dan tinggi genangan air yang mampu memberikan produktivitas tertinggi pada tanaman padi varietas Mekongga di Kabupaten Karawang. Penelitian dilaksanakan di sawah teknis Desa Tanjung Bungin, Kecamatan Pakisjaya, Kabupaten Karawang, Provinsi Jawa Barat. Ketinggian tempat percobaan adalah 5 meter di atas permukaan laut. Penelitian dilaksanakan dari bulan September 2016 sampai dengan bulan Desember 2016. …