Agricultural Science Commons^™

An Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Western Australian Part Of The Nullarbor Region, Peter-Jon A. Waddell, A K. Gardner, P Hennig

Technical Bulletins

The inventory and condition survey of the Western Australian part of the Nullarbor region, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 2005 and 2007, describes and maps the natural resources of the region. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the area's natural resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The Nullarbor region has …

The Influence Of Nutrients And Physical Habitat In Regulating Algal Biomass In Agricultural Streams, Mark D. Munn, Jeffrey Frey, Anthony Tesoriero

United States Geological Survey: Water Reports and Publications

This study examined the relative influence of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and habitat on algal biomass in five agricultural regions of the United States. Sites were selected to capture a range of nutrient conditions, with 136 sites distributed over five study areas. Samples were collected in either 2003 or 2004, and analyzed for nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) and algal biomass (chlorophyll a). Chlorophyll a was measured in three types of samples, fine-grained benthic material (CHLFG), coarse-grained stable substrate as in rock or wood (CHLCG), and water column (CHLS). Stream and riparian habitat were characterized at each site. TP ranged from …

An Integrative Approach To Genomic Introgression Mapping, Andrew J. Severin, Gregory A. Peiffer, Wayne W. Xu, D. L. Hyten, Bruna Bucciarelli, Jamie A. O'Rourke, Yung-Tsi Bolon, David Grant, Andrew Farmer, Gregory D. May, Carroll P. Vance, Randy C. Shoemaker, Robert M. Stupar

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Near-isogenic lines (NILs) are valuable genetic resources for many crop species, including soybean (Glycine max). The development of new molecular platforms promises to accelerate the mapping of genetic introgressions in these materials. Here, we compare some existing and emerging methodologies for genetic introgression mapping: single-feature polymorphism analysis, Illumina GoldenGate single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping, and de novo SNP discovery via RNA-Seq analysis of next-generation sequence data. We used these methods to map the introgressed regions in an iron-inefficient soybean NIL and found that the three mapping approaches are complementary when utilized in combination. The comparative RNA-Seq approach offers …

Soydb: A Knowledge Database Of Soybean Transcription Factors, Zheng Wang, Marc Libault, Trupti Joshi, Babu Valliyodan, Henry T. Nguyen, Dong Xu, Gary Stacey, Jianlin Cheng

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Background: Transcription factors play the crucial rule of regulating gene expression and influence almost all biological processes. Systematically identifying and annotating transcription factors can greatly aid further understanding their functions and mechanisms. In this article, we present SoyDB, a user friendly database containing comprehensive knowledge of soybean transcription factors.

Description: The soybean genome was recently sequenced by the Department of Energy-Joint Genome Institute (DOE-JGI) and is publicly available. Mining of this sequence identified 5,671 soybean genes as putative transcription factors. These genes were comprehensively annotated as an aid to the soybean research community. We developed SoyDB - a knowledge database …

Transgenic Maize Lines With Cell-Type Specific Expression Of Fluorescent Proteins In Plastids, Amir Sattarzadeh, Jonathan Fuller, Salvador Moguel, Katia Wostrikoff, Shirley Sato, Sarah Covshoff, Tom Clemente, Maureen Hanson, David Stern

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Plastid number and morphology vary dramatically between cell types and at different developmental stages. Furthermore, in C4 plants such as maize, chloroplast ultrastructure and biochemical functions are specialized in mesophyll and bundle sheath cells, which differentiate acropetally from the proplastid form in the leaf base. To develop visible markers for maize plastids, we have created a series of stable transgenics expressing fluorescent proteins fused to either the maize ubiquitin promoter, the mesophyll-specific phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PepC) promoter, or the bundle sheath-specific Rubisco small subunit 1 (RbcS) promoter. Multiple independent events were examined and revealed that maize codon-optimized versions of YFP and …

Comparison Between In Vitro And In Vivo Antibacterial Activity Of Curcuma Zedoaria From Malaysia., Behrooz Banisalam

Student Works (2010-2019)

The rhizomes of the Zingiberaceae family are vegetables widely used in many Asian countries and their medicinal functions have been broadly discussed and accepted in many traditional recipes. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of extracts of Curcuma zedoaria from Malaysia was compared between two systems as in vitro and in vivo. The comparison was performed against four bacterial strains including two gram negative strains (E.coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two gram positive strains (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) using the agar well diffusion method. Extracts were made in three different solvents; petroleum ether, chloroform and methanol extracts exhibited antibacterial …

Evaluation Of Ulv And Thermal Fog Mosquito Control Applications In Temperate And Desert Environments, Seth C. Britch, Kenneth J. Linthicum, Wayne W. Wynn, Todd W. Walker, Muhammad Farooq, Vincent L. Smith, Cathy A. Robinson, Branka B. Lothrop, Melissa Snelling, Arturo Gutierrez, Hugh D. Lothrop, Jerry D. Kerce, James J. Becnel, Ulrich R. Bernier, Julia W. Pridgeon

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

Ultra-low-volume (ULV) and thermal fog aerosol dispersals of pesticides have been used against mosquitoes and other insects for half a century. Although each spray technology has advantages and disadvantages, only 7 studies have been identified that directly compare their performance in the field. US military personnel currently operating in hot-arid environments are impacted by perpetual nuisance and disease vector insect problems, despite adulticide operations using modern pesticide-delivery equipment such as ULV. None of the identified comparative studies has looked at the relative feasibility and efficacy of ULV and thermal fog equipment against mosquitoes in hot-arid environments. In this study we …

Fluid Fertilizer’S Role In Sustaining Soils Used For Bio-Fuels Production, John L. Kovar, Douglas L. Karlen

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

The short- and long-term effects on soil nutrient cycling, physical properties, and biological activity of striving for higher grain yields and removing crop residues for bio-fuels production must be understood to provide more quantitative crop and soil management guidelines. This study focuses primarily on potassium (K) and sulfur (S) response by corn (Zea mays L.) grown for bio-energy feedstock production. Our objectives for 2009 were to evaluate (i) the performance of several S fertilizers, including liquid ammonium thiosulfate (12-0-0-26S), for corn grown in Iowa, and (ii) the use of surface or subsurface bands of N-P-K-S fluid fertilizers to optimize …

Fluid Fertilizer’S Role In Sustaining Soils Used For Bio-Fuels Production, John L. Kovar, Douglas L. Karlen

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

Fast pyrolysis is optimized for production of bio-oil. Product yields are typically ~65% bio-oil, 20% biochar, 15% syngas.

Project Objective

To investigate N, P, K, and S dynamics in a comprehensive residue removal, tillage, and nutrient management study

Project Treatments

*Residue removal: 0, 50%, 90%

*Tillage: chisel plow, no-till

*Nutrient management: conventional (30K plants/A), high input (44K plants/A)

•Bio-char: 0, 4.32 tons/A, 8.25 tons/A

•Cover crops: annual, perennial

2009 Soil Test Levels

2009 Nutrient Management

Field Measurements

•Stand counts

•Whole-plant samples at V6

•Ear-leaf samples at mid-silk

•Grain yield and moisture

•Stover yield and moisture

•Grain and stover nutrient content

Procedures For Publishing In Non-Usda Media (Outside Publishing)

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

This P&P is an update of a previous version dated March 10, 1998. This P&P outlines revised responsibilities of the ARS author, Research Leader (RL), and other ARS officials. The most salient features of the new P&P are that the manuscript approval authority and associated responsibilities are delegated to the RL. ARS Form 115 (ARS-115) is revised accordingly (see Exhibit 1). Among the essential RL responsibilities are to determine the need and method for manuscript peer review, approve the technical and interpretive content of the manuscript, notify upper management about manuscripts containing prominent issues, obtain proper clearance/approval from upper management …

U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Clay Center, Ne

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

Mission

Research Units

U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Animal Health Research Unit

U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Environmental Management Research Unit

U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Genetics & Breeding Research Unit

U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Meat Safety and Quality Research Unit

U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Nutrition Research Unit

U.S. Meat Animal Research Center Reproduction Research Unit

2000-2009 Population Growth In The Midwest: Urban And Rural Dimensions, Liesl Eathington

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

Iowa’s recent population growth patterns have echoed trends across the Midwest, where strong urbanization forces are in evidence. From 2000- 2009, Midwestern population growth has concentrated in and around metropolitan cities, while most rural areas have lost population.

Outside of metropolitan areas, counties with larger cities fared better than their less urbanized counterparts. Proximity to a metropolitan area also bolstered growth or mitigated losses in some nonmetro counties.

States within the region demonstrated some notable differences in their non-metropolitan growth patterns. Missouri and Wisconsin demonstrated more balanced growth across their metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties than other Midwestern states.

Individual state …

Classical Biological Control For The Protection Of Natural Ecosystems, R.G. Van Driesche, R I. Carruthers, T. Center, M.S. Hoddle, J. Hough-Goldstein, L. Morin, L. Smith, D.L. Wagner, B. Blossey, V. Brancatini, R. Casagrande, C.E. Causton, J.A. Coetzee, J. Cuda, J. Ding, S.V. Fowler, J. H. Frank, R. Fuester, J. A. Goolsby, M. Grodowitz, T.A. Heard, M.P. Hill, J.H. Hoffmann, J. Huber, M. Julien, M.T.K. Kairo, M. Kenis, P. Mason, J. Medal, R. Messing, R. Miller, A. Moore, P. Neuenschwander, R. Newman, H. Norambuena, W.A. Palmer, R. Pemberton, A. Perez-Panduro, P.D. Pratt, M. Rayamajhi, S. Salom, D. Sands, S. Schooler, M. Schwarzländer, A. Sheppard, R. Shaw, P.W. Tipping, R.D. Van Klinken

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

Of the 70 cases of classical biological control for the protection of nature found in our review, there were fewer projects against insect targets (21) than against invasive plants (49), in part, because many insect biological control projects were carried out against agricultural pests, while nearly all projects against plants targeted invasive plants in natural ecosystems. Of 21 insect projects, 81% (17) provided benefits to protection of biodiversity, while 48% (10) protected products harvested from natural systems, and 5% (1) preserved ecosystem services, with many projects contributing to more than one goal. In contrast, of the 49 projects against invasive …

Effects Of A New Waste-Processing By-Product On Soil And Vegetation At Fort Campbell, Tennessee, R. R. Busby, D. L. Gebhart, H. A. Torbert, J. O. Dawson, G. A. Bollero, K. N. Potter, D. R. Curtin

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

A garbage-processing technology has been developed that sterilizes and separates inorganic and organic components of municipal solid waste. A study was initiated to evaluate the uncomposted organic by-product of this process as a soil amendment for establishing native prairie grasses on disturbed Army training lands. The waste was incorporated into a silt loam soil at Fort Campbell Military Reservation in the central United States. The waste material was applied at rates of 0, 4.5, 9, 18, and 36 Mg ha^-1 and seeded with native prairie grasses to assess its effects on vegetation for two growing seasons, with an additional …

‘Food For Life’: Looking Beyond The Horizon, Charles A. Francis, John W. Doran

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Our real challenge appears to be anticipating what the major challenges and constraints will be to food production and distribution a decade or more into the future. This could be called ‘Beyond the Horizon’ thinking. Today there is little disagreement over the massive depletion on a global scale of two essential inputs to agriculture: fossil fuels and fresh water. We also recognize that phosphorus is found in concentrated form in only a few deposits in nature, and that agriculture is rapidly using this limited resource and dispersing it through harvested products and soil loss from fields in forms that make …

Structural And Functional Divergence Of A 1-Mb Duplicated Region In The Soybean (Glycine Max) Genome And Comparison To An Orthologous Region From Phaseolus Vulgaris, Jer-Young Lin, Robert M. Stupar, Christian Hans, D. L. Hyten, Scott A. Jackson

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Soybean (Glycine max) has undergone at least two rounds of polyploidization, resulting in a paleopolyploid genome that is a mosaic of homoeologous regions. To determine the structural and functional impact of these duplications, we sequenced two ~1-Mb homoeologous regions of soybean, Gm8 and Gm15, derived from the most recent ~13 million year duplication event and the orthologous region from common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), Pv5. We observed inversions leading to major structural variation and a bias between the two chromosome segments as Gm15 experienced more gene movement (gene retention rate of 81% in Gm15 versus 91% in …

Molecular Studies Of 5-Azacytidine-Induced Early-Flowering Lines Of Flax, Megan A. House

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Several early-flowering flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) lines were derived from treatment of germinating seeds with 5-azacytidine in 1990. These lines are also shorter, have fewer leaves, and their DNA is hypomethylated, relative to their corresponding controls. The work presented in this thesis used early-flowering and control lines of the Royal (R) flax genotype, and the Large (L) flax genotroph. Firstly, levels of cytosine methylation were measured over a 24-hour period in the early-flowering line RE2 and its control (RC), using an HPLC method. Secondly, to determine the response of the flax lines to short-day conditions, control and early-flowering …

Increased Weed Diversity, Density And Above-Ground Biomass In Long-Term Organic Crop Rotations, Samuel E. Wortman, John L. Lindquist, Milton J. Haar, Charles A. Francis

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

While weed management is consistently a top priority among farmers, there is also growing concern for the conservation of biodiversity. Maintaining diverse weed communities below bioeconomic thresholds may provide ecosystem services for the crop and the surrounding ecosystem. This study was conducted to determine if weed diversity, density and biomass differ within and among organic and conventional crop rotations. In 2007 and 2008, we sampled weed communities in four long-term crop rotations near Mead, Nebraska, United States using seedbank analyses (elutriation and greenhouse emergence) and above-ground biomass sampling. Two conventional crop rotations consisted of a corn (Zea mays) …

Effects Of Plant Growth Regulators And Physiological Stresses On The Growth Of Bougainvillea Spp., Mohammed Saifuddin

Student Works (2010-2019)

This study was aimed to investigate the effects of physiological stresses such as pruning, shading, phloemic stress and plant hormones such as gibberellic acid (GA3) and naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) on the growth, development and flowering process of bougainvillea plants. The plants (Bougainvillea glabra and Bougainvillea spectabilis) were grown under prevailing conditions (temperature 21-32°C, maximum PAR 2100 μE m-2 s-1 and relative humidity of 60-90%) using completely randomized design. Field experiments as well as biochemical analysis were carried out at the Plant Physiology Garden and the Plant Physiology Laboratory, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya. Results on frequent pruning …

Supersweet Sweet Corn Cultivar Evaluation For Northern Indiana, 2009, Elizabeth T. Maynard

Purdue Fruit and Vegetable Research Reports

Indiana growers harvested sweet corn for fresh market sales from 5,400 acres in 2008, with an average yield of 70 cwt/A (166 crates or 3.5 tons per acre) and total value of $11.7 million (USDA-NASS Indiana Agricultural Statistics, 2008-2009). Indiana ranks 17th among states for production of fresh market sweet corn. The 2007 USDA Ag Census reported 603 Indiana farms producing sweet corn for fresh markets and 51 farms selling to processors. Sweet corn fields for fresh market sales are located throughout the state. In northern Indiana, bicolor corn is most commonly grown. Varieties with improved eating quality are of …