Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

Hedysarum Mongolicum Turcz.: An Important Protein Resource Legume On Dry Sandy Land, Li Min, A W. Hovin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In searching for plants that can both increase the protein production and improve the sandy-soil conservation of the grassland in the arid, windy regions of North China, so far, from among many native plants, we have identified Hedysarum mongolicum Turcz. as the best species to fulfill our dual purposes. We investigated its distribution, planted its native seeds in the Maowusu desert, and studied it under its native and cultivated growing conditions from 1957 to 1964. Chinese farmers call this perennial subbrush legume of the sweetvetcb genus "Yang Cai," meaning "sheep like to eat." It can thrive in the stable or …

Adaptation And Utilization Of Three Legume In China, Huang Wenhui

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

China is a vast territory with extremely varied climates, soil, and topography, and it is very rich in pasture grass resources. The main legumes for forage are Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), yellow alfalfa (Medicago folcata L.) and shadawang (Astragalis adsurgent Pall.)

Preliminary Evaluation Of Legume Germ Plasm In The Cerrados Of Brazil, D Thomas, R P. De Andrade

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In 1978 an evaluation program was initiated to select legumes that (1) grow and produce seed on acid soils under aluminum and water stress, (2) persist under grazing, and (3) tolerate pests and diseases. The work is being conducted at the Cerrados Agricultural Research Center, near Brasilia, at lat 15°S and altitude 1,000 to 1, 100 m . Annual rainfall is 1,500 mm, mostly distributed in a 6-month wet season, and mean annual temperature is 21°C. Nine hundred legume accessions from thirteen genera have now been established as spaced plants on the 2 major soil types of the region. The …

Genetics And Utilization Of Apomixis For The Improvement Of Guineagrass (Panicum Maximum Jacq.), Y H. Savidan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Natural polymorphism in guineagrass (Panicum maximumjacq.) has been stabilized in tetraploid biotypes by apomixis. Sex­ual diploids were found in East African populations. Our objective was to determine whether apomixis could be related with a simple genetic background and manipulated in an improvement program. Apomicts of guineagrass are characterized by a 4-nucleate embryo sac structure, and this trait was used in genetical analyses to differentiate apomictic from sexual hybrids. Progeny tests were also conducted as controls. Ten different types of progenies were analyzed: tetraploid sexual (from colchicine treatment of diploids) x apomictic F1 hybrids; selfed and backcrossed progenies of sexual F1 …

Breeding Challenges In Apomictic Warm-Season Grasses, E C. Bashaw, P W. Voigt, B L. Burson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Efforts to breed apomictic grasses met with little success in the past, but results of more recent research show significant progress with some species and new prospects for improving apomicts. Early research uncovered the cytological basis for apospory and diplospory, found the common apomictic mechanisms in grasses, and showed that apomixis is transmitted from pannt to offspring. Discovery of sexual or partially sexual (facultative apomicts) plants in several species formerly considered obligate apomicts allowed for hybridization and genetic studies. Results of subsequent research confirmed inheritance of apomixis, and data from the more conclusive studies indicate that method of reproduction …

European Corn Borer Management In Field Corn, Igor Sulzbacher Schardong, Francis Reay-Jones

Agronomic Crops

In the past, European Corn Borer (ECB) was considered a billion-dollar pest. Bt corn was first released in 1996 and its widely adoption reduced ECB populations and economic importance. Resistance to some Bt toxins was detected in Canada, representing a possible threat to corn production. In this paper, we reviewed potential management tactics for ECB in corn.

Evaluating Soil Health And Crop Yield In Louisiana Agricultural Systems: Impacts Of Best Management Practices And Prediction Models, Hector J. Mendoza Lagos

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The adoption of conservation management practices is critical for improving soil health, enhancing nutrient use efficiency, and sustaining crop productivity in row crop systems in Louisiana. This study evaluated the role of conservation agronomic practices, soil biochemical indicators, and machine learning predictive models to improve soil nutrient dynamics, soil health indicators, microbial communities (MC), and crop productivity on a corn (Zea mays L.) research plot scale and in a commercial forty-hectare cotton (Gassypium hirsutum L.)-corn-soybean (Glycine max L.) rotation system in northeast Louisiana. The objectives of the study were to evaluate soil nutrient dynamics and MCs under …

Double Cropping Fodder Maize: Broome 2022, Carla Milazzo, Christopher Ham, Geoff Moore

Grain and other field crops research reports

• While it is logistically feasible to grow and harvest two short-season maize crops during the dry season in the West Kimberley, growing a single crop with high yield potential is a more efficient use of machinery, labour and inputs.
• Total biomass yield from a double cropping trial east of Broome generated 20.8t/ha dry matter and 59.7t/ha of silage over a seven-month period but this did not exceed the yield achieved from growing a single crop with a longer-season phenology and best practice agronomy.
• Plant population density was highly correlated with yield, underscoring the importance of achieving the target plant population …

Nitrogen-Use Efficiency Of Irrigated Rhodes Grass In Northern Wa, Carla Milazzo, Christopher Ham, Geoff Moore

Grain and other field crops research reports

Cultivation of irrigated fodder and forage crops to intensify northern beef production in the west Kimberley and Pilbara has seen significant private investment over the past decade. To support this growing investment, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) carried out replicated, randomised trials on irrigated Rhodes grass near Broome.

High nitrogen (N) inputs are required for subtropical grasses to achieve annual growth rates of up to 40 t DM/ha and there is growing scrutiny of these systems to prevent nutrient losses to groundwater and downstream ecosystems. The research aimed to establish N (urea) response curves to five …

Evaluation Of Subtropical And Tropical Perennial Grasses For Irrigated Fodder In Northern Wa, Carla Milazzo, Samuel Crouch, Christopher Ham, Geoff Moore

Grain and other field crops research reports

• Under irrigation, varieties of Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) and panic grass (Megathyrsus maximus) grew more than 110 kg/ha dry matter per day, when averaged over a year, equal to more than 40 t/ha dry matter annually. Digit grasses (Digitaria spp.) were significantly lower yielding.
• Daily growth rates were affected by seasonal conditions and ranged from 60–90 kg/ha in Barrgana season (June–August) to 110–170 kg/ha in Wirlburu-Laja (September–November). Panic grass was slightly more sensitive to cool temperatures than Rhodes grass.
• Subtropical grasses outperformed tropical grass varieties such as Jarra grass, which had very low growth during the cool months (June–July).
• Crude …

Fodder Maize Variety Trial: Broome 2021, Carla Milazzo, Samuel Crouch, Christopher Ham, Geoff Moore

Grain and other field crops research reports

• High yielding, highly digestible maize can be produced under irrigation on Pindan sands in northern Western Australia.
• Using high inputs, the biomass and digestibility of all trialled varieties equalled or exceeded varieties used in well-established maize growing regions of Australia.
• Eleven hybrid maize varieties were trialled near Broome. The average dry matter yield of all trialled varieties was 24t/ha at 10.5MJ/kg of dry matter.
• The impact of fall armyworm on yield was successfully reduced by using integrated pest management combining NPV virus (nucleopolyhedrovirus) with strategic insecticide applications.

Evaluating The Impact Of Intercropping Vegetables And Cut Flowers On Yield And Conservation Biological Control, Alliance Igiraneza

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Specialty crops such as vegetables are some of the most susceptible to yield losses and increased management difficulty over time due to pests. One of the potential solutions to this problem, which aims at ensuring the sustainability of the sector, is using conservation biological control practices such as intercropping to increase diversity, while maintaining the economic feasibility and profitability of the system. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of this management practice using Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum var. King Arthur) as the main crop, intercropped with flowers including zinnia (Zinnia elegans var. Benary’s Giant), sunflower ( …

Arkansas Soybean Research Studies 2024, Jeremy Ross

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

The 2024 Arkansas Soybean Research Studies includes research reports on topics pertaining to soybean across several disciplines from breeding to post-harvest processing. Research reports contained in this publication may represent preliminary or only data from a single year or limited results; therefore, these results should not be used as a basis for long-term recommendations. Several research reports in this publication will appear in other University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture’s Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station publications. This duplication is the result of the overlap in research coverage between disciplines and our effort to inform Arkansas soybean producers of the research being …

Cis-Variant Gene-Expression Association Analysis: A Targeted Approach To Identify Functional Cis-Regulatory Variation, Sofiya Arora

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Phenotypic diversity in plants is largely driven by changes in gene function arising from mutations in both the coding and regulatory regions. Regulatory variation is particularly pervasive because it can fine-tune gene expression without disrupting protein function and is therefore less likely to be strongly selected against in natural populations. As a result, it has played a central role in evolution and domestication. In our previous genome-wide eQTL mapping study in maize, nearly two-thirds of the expressed genes were found to harbor detectable cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTLs) with strong local effects on gene expression. Though these cis-variants are widespread, …

Quantitative Genetics, Genomics, And Phenomics In Maize And Sorghum, Nikee Shrestha

Complex Biosystems Program: Dissertations and Student Research

Generating the best crop varieties and hybrids requires identifying genes associated with the phenotype of interest and screening thousands of varieties across multiple locations. Quantitative genetics, along with comparative genomics, phenomics, and machine learning approaches, can help us identify target genes associated with the phenotype of interest to develop the right genotypes. Satellite platforms offer logistical and technical advantages in scalability and accessibility and could facilitate plot-level predictions, especially with steadily improving spatial resolution, thereby empowering the large-scale screening of thousands of genotypes across diverse locations. In the first chapter, I evaluated over 20,000 plot-level images of over 80 hybrid …

Field Pea (Pisum Sativum L.) Response To Planting Date In South Carolina Organic Cropping Systems, Tristan Lawrence

All Theses

Field peas (Pisum sativum L.) are not widely cultivated in South Carolina, resulting in limited agronomic data to support farmers interested in this crop. However, field peas hold significant promise as a cool season crop for both organic and conventional growers in the region. Most commercially available field pea cultivars are evaluated and bred for the Pacific Northwest, where environmental conditions differ substantially from those in the southeastern United States. Consequently, there is a lack of region-specific recommendations for successful cultivation in South Carolina. To address this gap, a two-year planting date study was conducted during the …

Assessment Of Super Absorbent Polymer In Soybean Cultivation Under Variable Irrigation Conditions In Nebraska, Ankit Chandra, Abia Katimbo, Ronaldo Marchezan, Martha Nabaggala

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Presentations and White Papers

Water limitation is a primary constraint to soybean productivity in both irrigated and rainfed systems. Soil-applied superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) have been proposed as a strategy to buffer crops against episodic drought stress; however, their physiological and agronomic performance under varying irrigation regimes remains insufficiently quantified. Here, we evaluate three biodegradable polymer formulations: broader granules (BB), original granules (OG), and powder (PWR) applied at low (17.7 lb/ac) and high (120 lb/ac) rates under full (100% ET), reduced (50% ET), and no irrigation conditions in western Nebraska. Polymer application had negligible effects under full irrigation, with yields comparable to untreated controls. Under …

Effects Of Applying Humic Acid In-Furrow At Potato Planting, Jonathan Tyler Price

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Many products are marketed towards potato farmers that purport to have a positive return on investment for yield and quality. Humic acids, which are comprised of long chained, organic molecules that can be naturally or industrially made, are currently being marketed in this way. The use of these materials is reported to improve nutrient uptake, increase soil health, encourage vigorous growth, and most importantly, increase yields.  From 2023-2025, the in-furrow application of humic acid containing commercial products was evaluated in Pennsylvania on the cultivars ‘Lehigh’ and ‘Waneta’. Black Label Zn, Duo Maxx, Fertiactyl RhiZn, Humi-flex FA, Hydra-Hume, and Monty's Liquid …

Dried Water Treatment Residuals Might Be An Option To Reduce Soluble Reactive Phosphorus Release From Soils, Katie B. Mckay

Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

Nonpoint source pollution from agricultural landscapes contributes to freshwater eutrophication, with legacy phosphorus (P) in soils potentially driving soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) losses to surface waters. The objectives of this study were to evaluate SRP adsorption by dried water treatment residuals (WTRs) produced by Beaver Water District, quantify reductions in soil SRP release across increasing WTR application rates, and compare dried WTR performance to prior WTR studies.

Dried WTRs (~98% solids) were assessed using batch sorption experiments and soil core incubations. Phosphorus sorption was measured by mixing WTRs with CaCl₂ solutions containing increasing SRP concentrations and fitting results to …

Discovering The Genetics Underlying Speciation Traits In Heuchera (Coral Bells), Tajinder Singh

Honors Theses

Hybridization is a key evolutionary mechanism for generating biological diversity, ultimately shaping diversification and adaptation of plant lineages in natural and agroecosystems.  Our understanding of the frequency, distribution, and significance of hybridization is rapidly increasing, but the external driving forces that dictate why certain species hybridize, and others do not remain obscure. The physical traits that shape gene flow and trait sharing among species are likely to be among the key factors that directly control hybridization. Gene flow in most plants is mediated by pollinating insects and thus by pollination syndromes, which are suites of floral traits that have evolved …