Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons^™

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 ( …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Target-Site Resistance To Glyphosate In Eleusine Indica Biotypes From South Sulawesi And Lampung, Indonesia, Ahmad Nur Lazuardi, Denny Kurniadie, Uum Umiyati, Ryan Widianto

Jurnal Kultivasi

Glyphosate is a non-selective systemic herbicide that has been widely used to control weeds by local corn farmers in South Sulawesi and Lampung Provinces of Indonesia. However, some corn farmers in these two regions were considered that glyphosate herbicide at the standard field dose no longer effective against goosegrass (Eleusine indica). To confirms the level of its resistance to glyphosate, seeds of E. indica suspected to be glyphosate-resistant were collected from corn fields in Soppeng Regency-South Sulawesi and South Lampung Regency-Lampung (designated as GR-1 and GR-2 respectively), along with a known susceptible biotype from Sumedang Regency-West Java (GS) as a …

The Effect Of Liquid Foliar Fertilizer And Pruning Combinations On The Growth Of Productive Phase Arabica Coffee Plants (Coffea Arabica L.), Syifa Djuita Putri, Alvito Krishna Balapradhana, Mira Ariyanti, Intan Ratna Dewi Anjarsari, Yudithia Maxiselly

Jurnal Kultivasi

In recent years, productivity decline in arabica coffee has become a real issue in Indonesia. This decay has been brought about by various external and internal factors that are beyond human control. Various factors, including suboptimal cultivation practices, take part in this process. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pruning combined with foliar fertilizer application (coconut water and sugarcane molasses) and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) on the vegetative growth of arabica coffee plants during the production phase. The research was conducted at Ciparanje Experimental Field, Universitas Padjadjaran, using a randomized complete block design with seven treatments …

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 …

Growth And Yield Response Of Shallots To Npk, Nk, And Humic Acid Under Different Mycorrhiza Application, Alfu Laila, Endang Sulistyorini

Jurnal Kultivasi

One strategy to increase shallot production is the utilization of microorganisms in the soil, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which is applied together with fertilizer. This research aimed to investigate the effects of different nutrient inputs and mycorrhizal association on the growth and yield of shallots. This study used a split-plot design with three replications as blocks. The main plot included four treatments: no nutrient inputs, NPK fertilizer, NK fertilizer, and humic acid, while the subplot involved the mycorrhiza application (with or without). The measured variables included growth (plant height and number of leaves) and yield (fresh weight and …

Response Of Chlorophyll, Morphology, And Yield Of Several East Java Superior Soybean (Glycine Max L.) Varieties To Levels Of Salinity, Puji Lestari Tarigan, Ida Retno Moeljani, Fadila Suryandika, Hadi Munarko

Jurnal Kultivasi

Soybean production has been extended to saline areas. This development is a strategy to expand planting areas to suboptimal land to increase worldwide production. To support cultivation in these locations, it is necessary to develop superior varieties that are resistant to salinity and provide supporting technological inputs. In saline conditions, soybeans may face stress that leads to morphological, physiological, and yield disturbances. Consequently, the response of several soybeans in East Java should be observed. This study is a pot experiment and arranged in a Factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) consisting of two factors, soybean varieties and NaCl concentrations. The treatments …

Growth Response And Yield Performance Of Upland Rice Intercropped With Legumes, Sevirasari, Wilujeng Hidayati, Zulfa Az Zahroh, Bayu Febriansyah, Marifatul Apri Fiana, Nabilla Najwa Rochmaniah, Khavid Faozi, Lafi Na'imatul Bayyinah, Joko Maryanto, Ahmad Fauzi

Jurnal Kultivasi

Intercropping patterns in upland rice must be carefully managed to prevent excessive competition among crops. This research aimed to determine the ideal proportion of upland rice–legume intercropped and legume types for rice growth and yield. The research was conducted in Mersi, East Purwokerto, Banyumas, Central Java, from April–August 2025. The study was arranged in a split-plot design consisting of a main factor in form of the proportion of upland rice to legumes (1:1, 2:1, and 3:1), and a sub-factor, i.e., legume types (peanuts, mung beans, and soybeans). The data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance and Tukey's HSD test at …

Silage Sorghum Variety Trial: Broome 2023-2024 Wet Season, Carla Milazzo, Aimee Grieves, Christopher Ham, Geoff Moore

Grain and other field crops research reports

Seven sorghum varieties suitable for silage production were planted at the start of the wet season when high temperatures and increasing day length promoted rapid growth.

Late maturing varieties were the highest yielding – producing up to 44 t/ha dry matter over 125 days.

Metabolisable energy content increased as plants matured to the soft dough growth stage, to 8.5 MJ/kg dry matter, falling short of the target 10 MJ/kg for high liveweight gains in cattle.

Effects Of Soil Amelioration On Wheat Growth, Nutrition, And Soil Microbiome Dynamics In Sandy Soil, Shompa Akter, Sultan Mia, M. Asaduzzaman Prodhan, Gaus Azam, Zakaria Solaiman, Kadambot H M Siddique

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Purpose Cropping regions in Western Australia (WA) face multiple soil constraints including acidity, nutrient deficiencies, compaction and water repellence, which limit crop productivity. Developing sustainable soil management strategies is therefore crucial. This study evaluates the effects of soil amendments—lime, gypsum, clay, compost, and synthetic fertilisers on soil health, nutrient availability, microbial function and wheat production. Methods A glasshouse experiment was conducted using undisturbed soil cores collected in a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) column from a field trial site where four treatments were applied: Control (no amendment), CLG (clay, lime, gypsum), CLG + NPK (CLG + nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilisers), and …

Effects Of Spatially Targeted Fertilizer Strategies On Canopy Growth Across Contrasting Tart Cherry Orchard Sites, Kurt Wedegaertner, Brent Black, Matt Yost, Grant Cardon

Plants, Soils and Climate Student Research

Variable-rate fertilization is increasingly promoted in perennial orchard systems, but its effectiveness remains difficult to predict because tree responses are often inconsistent and strongly conditioned by site-specific constraints. To address this, we evaluated soil-based and vigor-based zoning frameworks across four commercial tart cherry (Prunus cerasus) orchards representing contrasting soil conditions, canopy structures, and management histories. Within each orchard, management zones were defined using either soil apparent electrical conductivity (ECa) or satellite-derived canopy vigor. Fertilization strategies were implemented by varying fertilizer application timing among zones using split-application approaches while maintaining a constant total fertilizer rate. Tree-level canopy structure was …

Evaluating Differences In The Dynamic Growth Patterns Of Cvi And Ler Genetic Strains Of Arabidopsis During Seedling Establishment, Emily Frost

Undergraduate Research Symposium (2026- )

Seedling establishment is the process by which seedlings transition from depending on seed nutrients to making their own through photosynthesis. An important aspect is photomorphogenesis, the growth of plants in response to light, transitioning from rapid embryonic stem growth to a slower rate focused on root growth and leaf formation. The process is influenced by many genetic and environmental factors, making better characterization essential to understand plant development. For our research, we examined the dynamic growth of two Arabidopsis genetic strains (Cvi and Ler) over time in response to darkness, then to the change in response when light is introduced. …

Weed Seed Burial And Long-Term Viability Following Soil Inversion, Catherine Borger, Sultan Mia, Gaus Azam, Stephen Davies

Grain and Other Field Crops Research Articles

Strategic soil inversion is advocated as a periodic weed management strategy, typically recommended every 4 to 8 yr if the goal is to delay the evolution of herbicide resistance. It is assumed that the weed seeds buried during the inversion process will lose viability during this period. However, long-term seedbank persistence following soil inversion has not been investigated. If the buried seeds retain viability, subsequent inversions or other deep-tillage operations may return them to the soil surface, potentially replenishing the weed seedbank. The current study identified 30 sites within the wheatbelt of Western Australia (in 2020) that had previously been …

Soil Nutrient Sufficiency Does Not Ensure Plant Nutrient Status, Chandralekha Joga Miss

Scholars Week

Soil testing is commonly used to guide nutrient management. However, plants may not use nutrients in the same way that soil tests predict. This can happen when nutrients interact and limit uptake. This study evaluated whether soil test results match plant nutrient status under different compost levels, with a focus on nutrient antagonism. Soils from three compost histories were used: no compost (T1), moderate compost (T2), and long-term high compost from repeated hog manure application (T3). Soils were mixed with ProMix and Perlite (1:1:1), and Chijimisai was grown under greenhouse conditions. Plant height and chlorophyll (SPAD) were measured weekly. Soil …