Plant Biology Commons^™

Bridging Prairie Restoration And Regenerative Agriculture With Compost Tea, April Hersey

2025 Symposium

Inland Pacific Northwest prairie is an endangered ecosystem that has been reduced by conversion to agriculture. There is growing interest in the role of soil microorganisms in prairie ecosystems, which may be crucial for restoration of the plant community through interspecies interactions within the soil near plant roots. One method for improving soil microorganism community composition is compost tea: enriched liquid compost extract. Compost tea is used in regenerative agriculture to improve crop yields and protect against pathogens, ostensibly through the activity of the added compost microbes. While research has supported compost tea application in regenerative agriculture, it has not …

Niche Conservatism And Sympatric Parallel Evolution May Help To Maintain Eight Nascent Tree Taxa Along A Sharp Elevation Gradient, Elizabeth A. Stacy, Rebecca Ostertag

Life Sciences Faculty Research

1. Patterns of niche partitioning among closely related taxa, such as those in incipient adaptive radiations, can provide clues into how niches are created, partitioned, and integrated over ecological and evolutionary time scales. Hawaiian Metrosideros is a ~3-MYO adaptive radiation of trees that dominates the Hawaiian Islands in continuous stands within islands and allows examination of niche partitioning at the early stages of adaptive radiation.
2. We monitored growth and survivorship over 2 years of seedlings derived from open-pollinated fruits of eight Metrosideros taxa distributed along the elevation gradient of Koʻolau Volcano, Oʻahu, under four combinations of light and phosphorus. We included …

Creek-Friendly Practices For Hoas, Plaster Creek Stewards

Print Materials

This booklet is intended to be a comprehensive guide to encourage Homeowner Associations (HOAs) in nurturing and safeguarding their local waterways. Within these pages the challenges facing our water ecosystems will be addressed, with particular focus being placed on the Plaster Creek Watershed in West Michigan. This booklet will also emphasize the role HOAs can play in fostering environmental stewardship and healthier, more resilient creek systems. This booklet contains practical strategies, from rain gardens to native plantings, that not only enhance the beauty of your HOA but extends care to downstream neighbors and the creek.

Soil Health In Nebraska: Exploring Practitioners' Needs And Insights From A Long-Term Organic Farm, Ingrids Isabel Mata Vigil

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

Soil health is foundational to sustainable agriculture, environmental resilience, and long-term food security. Yet, the adoption of soil health assessments remains limited, often perceived as too technical, costly, or difficult to implement in real-world contexts. To better understand these challenges, the first chapter presents findings from a statewide survey of 41 soil health practitioners in Nebraska, including farmers, extension educators, NRCS staff, and conservation professionals. Respondents highlighted the need for simpler, more accessible, and context-specific tools for soil health assessment that help practitioners make informed decisions aligned with their management goals. Complementing these insights, the second chapter includes an independent, …

Evaluating The Effects Of Row Spacing, Legume Intercropping, Fertilizer Source, And Fertilizer Timing On Intermediate Wheatgrass In Eastern Nebraska, Madeline M. Johnston

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

Kernza^® is the trademarked name of the perennial crop intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium). In addition to its potential for dual-use as a grain and forage crop, Kernza is marketed to provide needed environmental services by increasing crop biodiversity, sequestering soil carbon, and reducing nitrate leaching. However, more work is needed in cultivar selection and crop management to increase total grain yields and prevent long-term grain yield decline. Furthermore, research in quantifying and understanding Kernza’s ability to affect soil properties and water dynamics is limited.

Two field experiments were conducted at the Eastern Nebraska Research Extension and Education …

Response Of Soybean To Variable Irrigation Levels In Eastern Nebraska Using The Aquacrop Model, Anmol Singh

Department of Agricultural and Biological Systems Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

AquaCrop was calibrated and validated for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] using 19 irrigation treatments from five years using data from field experiments. The model accurately simulated canopy cover (CC), soil water content (SWC), and grain yield, with overall validation nRMSE values of 12%, 7%, and 7%, respectively. The overall validation nRMSE for SWC in individual 30-cm soil layers was comparatively higher, at 19%. The model was subsequently applied for long-term simulations (2010–2024) to estimate soybean yield and water requirements for two dominant soil types, Yutan silty clay loam and Tomek silt loam under three irrigation levels - rainfed, …

Comparison Of Energy Efficiency And Vegetation In Different Establishment And Management Systems Of Steep Mountainous Grassland In The Aso Area, Japan, K Kabata, C Okamoto, M Shimizu, M Kikuchi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Aso area is one of the most important areas for grass­land agriculture in Japan. In this area there exists ca. 44,000 hectares of which ca. 28,700 ha are steep mountainous lands ( a gradient of more than 15 degrees). Additionally, there is much precipitation (ca 2.600 mm/year) in the area. Consequently, there is a problem of grassland destruction due to soil erosion. Therefore, in order to promote the utilization and conser­vation of steep grasslands, the following two experimental grazing were carried out: 1) a two pasture system and 2) a coexistent pasture system with introduced and native grasses. In …

Comparison De La Dynamique De La Vegetation De Deux Ecosystemes Herbagers Mesoxerophiles Apres Deprise Agricole Dans Le Massif Vosgien, S Muller

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Les orientations actuelles de !'agriculture europeenne dans le cadre de la Politique Agricole Commune de la Communaute Economique Europeenne devraient conduire a !'abandon dans les decennies a venir de plusieurs millions d'hectares de terres agricoles en France, entrainant des modifications ecologiques et paysageres considerables. Dans le Massif Vosgien la deprise agricole, consecutive a la regression des industries traditionnelles et a !'elevation du niveau de vie, a provoque !'abandon depuis les annees 1950 de nombreux herbages, autrefois entretenus surtout par des pluri­actifs. Ces milieux evoluent alors vers des friches herbacees seboisant plus ou moins rapidement de maniere spontanee.

Massif Vosgien constitue …

Le Role Des Plantes Herbageres Dans La Limitation Des Pertes Des Principaux Elements Nutritifs Par Le Drainage, S Kopec

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Depuis longtemps on connait !'action anti-erosive des plan­tes herbageres qui empechent d'une fa< ;on tres efficace l'affais­sement des particules de sol, en particulier sur des surfaces en pente. Dans ces derniers temps on parle de plus en plus souvent du role des herbages dans la limitation du drainage des elements nutritifs du sol et de nombreuses recherches menees a cet effet dans plusieurs pays le confirment (Jones, 1972; Gachon et Tri­boi, 1967; Kopec, 1985). Dans cette etude on a presente les resultats des recherches lysimetriques Sur la quantite des principaux elements nutritifs draines par les eaux s'evacuant des terrains agricoles couverts d'herbages et d'autres cultures.

Degradation Models And Their Use In Determining The Condition Of Southern African Grasslands, O.J H. Bosch, K Kellner, S.H E. Scheepers

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An understanding of the processes of change is an important prerequisite for the development of techniques for the monitor­ing of condition and trend, and to interpret the ecological sig­nificance of determined condition classes. The approach to develop and use degradation models for determining range condition is illustrated in this paper by means of basic ecological data from the relatively high rainfall zone in the climatic climax grasslands (Mentis and Huntley, 1982) of southern Africa.

An Experiment And Study On A Air-Seeding Astragalus Adsurgens For Soil Conservation On The Loess Plateau Of China, Yimin Liang, Daiqiong Li, Xinhai Cong

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The irrational land utilization has resulted in destruction of original vegetation and serious soil erosion on the Loess Pla­teau in China. At present, 1600 million ton of sediment is disch­arged into the Yell ow River per year. In order to explore effec­tive avenues to speed reestablishing vegetation for controlling soil erosion, we made an experiment in seeding forage and shrubs by airplane for four years, from 1976 to 1979, in semi­arid region on the Loess Plateau. We selected suitable plant species for aerial seeding on semiarid region, determined fit aerial seeding time and seeding rate through manual broadcast and air-seeding. …

Role Potentiel Des Legumineuses Annuelles A Ressemis En France, P Masson, G Gintzburger

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

L'interet pour les legumineuses annuelles a ressemis est recent en France malgre !'importance de la zone mediterra­neenne et atlantique dont ces plantes sont originaires. Le trefle souterrain (Trifolium subterraneum) et les luzernes annuelles (Medicago sp.) apparaissent respectivement dans notre littera­ture specialisee a la suite de travaux d'amelioration pastorate en Corse (Etienne, 1977) et des travaux de plusieurs labora­toires de l'Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique a Montpellier (Gintzburger et Prosperi, 1987). Apres 4 ans d'experimentation dans diverses situations des Pyrenees Orientates dans le sud de la France en climat mediter­raneen (pluviometrie moyenne annuelle de 575 mm a …

Agroforestry In The Southeastern United States, H A. Pearson, C E. Lewis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Agroforestry has been practiced for many years in the tropics by intermixing forages under palms, fruit trees, or hardwoods. Interest has increased in temperate zones for combining trees, pastures, crops, and livestock. Agroforestry in the United States is generally limited to the combining of pines, tame pastures, and cattle. Our purpose is to summarize results of research and developments in the southeastern United States on cool-and warm-season forages under planted pines and pine regeneration in tame pasture.

The Effects Of Heavy Metals Applied In Digested Sewage Sludge To Grassland, A Desira Buttigieg, D A. Klessa, D A. Hall

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The application of potentially toxic elements in sewage sludge to grassland has implications to environmental pol­lution and the health of grazing rumiµants. In Scotland, mod­erately acid grassland receives most of the sewage sludge applied to agricultural land and there is therefore a risk of heavy metal mobilisation and uptake by herbage. In addition, soil ingestion (Fleming, 1986) and intake of herbage contami­nated with sludge adhering to leaf surfaces may present an important means by which potentially toxic elements are absorbed by ruminants. In this paper, two aspects of sewage sludge use on grassland are studied, namely : 1. Factors affecting …

Increasing Flora Diversity In Grassland Swards, R J. Haggar, D Jones

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Europe's farmers are being encouraged to take land out of agriculture in order to reduce surplus cereal production. There is therefore, increasing scope for creating new species-rich swards, although guidelines for this purpose are lacking. Several reasons are advanced for encouraging species diver­sity and conservation, including recreational, ethical, education and resource utilisation. As leisure time increases, so public interest in conservation matters increases. Scientifically, there is a need to preserve genetic diversity and to understand the com­plex plant and animal relationship leading to a rich and varied community. This paper describes two experiments aimed at achieving a . highly diverse …

Grass Plan Density For Adequate Conservation Reserve Program Stands, D W. Meyer, D Rugroden

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a federal program with the objective to reduce surplus feed grain pro­duction in the United States by idling marginal cropland, has already idled nearly 12 million hectares with a target of 32 mil­lion hectares. Idled land must be seeded to perennial grasses to help prevent soil erosion. The required grass seeding has caused the cost of grass seed to increase several fold ; therefore, estab­lishment cost could be reduced considerably if seeding rates could be reduced from the present recommended 215 to 323 seeds/m2 (Dodds, 1981). Recommended seeding rates were developed from research on establishment …

Multiple Of The Intermountain Region, Forest Service, United States Department Of Agriculture, J S. Tixier, A H. Winward

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Initial custodians of the National Forests of the United States were primarily concerned about protecting what were perceived as deteriorating timber stands and watersheds. Con­siderable progress was made in correcting these problems in the first half of this Century. As the population of the United States grew, more people became interested in management of all resources on these public lands. Forest Officers gradually became stewards managing a broad array of lands and resources for which there were often conflicting interests and uses. A primary use of National Forests in the Western United States has been livestock grazing. Here, animals are …

Phosphatic Settling Pond Clays As Potential Forage Legume Seed Production Site, D D. Baltensperger, G M. Prine, D S. Wofford

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage legume species perform a vital role in the agriculture of the state of Florida (Baltensperger et al., 1985a, 1985b, and 1987; Taylord et al., 1985). Cool-season cultivars adapted to this climate must also perform well in the Pacific Northwest or California since these are the primary areas of commercial seed production (Baltensperger et al., 1987). Commercial seed for the wa:m��s_eason species is typically produced in Florida. A pri­mary hm1tmg factor for seed production in Florida is the low water-holding-capacity of the sandy soils which necessitates frequent irrigation, subsequently reducing seed quality. Potential seed production areas include reclaimed phosphate minelands …

Influence Of Reduced Intensity Of Grassland Management On Herbage Yield, Forage Quality, Sod Density And Botanical Composition, P Dahmen, W Kuhbauch, U Thome

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the Federal State of Northrhine Westfalia, a number of programs have been initiated to reduce intensity of land use with respect to unwanted environmental effects presumably coming from conventional agricultural systems. On grassland most of the programs require delayed first cuttings for hay and silage, reduced fertilization and/or less grazing pressure on pastures. Field experiments were established in order to evalu­ate consequences of these programs for practical farming and grassland ecology. Treatments include conventional grassland management systems with intensive fertilization and utilization as well as intermediate and low intensity systems.

Limits For Cattle Slurry Application On Permanent Grassland, B Stratmann, W Kuhbauch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Several experiments indicate little risk of groundwater pol­lution with nitrate under permanent grass (DVWK 1985), but only few studies deal with surface water contamination due to grassland fertilization, especially slurry spreading. The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of cattle slurry in comparison to mineral nitrogen fertilization on surface run-off and interflow quality under different inclinated permanent grassland (18 % and 4.5 % resp.).