Potassium carryover dynamics and optimal application policies in cotton production

Information about soil nutrient carryover dynamics can assist cotton producers with the optimal management of potassium (K) fertilizer. Optimal K management promotes cotton plant health, may decrease input costs, and increases cotton lint yields. A dynamic programming model was developed to determine optimal K application rates and economic returns under different soil information scenarios based on cotton yield response to K fertilizer and fertilizer carryover estimates from a multi-year field trial. A Monte Carlo analysis was conducted to simulate the impact of stochastic input and lint prices and cotton yield on K management over a five-period planning horizon. Results suggest that soil test data could provide important information about K carryover potential, which may lead to more efficient fertilizer use and higher profit margins for cotton producers.     

黔北地区主要竹种竹材气干密度与力学性质的关系研究

对黔北地区几种主要竹种的气干密度与力学性质的关系研究表明:各竹种的气千密度与力学性质除部分竹种外均存在一定的曲线或直线关系,其中在气干密度与抗剪强度关系中,除慈竹、花吊丝、毛脚龙竹、金佛山方竹等竹种外,其他竹种均可利用回归方程T12=ap12b,T12=ap12+b进行估测.在气干密度与顺纹抗拉强度关系中除硬头黄、花吊...     

Novel Magnetic Nanocarbon and Its Adsorption of Hg and Pb from Water

Lead and mercury are two of the most toxic heavy metals in environments. Mesosilicate-templated magnetic nanocarbons with ascorbic acid as carbon precursor were developed through nanocasting processes. The nanocarbon showed effective magnetic separation and the maximum adsorption capacity of 80.6 and 66.3 mg/g for Hg and Pb, respectively. Langmuir model well described adsorption processes of both Hg and Pb from water. Magnetic nanocarbon could be easily separated and incinerated, reducing the volume requiring the disposal. This study indicates that mesosilicate-templated nanocarbons with easy disposal potentials may be good candidates for cleansing Hg and Pb from contaminated water.     

Influences of U Sources and Forms on Its Bioaccumulation in Indian Mustard and Sunflower

Anthropogenic activities, such as ore mining and processing, nuclear power generation, and weapon tests, have generated uranium (U) contamination to soils and waters. The mobility and bioavailability of U are influenced by its sources, speciation, and plant species. Phytoremediation has emerged as an environmentally friendly, cost-effective green technology to remediate radioisotope- and metal-contaminated soils. The main objective of this study was to explore the feasibility using sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) in cleaning up soils with UO₂, UO₃, and UO₂(NO₃)₂. Uranium was found to be bioaccumulated in plant roots more than plant shoots. Uranium uptake by both plant species was significantly higher from the UO₃- and uranyl-contaminated soils than from UO₂-contaminated soils. UO₃- and UO₂(NO₃)₂-contaminated soils showed higher exchangeable, weak acid extractable, and labile U than the UO₂-contaminated soils. After a growing season, three U forms decreased as redistribution/transformation of U resulted in U species with lower extractability. This study indicates the importance of U speciation in soil with regard to the potential use of sunflower and Indian mustard for phytoremediation of U-contaminated soils.     

Spatial occupancy patterns and activity of arid rangeland cattle grazing small riparian pastures

The spatial occupancy patterns and activity of cattle grazing three riparian pastures was investigated in northeastern Oregon using Global Positioning System (GPS) collars logging at 1‐sec intervals. Cattle consistently selected plant communities as grazing areas that had forage in sufficient volume to meet their requirements and favored communities as resting areas that were dry and open. Cattle were stationary for more than 50% of the time in each pasture and consistently rested between dark and 04:00 hours. Interaction with stream channels was found to be 1‐2% of total occupancy time and occurred on less than 10% of channel length. Cattle were indifferent or avoided channel areas relative to their area and, when in this zone, they spent most of their time moving not resting. Cattle did not prefer the stream bank zone and spent only 2% of their time in that zone. When occupied, the stream bank zone was used as a travel corridor to gain access to water or cross the channel to access other pasture areas. These results are in contrast with the general belief that cattle are a primary occupant of the stream bank/channel area; additional research is needed to define factors influencing cattle occupancy.     

Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass Storage Covers to Reduce Ammonia Emissions from Dairy Manure

Manure storages, and in particular those storing digested manure, are a source of ammonia (NH₃) emissions. Installing floating manure covers provide resistance to gas transfer from manure storage surface to air and reduces NH₃ emissions; however, performance can be limited to durability. Biochar and steam-treated wood have strong potential as manure storage covers as they are capable of repelling water, resistant to microbial degradation, and could be applied to crop acreage. An additional benefit of biochars as a cover is their capability of NH₃ sorption trapping TAN (total ammoniacal N) before it is volatilized resulting in further abatement. Installation of permeable manure storage covers is difficult and adding covers with agitators could facilitate implementation. This study measured NH₃ emissions from laboratory scale storages of digested manure with raw wood (white birch, Betula papyrifera), steam-treated wood, wood biochar, and corncob biochar covers. Additional treatments included mixing biomass treatments into manure storages to measure the reduction potential of incorporated biomass. All treatments reduced emissions of NH₃ from the control by 40 to 96%. The highest NH₃ emissions reductions of 96% were achieved with the wood biochar cover. The primary mechanism for treatment was resistance to gas transfer provided by the physical barrier of covers as NH₃ sorption did not correspond to reductions. Covering digested manure storages with any of the treatments can reduce NH₃ emissions; biochar covers are a more effective barrier to NH₃ emissions and are recommended to minimize NH₃ manure storage losses.     

Selecting cotton yield response function to estimate profit-maximizing potassium fertilization rates for cotton production in Tennessee

Recent research has shown that stochastic yield response functions fit data better than deterministic yield response functions; however, little research exists comparing profit-maximizing fertilizer rates for upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) using stochastic and deterministic yield response functions. The objective of this research was to determine the most appropriate yield response functional form from which to determine the profit-maximizing potassium (K) rate for cotton in Tennessee. Data were used from a nine-year K fertilizer experiment in Jackson, Tennessee. Quadratic, quadratic-plus-plateau, linear response plateau, and linear response stochastic plateau response functions were estimated to determine the yield response function that best fit the data. The linear response stochastic plateau function was the most suitable yield response function for the data. The profit-maximizing K rate ranged from 65.2 to 74.3 kg K ha^?1. Misspecification of the yield response function recommended over-application of K fertilizer and decreased the producer's short-term profits.     

Genetic variability among isolates of Fusarium oxysporum from sugar beet

Fusarium yellows, caused by the soil‐borne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. betae (Fob), can lead to significant yield losses in sugar beet. This fungus is variable in pathogenicity, morphology, host range and symptom production, and is not a well characterized pathogen on sugar beet. From 1998 to 2003, 86 isolates of F. oxysporum and 20 other Fusarium species from sugar beet, along with four F. oxysporum isolates from dry bean and five from spinach, were obtained from diseased plants and characterized for pathogenicity to sugar beet. A group of sugar beet Fusarium isolates from different geographic areas (including nonpathogenic and pathogenic F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. proliferatum and F. avenaceum), F. oxysporum from dry bean and spinach, and Fusarium DNA from Europe were chosen for phylogenetic analysis. Sequence data from β‐ tubulin, EF1α and ITS DNA were used to examine whether Fusarium diversity is related to geographic origin and pathogenicity. Parsimony and Bayesian MCMC analyses of individual and combined datasets revealed no clades based on geographic origin and a single clade consisting exclusively of pathogens. The presence of FOB and nonpathogenic isolates in clades predominately made up of Fusarium species from sugar beet and other hosts indicates that F. oxysporum f. sp. betae is not monophyletic.