bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Autumn Management on Orchardgrass–White Clover Swards
Authors: Belesky David P. , Fedders James M.
Published: July 2010

The influence of autumn management on the productivity, morphology, and botanical composition of an orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) sward was investigated over 3 yr. Stockpiled (nongrazed) canopies were clipped at fixed intervals throughout autumn from exclosures established in each of nine paddocks to determine growth rates and productivity of standing herbage. Pastures were grazed by weaned lambs (Ovis aries) beginning in August in each of 3 yr. Grazing animals were removed from three replicate paddocks after 30 (early closed), 60, or 90 d (late closed). Paddocks were sampled at 2‐wk intervals to determine herbage mass, botanical composition, and total nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations of grasses and legumes. Early‐closed paddocks continued to accumulate herbage during autumn, resulting in greater senescence over winter than in lateclosed paddocks. Herbage mass in spring was not affected by autumn management. Late‐closed paddocks had significantly more clover than did early‐closed paddocks in spring. Early‐closed paddocks were comprised of grass plants that had relatively few and large tillers and by white clover plants that had fewer growing points than those in lateclosed paddocks. In comparison, late‐closed paddocks had grass plants comprised of many small tillers and white clover plants with about twice as many growing points. Stolon mass was greater, but total nonstructural carbohydrate concentrations were less during autumn in late‐ than in early‐closed paddocks. The decrease in clover mass over the course of the experiment coincided with a decrease in total herbage mass. A delicate balance between growing points and carbohydrates may be involved in clover presence in mixed swards.
Spring Nitrogen Rate and Timing Influence on Seed Yield Components of Perennial Ryegrass
Authors: Young William C. , Youngberg Harold W. , Chilcote David O.
Published: July 2010

Spring application of N generally increases seed yield of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Understanding the influence of N rates and timings on seed yield components can be used to improve N use efficiencies and seed yield. Field experiments during 1982 and 1983 at Oregon State University studied the effects of 60, 90, and 120 kg N ha−1, applied either at double‐ridge stage (DR) or at spikelet initiation stage (SI), on seed yield and yield components of the cultivar Pennfine. Control plots with no spring‐applied N were also included. Little lodging was observed in 1982, but all plots severely lodged by maturity in 1983. Timing of N application did not affect seed yield in either year. Compared with the control, spring N increased seed yield 43% in 1982 and 39% in 1983 when averaged across rates. In 1982, seed yield did not vary with N rates applied at DR, but 120 kg N ha−1 produced greater seed yield than 60 kg N ha−1 when applied at SI. In 1983, seed yield was maximized by 90 kg N ha−1 applied at DR, and by 120 kg N ha−1 applied at SI. Nitrogen application did not affect the number of spikes per unit area, but increased seed number per spike in 1982 and weight per seed in 1983. Averaged across rates and timings, N increased total number of seeds produced per unit area 43% in 1982 and 30% in 1983. Seed yield was correlated with the number of seeds per spike in both 1982 (r2 = 0.68) and 1983 (r2 = 0.72). In 1983, seed yield was also correlated with weight per seed (r2 = 0.55). We concluded that in the absence of severe lodging, 60 kg N ha−1 applied at DR is adequate for achieving maximum seed yield. If fertilization is postponed until SI, however, higher rates of N may be required. Results also suggest that modifications in N fertilization should focus on improving seed set per spike and seed growth rather than increasing the number of spikes per unit area or floret sites per spike.
Tall Fescue Growth after Paraquat Application to Elongating or Mature Leaves
Authors: Skinner R. Howard , Nelson Curtis J. , Coutts John H.
Published: July 2010

Paraquat (1,1'‐dimethyl‐4,4'‐bipyridinium dichloride) is commonly used to kill endophyte‐infected stands of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) prior to reseeding with endophyte‐free cultivars. Regrowth of infected plants, however, is often a problem, even when control initially appears to be adequate. Our objective was to evaluate the effect of leaf developmental stage on sensitivity to paraquat applications. Ten 0.5‐μL drops of paraquat at 0‐ to 60‐mM concentrations were applied to either fully elongated blades, or to emerged portions of elongating leaves of 3‐ and 6‐wk‐old seedlings growing in a growth chamber, and to endophyte‐infected plants in the field. Leaf elongation rate in the growth chamber decreased 4 h after paraquat application to elongating leaves of 6‐wk‐old plants. Paraquat did not affect leaf elongation in the field until considerable damage to the elongating leaf had occurred. Visible damage to the treated leaf also occurred faster in the growth chamber than in the field. In both environments, injury was greater when elongating compared with fully elongated leaves were treated. When fully elongated leaves were treated, damage was often limited to the treated leaf, while the shoot apex remained alive and capable of initiating new leaves and tillers. Treatment of elongating leaves, however, increased the probability that the entire plant would be killed. To increase effectiveness, paraquat should be applied to young, elongating leaves. However, these leaf blades are vertically oriented, slightly rolled, lower in leaf area, and narrower than fully elongated leaves, making their treatment more difficult.
Microplot Size and Retainer Effects on Rice Growth and Nitrogen‐15 Accumulation
Authors: Bufogle Arthur , Bollich Patrick K. , Kovar John L. , Lindau Charles W. , Macchiavelli R. E.
Published: July 2010

Nitrogen studies on flooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) often use 15N as a tracer, which is usually contained within microplots and retainers to restrict root growth and to prevent 15N movement in floodwater and the soil solution. Little research has addressed the effects of the microplot and retainer on plant growth, N accumulation, and plot microclimate. The objectives of this field study were to (i) determine the effects of microplot size and retainer on plant growth, N accumulation, floodwater and soil temperature, and floodwater and soil pH and (ii) determine the size of microplots with and without retainers that most closely simulate a field plot. ‘Cypress’ rice was drill‐seeded in a Crowley silt loam soil (fine, smectitic, thermic Typic Albaqualf) in circular microplots (15, 35, and 60 cm in diameter) with retainers, and square microplots (75 cm long) with and without retainers. Nitrogen‐15‐labeled urea was applied preflood at 151 kg N ha−1. The control was a 2.1‐ by 7.6‐m field plot fertilized with unlabeled urea at 151 kg N ha−1. All plots were harvested at 90% heading. Plants in 15‐, 35‐, and 60‐cm microplots were 8.5 to 25.4 cm shorter than plants in the field plot in at least one year. Plant dry matter and total N accumulation in microplots did not differ from the field plot, except for total N accumulation in the 15‐cm microplot and dry matter in the 35‐cm microplot. Water and soil temperature in microplots with retainers were 1.0 to 3.5°C lower than in the field plot. Water and soil pH did not differ between microplots and the field plot. The 75‐cm square microplot with a retainer was found to be the best substitute for the field plot.
Supplemental Ultraviolet‐B Radiation Does Not Reduce Growth or Grain Yield in Rice
Authors: Dai Qiujie , Peng Shaobing , Chavez Arlene Q. , Miranda Ma. Lourdes L. , Vergara Benito S. , Olszyk David M.
Published: July 2010

Negative effects of enhanced UV‐B radiation have been demonstrated in plants, but impacts under realistic field conditions remain uncertain. Adverse impacts to major crops, such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), that are grown in areas with currently high ambient levels of UV‐B, could have consequences for food security. To address the response of rice to UV‐B, we conducted an intensive and extensive series of field experiments from 1992 to 1995 documenting the effects of supplemental UV‐B (simulating approximately 20% ozone depletion for the Philippines), using irrigated rice cultivars under tropical conditions. This multiseason study indicated that supplemental UV‐B had no significant effects on rice grain yield (including the yield components spikelet filling percentage, and 1000‐grain weight) or growth parameters (plant height or panicles per square meter). The absence of UV‐B effects was consistent across seasonal environment (four dry and three wet seasons), cultivar, and type of exposure system. Thus, rice yields are not likely to be affected by increases in UV‐B under realistic field conditions.
Comparison of Empirical Equations for Temperature Correction of Gypsum Sensors
Authors: Aggelides Sotiris M. , Londra Paraskevi A.
Published: July 2010

Electrical resistance gypsum sensors (two types from Soilmoisture Equipment Corp. and one type from Anti‐Sel Co.) were calibrated for temperature in a specially constructed box with thermal and moisture isolation. Results indicated that the relationship between log values of electrical resistance and temperature for different moisture contents of the porous sensors was linear. To convert electrical resistance values from the field temperature to a reference temperature of 25°C, an equation is proposed for the three different types of resistance sensors. Comparison tests indicated that our suggested equation gives better results, for these three types of gypsum sensors used under the current experimental conditions, than other empirical equations found in the literature.
Determination of Differential Carbon Dioxide Concentration by Conductimetric Analysis
Authors: Baker John M.
Published: July 2010

There are many applications in such disciplines as agronomy, plant physiology, and ecology where it is necessary to measure the difference in atmospheric CO2 concentration [CO2] between two points. This is commonly done with an infrared gas analyzer, but such instruments are expensive, representing a substantial and sometimes prohibitive share of the cost of CO2— related research. The goal of this project was to explore a simple inexpensive alternative, in which the difference in [CO2] between two air streams is determined by bubbling the air through cells containing deionized water while measuring the ratio of their conductivities with a half‐bridge measurement of electrode pairs suspended in each cell. The underlying principles are presented, and it is shown that (i) differential [CO2] is directly proportional to the conductivity ratio minus its inverse and (ii) the coefficient of proportionality is equal to the mean [CO2] of the two air streams. A system was designed and constructed to test these principles, and the results confirmed them. Dynamic response was characterized, and shown to be proportional to Q/V, where Q is the air flow rate and V is the water‐filled volume of the cell. Differential resolution was found to be in the range of 0.4 to 0.8 μmol mol−1, but better resolution is theoretically possible. Differential measurement of [CO2] by conductimetry shows considerable promise, particularly considering the straightforward nature of the relationship and the relatively low cost of the required components.
Rhizomatous Birdsfoot Trefoil Exhibits a Unique Response to Nitrogen‐Free Conditions
Authors: Kallenbach Robert L. , McGraw Robert L. , Beuselinck Paul R. , Balatti Pedro A.
Published: July 2010

New genotypes of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) from Morocco exhibit rhizomes, but little is known about their N2‐fixation characteristics. Our objective was to evaluate the N2‐fixation capacity of rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil infected by native rhizobia or by strains used in commercial inoculants. An additional objective was to assess the N2‐fixing potential of two Moroccan isolates, R.L. 5797 and R.L. 5758, on commercial cultivars of birdsfoot trefoil. Seedlings of ‘Norcen’, ‘AU Dewey’, and a Moroccan rhizomatous entry, designated ‘RBRC’, were individually inoculated with commercial strains BFT027, BFT028, BFT030, 1710‐2, CB756, or strains R.L. 5797 or R.L. 5758. Control treatments were noninoculated seedlings with or without supplemental N. Surprisingly, the seedling mass of RBRC was equal (P > 0.05) for all treatments. Norcen exhibited its greatest seedling mass when inoculated with strain BFT027; AU Dewey, with strain R.L. 5797. The rhizomatous RBRC did not show specificity for native Moroccan isolates of rhizobia, but these isolates effectively nodulated the commercial cultivars of birdsfoot trefoil.
Defoliation Timing and Severity in Sugar Beet
Authors: Muro Julio , Irigoyen Ignacio , Lamsfus Carmen
Published: July 2010

Defoliation produced by different biotic and abiotic factors can reduce sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) sugar content and final yield production. Four trials were conducted to study the effect on sugar content and yield production of systematic defoliations carried out during the sugar beet growing cycle, in the Central Ebro Valley in Spain. In two trials, defoliation was achieved using shears, a largely untraumatic defoliation method, and in the other two by blasting with a pressurized water jet, producing a traumatic defoliation. Defoliations were performed at seven different growth stages (defined by heat sums and days from sowing). For each growth stage, four defoliation levels (control, slight, moderate, and heavy) were imposed. The results revealed a relationship between yield loss, level of defoliation, and growth stage when defoliation took place. The most critical growth stage for the effect of defoliation on yield was between 1700 and 1800 degree‐days, when 100% defoliation produced a 42% yield loss. The higher the level of defoliation, the higher the yield loss. This study produced a set of regression equations that can be used to assess final yield loss caused by defoliation of sugar beet by such different agents as hail storms, wind, insects, and other mechanical damage.
Composted and Noncomposted Manure Application to Conventional and No‐Tillage Systems: Corn Yield and Nitrogen Uptake
Authors: Eghball Bahman , Power James F.
Published: July 2010

Manure application to the soil surface may not be as effective as incorporated manure for crop production, because of potential N loss. An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of composted (compost) and noncomposted manure from beef cattle (Bos taurus) feedlots on corn (Zea mays L.) yield and N uptake under two tillage systems in 4 years. Conventional and no‐till systems were used as main plots, and subplots consisted of application of composted and noncomposted manure and fertilizer to provide for corn N requirements, and check treatments. Manure and compost were applied and immediately incorporated by disking in the conventional system and left on the surface in the no‐till. Fertilizer was incorporated in the conventional system and surface‐applied in the no‐till system each spring prior to planting. Results showed that in 3 out of 4 years there was no effect of tillage on corn grain yields of plots receiving manure or compost. Manure and compost application resulted in similar grain yield as that for fertilizer treatment in all years except for no‐till in 1996. First‐year N availability was approximately 38% for manure and 20% for compost in both tillage systems. Apparent N use efficiency was 17% for manure, 12% for compost, and 45% for the fertilizer treatment across 4 years. Chlorophyll meter readings, indicating relative plant N concentration at different stages of growth, were closely related to N uptake and grain yield in years with adequate water supply, but not in the drier year of 1995. Stalk NO−3–N concentration at harvest was above the critical level of 2000 mg kg−1 for the fertilizer treatment in 1995 but was low (<200 mg kg−1) for manure and compost treatments. Stalk NO−3–N concentration did not exceed the critical level for any treatment in other years. When the correct N availability factor is used, beef cattle feedlot manure and compost can be effectively utilized in no‐till corn production systems.
Forage Yield of Stockpiled Perennial Grasses in the Upper Midwest USA
Authors: Riesterer Janet L. , Undersander D.J. , Casler Michael D. , Combs David K.
Published: July 2010

Stockpiling forage is an effective method to extend grazing beyond the growing season. This study was conducted to determine standing forage organic matter (SFOM) and vertical biomass distribution, with and without applied N fertilizer, of seven cool‐season grasses (early‐ and late‐maturing orchardgrass [Dactylis glomerata L.], quackgrass [Elytrigia repens (L.) Desv. ex Nevski], reed canarygrass [Phalaris arundinacea L.], smooth bromegrass [Bromus inermis Leyss.], tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea Schreb.], and timothy [Phleum pratense L.]) stockpiled over winter. Forage was sampled pre‐ and postgrazing at one site and clipped to both 8 and 2.5 cm as layers of vertical distribution at two other sites in October, December, and late March. Four N fertilizer treatments ranged from 0 to 168 kg N ha−1. Stockpiled SFOM ranged from 2.06 to 3.73 Mg ha−1 at the end of the growing season across three locations. Tall fescue and early‐maturing orchardgrass yielded the highest and quackgrass and smooth bromegrass the lowest at all harvest dates. Tall fescue, early‐maturing orchardgrass, and reed canarygrass were most suited for grazing beyond December, while the late‐maturing orchardgrass and timothy would be utilized most efficiently by grazing before heavy and prolonged snow cover. Quackgrass and smooth bromegrass are not suitable grasses for stockpiling. Nitrogen fertilizer applied in late summer increased yield of the stockpiled forage by nearly 75%. Application of N also increased the distribution of biomass above 8 cm by nearly 50%.
Improved Seedling Health, Yield, and Stand Persistence with Alfalfa Resistant to Aphanomyces Root Rot
Authors: Vincelli Paul , Henning Jimmy , Hendrick Tim , Brown Jerry , Osborne Lawrence J. , Prewitt Beth , Shields Val , Sorrell Don , Strohmeier Kim D. , Tackett Ray , Wyles Joe W.
Published: July 2010

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) breeders have made substantial progress in recent years to develop cultivars with resistance to Aphanomyces root rot (ARR, caused by Aphanomyces euteiches), yet data showing the agronomic benefits of this resistance under natural field conditions are limited. Two trials were seeded into naturally infested soils with alfalfa cultivars ranging from susceptible to highly resistant to ARR. The trials provided a test of the hypothesis that ARR‐resistant cultivars would provide improved performance. In one test, the combination of high rainfall during the 4 wk following seeding on a soil with a slow percolation rate led to a severe outbreak of ARR, with symptoms typical of a syndrome commonly observed in commercial alfalfa fields in Kentucky. Under these conditions, the ARR‐resistant cultivars provided dramatically improved seedling health, yield, and persistence. Cultivars having a resistance (R) or high resistance (HR) rating provided the most consistent performance. In the other test, a near‐normal rainfall amount on a deep soil with good internal drainage led to moderate disease pressure. In that case, the ARR‐resistant cultivars exhibited a slight improvement in seedling health, but yield trends were not as clear as in the former trial. Based on these findings and previous research, we conclude that the use of cultivars with R or HR ratings to ARR may solve a common stand‐establishment problem in spring‐seeded alfalfa in Kentucky.
Comparison of Four Nondestructive Techniques for Estimating Standing Crop in Shortgrass Plains
Authors: Ganguli Amy C. , Vermeire Lance T. , Mitchell Rob B. , Wallace Mark C.
Published: July 2010

Nondestructive standing crop estimators are important for efficient monitoring of native and agronomic systems. This study evaluated plot and pasture estimates of standing crop using LAI‐2000, visual obstruction, canopy height, and weighted plate measurements. Research was conducted in Lubbock County, Texas, in 1999 on areas dominated by Amarillo fine sandy loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, thermic Aridic Paleustalfs). Five hundred plot estimation samples were collected for each method along 25 transects, and each transect mean was used for the pasture estimation trials. Coefficients of determination improved as we moved from plot (0.34, 0.85, 0.37, and 0.70) to pasture (0.67, 0.87, 0.59, and 0.83) estimation for LAI‐2000, visual obstruction, canopy height, and weighted plate measurements, respectively. The LAI‐2000 was the only purchased instrument ($4800), whereas the visual obstruction ($6), canopy height ($14), and weighted plate ($14) instruments were constructed from readily available materials. Each instrument provided fast measurements, especially when considering the time required to hand clip the respective measurement areas. Pasture estimation root mean square errors (RMSE) indicated the weighted plate and visual obstruction were the most accurate models (445 and 446 kg ha−1) followed by LAI‐2000 and canopy height models (613 and 691 kg ha−1). Visual obstruction and weighted plate instruments both provided fast, inexpensive measurements with acceptable accuracy. We recommend visual obstruction for estimating standing crop (SC) in shortgrass plains because it is rapid, inexpensive, and accurate.
Suitability of Undersown Sweetclover as a Fallow Replacement in Semiarid Cropping Systems
Authors: Blackshaw Robert E. , Moyer James R. , Doram Ray C. , Boswall A.Lyle , Smith Elwin G.
Published: July 2010

The negative effects of tilled fallow on soil quality may be reduced by utilizing legume green manure crops. A study was conducted to determine the suitability of biennial sweetclover [Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.] as a partial fallow replacement on the northern Great Plains. Sweetclover undersown in field pea (Pisum sativum L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), or oriental mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Coss.] and killed in June of the subsequent fallow year attained shoot biomass yields of 3110 to 5370 kg ha−1, depending on the year and companion crop with which it was grown. Living sweetclover plus its residues after being killed provided excellent ground cover to reduce the risk of erosion throughout the 20‐mo fallow period. Sweetclover compared to tilled fallow reduced soil water content at the time of seeding spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 2 of 3 yr. Available soil N in April before seeding spring wheat was 16 to 56 kg ha−1 greater in sweetclover green manure than in fallow treatments. Wheat yields were 47 to 75% greater in the sweetclover than in the fallow treatments. However, the many positive attributes of sweetclover green manure must be weighed against potential reductions in companion crop yield. Undersown sweetclover reduced flax yield in 1 of 3 yr and mustard and field pea yield in 2 of 3 yr, with yield losses ranging from 10 to 55%. Additional research is needed to determine agronomic practices that would reduce competitive interactions between sweetclover and its companion crop.
Corn Production on a Subsurface‐Drained Mollisol as Affected by Time of Nitrogen Application and Nitrapyrin
Authors: Randall Gyles W. , Vetsch Jeffrey A. , Huffman Jerald R.
Published: July 2010

Time of N fertilizer application to corn (Zea mays L.) and use of a nitrification inhibitor are management strategies that can affect corn production and loss of NO3–N from the soil profile via subsurface, tile drainage. A field study was conducted from the fall of 1986 through 1994 on a tile‐drained Canisteo clay loam soil [fine‐loamy, mixed (calcareous), mesic Typic Endoaquolls] to determine the influence of time of N application and nitrapyrin [2‐chloro‐6‐(trichloromethyl) pyridine] on yield of corn and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in rotation and N uptake of corn. Four anhydrous ammonia (AA) treatments [(fall without nitrapyrin (NP), fall with NP, spring preplant, and split (40% preplant and 60% sidedress at V8 stage)] were replicated four times and applied at 150 kg N ha−1 (135 lb N acre−1) for corn each year. Fall applications occurred between 19 and 28 October when soil temperatures generally were ≤10°C. Seven‐year average corn grain yields were least for fall N without NP (8.27 Mg ha−1, 131 bu acre−1), intermediate for fall N with NP and spring N (8.72 Mg ha−1, 139 bu acre−1), and greatest for the split N treatment (9.11 Mg ha−1, 145 bu acre−1). Corn N uptake was not different among treatments in drier years but was generally greatest for the spring and split treatments in wet years. Apparent N recovery ranged from 31% for fall N without NP to 44% for the split treatment. Economic return to fertilizer was greatest for the split treatment ($239.40 ha−1 yr−1) and lowest for fall N without NP ($166.70 ha−1 yr−1). Application time strategies for AA considered to be best management practices for these poorly drained Mollisols include fall N with NP, spring preplant, and split application.
Velvetleaf Interference Effects on Yield and Growth of Grain Sorghum
Authors: Traoré Samba , Mason Stephen C. , Martin Alex R. , Mortensen David A. , Spotanski Jess J.
Published: July 2010

Weed competition studies with grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] are limited. Improved knowledge of growth in response to weed competition could contribute to development of sorghum hybrids that compete better with weeds. Velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti Medic.) competition with sorghum hybrids was evaluated in field experiments on a Sharpsburg silty clay loam soil (fine smectitic, mesic Typic Arguidoll) in 1996 and 1997 at Lincoln, NE. The objective was to determine the effects of velvetleaf competition on interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), growth, and yield of sorghum hybrids with different heights. Sorghum hybrids used were ‘FS2’ (1.8 to 2.4 m tall) and ‘DK54’ and ‘X260’ (1.2 to 1.5 m tall). Weed treatments included sorghum in monoculture and grown in mixture with velvetleaf. Medium‐height hybrids had 0.4 greater midseason leaf area indices (LAIs) than the tall hybrid in 1996, and in 1997, DK54 had 0.4 to 0.6 greater LAI than the other hybrids after 500 growing degree days. Interception of PAR was similar among hybrids except for 2 to 10% less for X260 in mixture in 1996. In 1996, when weed pressure was greater, the tall hybrid had greater relative growth rate and net assimilation rate but lower leaf area ratio than for the medium‐height hybrids. Sorghum intercepted more radiation and produced more biomass in monoculture than in mixture, but the reduction in growth and yield in presence of velvetleaf was less for the tall hybrid. Development of tall sorghum hybrids with high LAI would be useful for integrated weed management.
Effects of Application of a By‐Product of the Two‐Step Olive Oil Mill Process on Maize Yield
Authors: Tejada M. , Gonzalez J. L.
Published: July 2010

This study presents an account of soil quality parameters and maize (Zea mays L. cv. Tundra) yields as influenced by the application of a by‐product of two‐step olive oil mill process (BOM). Such information is desirable for finding out the suitability of renewable energy resources such as by‐products of different industries as alternatives to synthetic fertilizers and amendments. For this purpose, the main objective of this work was to study in the field the effect of incorporating BOM on soil properties (chemical, physical, and biological) in the period between two maize crops. The second objective was to study the effect of BOM on the productivity and quality of maize crop and to evaluate the utility of the BOM for maize. A by‐product of two‐step olive oil mill process was applied at 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 t ha−1 rates, respectively, on a maize crop in Lora del Río (Andalusia, Spain) for 2 yr. The results indicated that BOM has a great soil amendment potential due to its organic matter and nutrient content. The application of BOM to the soil caused an increase in soil chemical, physical, and biological properties. Mineralization of organic matter produced higher contents of NO−3–N in soil and increased NO−3–N uptake by plants. Yield parameters of the second experimental season were better than those of the first experimental season due to the residual effect of the organic matter after application in the first season. In fact, application of the BOM gave a significant grain gross protein content of about 18 and 20% for each experimental season, a significant grain soluble carbohydrate content of about 25% for both experimental seasons, a significant number of grains per corncob of about 17 and 21% for each experimental season, and a significant maize yield of about 16 and 18% for each experimental season over the control.
The Uprooting of Trees: A Forest Process
Authors: Stephens Earl P.
Published: July 2010

For many years the uprooting of trees has been recognized as a natural phenomenon. As such, it has usually been regarded as one of freakish occurrence noted for its direct and catastrophic results upon the trees immediately affected. Uprooting, it seems, has seldom been considered with enough perspective to reveal its basic relationship to the forest.

A form of very detailed descriptive research was instigated in 1948 to document the developmental trends of the forest stands which had occurred on a 1‐acre area. Uprooting was established conclusively as an important factor in the development of the area during the last 500 years.

When uprooting is observed and interpreted on a limited area with the perspective afforded by 500 years, its role becomes that of a natural forest process, rather than a single event in the life history of a forest stand. As a process, it must be considered along with reproduction, growth, podsolization, and other generally recognized processes. Similarly, the series of actions and subsequent reactions associated with uprooting can be described quantitatively, qualitatively, and chronologically.

More extensive research has indicated that uprooting is a general forest process in eastern North America. Its influences have many ramifications, and like most other natural processes, are highly variable. The soil is one of the components of the forest greatly affected by the process of uprooting.
Effects of Bulk Density, Aggregate Size, and Soil Water Suction on Oxygen Diffusion, Redox Potentials, and Elongation of Corn Roots
Authors: Grable A. R. , Siemer E. G.
Published: July 2010

Corn seeds (Zea mays L. ‘WF9 × 38‐11’) were planted in plastic cylinders of soil at different bulk densities (0.93, 1.03, 1.13, and 1.23 g cm‐3) or aggregates of different sizes (< 0.5, 0.5–1, 1–2, 2–3, and 3–6 mm). Soil water suction during germination was maintained at constant levels (0, 3, 18, 48, and 68 cm of water).

Germination began and root elongation rates sharply increased from zero to a maximum in each soil sample as soil water suction increased above the air‐entry value or bubbling pressure. Over these ranges of suction, diffusion of O2 controlled rate of root elongation. Diffusion of O2 in soil was determined primarily by air porosity. Bulk density and aggregate size per se had little effect on diffusion or concentration of O2 at seed depth. Bulk density and aggregate size greatly influenced soil water desorption, the depth of soil to which O2 could diffuse, and the thickness of water films at equal air porosities. Between approximately 0 and 20 cm of suction, thickness of water films limited root elongation. Measured O2 concentrations in soil agreed with concentrations predicted by diffusion theory. Redox potentials were correlated with O2 levels. Root elongation rates decreased in some samples at the highest suctions used, probably because of increased soil strength.
Exchange of Diquat2+ in Soil Clays, Vermiculite, and Sniectite
Authors: Dixon J. B. , Moore D. E. , Agnihotri N. P. , Lewis D. E.
Published: July 2010

Clay samples were saturated with diquat2+ by a centrifuge washing procedure. Exchangeable diquat2+ was replaced by washing samples with 1N KCl solutions. Exchange of diquat2+ by K+ was 23 to 26% complete for three Wyoming montmorillonites and was 35 to 44% for three montmorillonite samples from Alabama and Mississippi. Diquat cations were 59% exchangeable in a nontronite. Diquat cations satisfied 57 and 82% of the cation exchange charge of Texas and Montana vermiculites and K+ replaced 98 and 88% of the diquat2+, respectively. There was a direct relationship between K+‐diquat2+ exchange and layer charge density (CEC) of the montmorillonites and vermiculites. Hydroxy‐Al interlayers had little influence on the exchange of diquat2+ in vermiculite and in montmorillonite except where double interlayers were deposited. Eleven soil clays had from 27 to 98% of their cation exchange charge countered by diquat2+. The exchangeability of diquat2+ in the diverse group of soil clays was directly related to vermiculite content. Montmorillonitic soil clays fixed more diquat2+ than vermiculitic soil clays. Diquat2+ was about 70% exchangeable in montmorillonitic soil clays which also contained vermiculite and kaolinite. The exchangeability of diquat2+ in montmorillonitic Houston and Iredell soil clays and their K+ fixing ability on oven drying indicate that vermiculite may have an important influence on their K+ exchange reactions.
Influence of Soybean and Corn Cropping on Soil Aggregate Size and Stability
Authors: Alberts E. E. , Wendt R. C.
Published: July 2010

Higher rates of soil loss have been observed for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cropping than for corn (Zea mays L.) cropping. The objective of this study was to determine whether 4 yr of continuous soybean and continuous corn cropping had altered the size and stability of soil aggregates within the tillage zone, which could affect soil seal formation and erodibility. Samples for analyses were obtained in June and October of 1980 from the Monona (fine‐silty, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludolls) and Clarion (fine‐loamy, mixed, mesic, Typic Hapludolls) soils in Iowa. The mean‐weight diameter of dry‐sieved aggregates was significantly (p <0.05) lower for soybeans than corn in October, but the values were similar in June. The mean‐weight diameter of wet‐sieved aggregates was lower for soybeans than corn in both June and October, but the differences were not statistically significant. The mass of clay released from the bulk soil and two macroaggregate size fractions with laboratory shaking was slightly, but significantly (p <0.10), higher for corn than soybeans.
Metal (Hydr)oxide Surface‐Catalyzed Hydrolysis of Chlorpyrifos‐Methyl, Chlorpyrifos‐Methyl Oxon, and Paraoxon
Authors: Smolen Jean M. , Stone Alan T.
Published: July 2010

This work is concerned with the susceptibility of pesticides and their transformation products to mineral‐surface‐catalyzed hydrolysis in soils. Experiments were performed in an aqueous medium containing pH buffer [2.0–5.0 mM acetate or 3‐(N‐morpholino) propane sulphonic acid (MOPS)], 10 mM NaCl, and 0 to 25% methanol. Addition of 10 g L−1 TiO2, α‐FeOOH, and Al2O3 catalyzes the hydrolysis of the thionate (P=S) and oxonate (P=O) forms of chlorpyrifosmethyl [O,O‐dimethyl O‐(3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐pyridinyl) phosphorothioate and O,O‐dimethyl‐O,3,5,6‐trichloro‐2‐pyridyl phosphate]. Paraoxon (O,O‐diethyl O‐p‐nitrophenyl phosphate) is also subject to surface‐catalyzed hydrolysis, while zinophos (O,O‐diethyl O‐2‐pyrazinyl phosphorothioate) is not. The effects of pH and the identity of the metal (hydr)oxide surface are discussed in light of three possible mechanisms of catalysis: (i) metal ion coordination of the parent ester through the thionate‐S or oxonate‐O to enhance the electrophilicity of the P site; (ii) metal ion coordination and induced deprotonation of water to create a reactive nucleophile; and (iii) metal ion coordination of the leaving group to facilitate its exit. Because different methanol concentrations were employed to ensure solubility, ester‐to‐ester comparisons must be made with caution. It is apparent, however, that surface‐catalyzed hydrolysis reactions provide a unique opportunity to explore the reactivity properties of soil mineral surfaces.
An updated hydrological review on recent advancements in soil conservation service-curve number technique
Authors: Singh P. K. , Gaur M. L. , Mishra S. K. , Rawat S. S.
Published: July 2010

Although many hydrologic models are available for the estimation of direct runoff from storm rainfall, most models are limited because of their intensive input data and calibration requirements. The Soil Conservation Service-Curve Number (SCS-CN) technique has been applied successfully throughout the entire spectrum of hydrology and water resources, even though originally it was not intended to deal with and solve certain issues such as erosion and sedimentation and environmental engineering. This manuscript includes an updated review of this popular technique with its critical performance analysis under various hydrological applications. The study highlights its provenance and its conceptual and empirical foundations followed by relative significance of the parameter CN and various estimation methods and issues related to the Ia and S relationship. Finally, notable recent advancements available in the literature are discussed for their structural strengths and applicability in real world problems.
James Fleming: the first gardener on the River Yarra, Victoria
Authors: DUCKER SOPHIE C. , PERRY T. M.
Published: July 2010

James Fleming, a convict gardener, was a member of the party in the Colonial Schooner Cumberland, on a journey of exploration to Bass Strait and Port Phillip Bay in 1802 and 1803; they were the first Europeans to visit the northern part of the Bay and discovered the River Yarra. The acting Surveyor General of N.S.W., Charles Grimes mapped the whole Bay. Fleming wrote a journal of the expedition and the descriptions of the country on Grimes's map. Later in 1803, he compiled a list of plants introduced into the colony of New South Wales and returned to England on H.M.S. Glatton in charge of a collection of Australian plants and seeds: A note sets the work of the Cumberland's expedition in the context of early discoveries and charting of Port Phillip Bay.
Benjamin Henry Latrobe and the nomenclature of two North American fishes
Authors: PORTER CHARLOTTE M
Published: July 2010

A curious error affects the names of three North American clupeids—the Alewife, American Shad, and Menhaden. The Alewife was first described by the British-born American architect, Benjamin Henry Latrobe in 1799, just two years after what is generally acknowledged as the earliest description of any ichthyological species published in the United States. Latrobe also described the ‘fish louse’, the common isopod parasite of the Alewife, with the new name, Oniscus praegustator. Expressing an enthusiasm for American independence typical of his generation, Latrobe humorously proposed the name Clupea tyrannus for the Alewife because the fish, like all tyrants, had parasites or hangers-on.
A ‘truly amiable gentleman’: new light on the life and work of Marmaduke Tunstall (1743–1790) of Wycliffe, North Yorkshire
Authors: BOYD M.J. , JESSOP L.
Published: July 2010

Marmaduke Tunstall (1743–1790) was a naturalist, antiquary and collector. Active in London during the 1760s and early 1770s, he built up an extensive Library and a Museum that was particularly notable for its systematic collection of British birds. Tunstall corresponded with several of the leading British naturalists, and with Linnaeus, and made his collections available for study to several authors. At the age of 33, Tunstall retired to a country estate at Wycliffe on the south bank of the Tees, where he spent the rest of his life.

Newly-discovered information is incorporated with previously-published data, to provide a new account of Marmaduke Tunstall's life and activities, as a background to other studies on his family and his collections.
A history of botanical collections in the Luangwa Valley, Zambia
Authors: PHIRI P.S.M. , MOORE D.M.
Published: July 2010

Central Africa remained botanically unknown to the outside world up to the end of the eighteenth century. This paper provides a historical account of plant explorations in the Luangwa Valley. The first plant specimens were collected in 1897 and the last serious botanical explorations were made in 1993. During this period there have been 58 plant collectors in the Luangwa Valley with peak activity recorded in the 1960s. In 1989 1,348 species of vascular plants were described in the Luangwa Valley. More botanical collecting is needed with a view to finding new plant taxa, and also to provide a satisfactory basis for applied disciplines such as ecology, phytogeography, conservation and environmental impact assessment.
The F. H. Barber collection of heads and horns
Authors: COHEN ALAN
Published: July 2010

These days when animal conservation is in the foremost of our dealings with wildlife it seems almost inconceivable that in past times hunters were more concerned with the size of hunting trophies than the rich variety of animals that they represented. Collections of such trophies were considered the hallmark of a gentleman and the expeditions to acquire them the epitome of the Victorian masculine lifestyle. This is the story of one such collection.
The earliest known compiled list of North American birds (1582)
Authors: JOHNSTON DAVID W.
Published: July 2010

ABSTRACT:

Richard Hakluyt in 1582 published the names of certain commodities found in the New World from reports of French sixteenth-century explorers. The commodities included a compiled list of birds, the earliest known from North America.
Cultural comparisons for healing and exorcism narratives in Matthew’s Gospel
Authors: Keener Craig S.
Published: July 2010

Majority World readings of Matthew (and the Gospels generally) often help us to appreciate the very sorts of stories that seem most alien to readers in the West: stories of unusual cures and exorcisms of hostile spirits. Rather than simply allegorising these narratives, many Majority World readers treat them as models for experiencing healing and deliverance. Accounts of these experiences appear in a wide variety of cultures; in addition to a range of published sources, the article includes some material based on the author’s interviews with people claiming first-hand experiences of this nature in the Republic of Congo. Such readings invite a more sympathetic hearing of some Gospel narratives than they often receive in the West.
Survival Patterns Among Patients With Breast Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Limenih Miteku Andualem , Mekonnen Eskedar Getie , Birhanu Frehiwot , Jima Beshada Rago , Sisay Binyam Girma , Kassahun Eskeziaw Abebe , Hassen Hamid Yimam
Published: May 2024

Importance

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer globally with tremendous disparities both within specific regions and across different contexts. The survival pattern of patients with breast cancer remains poorly understood in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

Objective

To investigate the survival patterns of patients with breast cancer in SSA countries and compare the variation across countries and over time.

Data Sources

Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest were searched from inception to December 31, 2022, with a manual search of the references.

Study Selection

Cohort studies of human participants that reported 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 10-year survival from diagnosis among men, women, or both with breast cancer in SSA were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

Independent extraction of study characteristics by multiple observers was performed using open-source software, then exported to a standard spreadsheet. A random-effects model using the generalized linear mixed-effects model was used to pool data. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline for reporting was followed.

Main Outcome and Measures

Survival time from diagnosis.

Results

Forty-nine studies were included in the review with a sample size ranging from 21 to 2311 (total, 14 459; 196 [1.35%] men, 13 556 [93.75%] women, and 707 [4.90%] unspecified; mean age range, 38 to 71 years), of which 40 were summarized using meta-analysis. The pooled 1-year survival rate of patients with breast cancer in SSA was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.67-0.88); 2-year survival rate, 0.70 (95% CI, 0.57-0.80); 3-year survival rate, 0.56 (95% CI, 0.45-0.67); 4-year survival rate, 0.54 (95% CI, 0.43-0.65); and 5-year survival rate, 0.40 (95% CI, 0.32-0.49). The subgroup analysis showed that the 5-year survival rate ranged from 0.26 (95% CI, 0.06-0.65) for studies conducted earlier than 2010 to 0.47 (95% CI, 0.32-0.64) for studies conducted later than 2020. Additionally, the 5-year survival rate was lower in countries with a low human development index (HDI) (0.36 [95% CI, 0.25-0.49) compared with a middle HDI (0.46 [95% CI, 0.33-0.60]) and a high HDI (0.54 [95% CI, 0.04-0.97]).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the survival rates for patients with breast cancer in SSA were higher in countries with a high HDI compared with a low HDI. Enhancing patient survival necessitates a comprehensive approach that involves collaboration from all relevant stakeholders.