Annual Report: 2009

I submit herewith the annual report from the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, for the period ending December 31, 2009. This is done in accordance with an act of Congress, approved March 2, 1887, entitled, “An act to establish agricultural experiment stations, in connection with the agricultural college established in the several states under the provisions of an act approved July 2, 1862, and under the acts supplementary thereto,” and also of the act of the Alaska Territorial Legislature, approved March 12, 1935, accepting the provisions of the act of Congress. The research reports are organized according to our strategic plan, which focuses on high-latitude soils, high-latitude agriculture, natural resources use and allocation, ecosystems management, and geographic information. These areas cross department and unit lines, linking them and unifying the research. We have also included in our financial statement information on the special grants we receive. These special grants allow us to provide research and outreach that is targeted toward economic development in Alaska. Research conducted by our graduate and undergraduate students plays an important role in these grants and the impact they make on Alaska.Financial statement -- Grants -- Students -- Research Reports: Partners, Facilities, and Programs; Geography; High-Latitude Agriculture; High-Latitude Soils; Management of Ecosystems; Natural Resources Use and Allocation; Index to Reports -- Publications -- Facult

AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION: A CONCERNING ISSUE

Abstract Agriculture is the production of food and associated products through farming. Agriculture, like other aspects of development, has been a major cause of environmental pollution and waste generation. Waste generated as a result of various agricultural processes is referred to as agricultural waste. It comprises garbage from farms, slaughterhouses, and poultry houses as well as waste from harvesting operations, fertilizer runoff from fields, pesticides that end up in water, the atmosphere, or soils, and salt and silt that has been drained from fields. Agriculture management is a challenging process that necessitates individualised attention to resolve problems with all essential elements, including water, fertilizers, and biocides

Agricultural Development in Asia

Agricultural Development in Asia - Potential Use of Nano-Materials and Nano-Technology provides interesting research and information on the use of nanomaterials and nanotechnology for sustainable agriculture in Asia. Chapters discuss the potential use of nanomaterials, nanofertilizers, and nanopesticides for sustainable agricultural development; development of a new generation of nanopesticides for crop protection and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria; the role of allelopathy for sustainable crop production; and the use of plant materials in livestock farming

Global impacts of land degradation

Study commissioned by the Scientific, Technical and Advisory Panel (STAP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support the development of the new GEF focal area of Land Degradatio

Annual Report: 2006

I submit herewith the annual report from the Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, School of Natural Resources and Agricultural Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, for the period ending December 31, 2006. This is done in accordance with an act of Congress, approved March 2, 1887, entitled, “An act to establish agricultural experiment stations, in connection with the agricultural college established in the several states under the provisions of an act approved July 2, 1862, and under the acts supplementary thereto,” and also of the act of the Alaska Territorial Legislature, approved March 12, 1935, accepting the provisions of the act of Congress. The research reports are organized according to our strategic plan, which focuses on high-latitude soils, high-latitude agriculture, natural resources use and allocation, ecosystems management, and geographic information. These areas cross department and unit lines, linking them and unifying the research. We have also included in our financial statement information on the special grants we receive. These special grants allow us to provide research and outreach that is targeted toward economic development in Alaska. Research conducted by our graduate and undergraduate students plays an important role in these grants and the impact they make on Alaska. Carol E. Lewis, Dean and DirectorFinancial statement -- Grants -- Students -- Research reports: Geographic Information, High-Latitude Agriculture, High-Latitude Soils, Management of Ecosystems, Natural Resources Use and Allocatio

Sustainable and cost-efficient feed ingredients for optimum breeding of house crickets (Acheta domesticus) for human consumption in Thailand

The world population is expected to increase over the next 30 years. The global food production system is under pressure to keep up with the growing demand . In the last years, increased attention has been paid to use livestock with lower environmental impact, like the house cricket Acheta domesticus. In Thailand’s northern and north-eastern regions, entomophagy has been a tradition since the past. House crickets are farmed due to their capacity to utilise resources, more efficiently than traditional livestock. They can be fed with wide variety of plant material, such as byproducts and food waste from food industry and agriculture. The quality of the house crickets depends to a great degree on the quality, consistency and composition of the feed. To sus-tain optimal growth, cricket farmers are traditionally using high-protein chicken feed (approximately 21% protein). However, the chicken feed con-taining soy- and fish meal is not sustainable. In this study some cost efficient and sustainable feed ingredients for soy- and fish meal for the in Thailand widely-used edible insect species, house cricket (Acheta domesticus), was investigated. The crickets were fed on feeds where soy- and fish meal was replaced with more sustainable products, such as food-industrial byproducts and weeds and which can be adapted to large-scale farm industry in Thailand. Three experimental feeds and one control feed were applied, to study the growth rate, survival rate and feed- and water use and feed conversion rate (FCR). The results indicated that rearing the house cricket Acheta domesticus on byproduct is possible. However, it is important to fulfill the crickets need of nutrients to increase the growth and survival rate of the house cricket. Homo-geneity and uniformity of feed is important to increase acceptability. Beyond the feed, farming temperature and relative humidity needs to be optimised, to increase the production of the house crickets

Natural pesticides for pest control in agricultural crops: an alternative and eco-friendly method

Biological pesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials such as bacteria, plants, and minerals that are applied to crops to kill pests. Biopesticides are targeted, inexpensive, eco-friendly, sustainable, leave no trace, and are not associated with the production of greenhouse gases. It contributes significantly to the agricultural bio-economy's sustainability. The advantages to the ecosystem provided by many significant biological resources justify the incorporation of biopesticides in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Through advancements in research and development, the use of biopesticides has significantly reduced environmental contamination. The development of biopesticides promotes agricultural modernization and will surely result in a gradual phase-out of chemical pesticides. Although synthetic pesticides have positive effects on crop yield and productivity, they also have some negative impacts on soil biodiversity, animals, aquatic life, and humans. In general, synthetic pesticides make the soil brittle, decrease soil respiration, and reduce the activity of some soil microorganisms, such as earthworms. Pesticide buildup in bodies of water can spread from aquatic life to animals including people, as their biomagnification can cause fatal diseases like cancer, kidney disease, rashes on the skin, diabetes, etc. Biopesticides, on the other hand, have surfaced and have proven to be quite beneficial in the management of pests and are safe for the environment and hence have emerged as very useful in the control of pests with a lot of merits.  The present review provides a broad perspective on the different kinds of pesticides. We analyzed suitable and environmentally friendly ways to improve the acceptance and industrial application of microbial herbicides, phytopesticides, and nano biopesticides for plant nutrition, crop protection/yield, animal/human health promotion, as well as their potential integration into the integrated pest management system

Valorization potential of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) seed : nutraceutical quality, food properties, safety aspects, and application as a health-promoting ingredient in foods

The tomato is a member of the Solanaceae family and is a crop that is widely cultivated around the world due to its sweet, sour, salty, juicy, and nutritious berries. The processing of tomatoes generates a significant amount of waste in the form of tomato pomace, which includes seeds and skin. Tomato seeds are reservoirs of various nutrients, such as proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, minerals, and vitamins. These components make tomato seeds an important ingredient for application in food matrices. This review discusses the functional food properties of tomato seeds and their scope of utilization as major ingredients in the functional food industry. In addition, this review describes the development of tomato seeds as a potential nutritional and nutraceutical ingredient, along with recent updates on research conducted worldwide. This is the first review that demonstrates the nutritional profile of tomato seeds along with its diverse functional food properties and application as a functional food ingredient

Postharvest Technology

Postharvest management of food crops is an important part of food safety and security across the supply chain. It includes processing of agricultural produce, storage, packaging and coating, postharvest disease management, extending shelf life, and maintaining food quality and safety. Postharvest Technology - Recent Advances, New Perspectives and Applications discusses some important aspects of postharvest technologies. Chapters address such topics as postharvest preservation technology, postharvest disease management, and postharvest processing and packaging