The Effect of a Small Ruminant Farm Operation and Sustainable Farm Practices: Soil Quality and Run-Off at the University Hickory Hill Farm, Delaware

This project was designed to evaluate the effect of ruminant grazing practices at Hickory Hill Farm on the surrounding environment by measuring soil nutrients and runoff chemistry. Three pastures on the farm (Goat, Cattle and Control) were selected for soil sampling and nutrient analyses were recorded. Physical water quality parameters were conducted on the runoff collected from the farm after Hurricane Sandy. The sites with animal activity had higher levels of sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, Mehlich 3 phosphorus and conductivity when compared to control site. However, the control site had slightly higher pH and chloride levels. Nitrogen and phosphorous levels were very low at the control site when compared with the cattle and goat sites. Overall, soil quality was not found to be severely degraded from ruminant grazing activities. It will be vital to continue monitoring the farm to ensure its management practices are allowing optimal farm profitability and environmental health

Sustainable Farm Practice: Study of Total and Soluble Phosphorus in a Poultry Farm Equipped with Heavy Use Area Protection Pads, Dover, Delaware

Poultry litter contains high concentrations of water-soluble phosphorus and is readily transported in the farm run-off. This research aims to study the efficiency of heavy use area protection (HUAP) pads in decreasing litter spillage and phosphorous run-off at a Delaware poultry facility. Soil and water samples were analyzed for pH, total phosphorous, orthophosphate, and Mehlich III phosphorous throughout 2012. It has been hypothesized that the efficiency of HUAP pads would be reduced over time. Mehlich III phosphorus ranged from 22.82-200 mg/kg at site I, and 48.17 – 1179.6 mg/kg at site II, which were greater than the optimal soil concentrations. However, in the run-off, orthophosphate and total phosphorous levels were less than 0.05mg/L, and below U.S. EPA limits. This confirms that the HUAP pads, along with vegetative buffer strips, restricted the seepage of phosphorous into the run off. The results suggest minimal loss of nutrients from poultry house to water bodies. Keywords: Poultry Farm, Heavy Use Area Protection, HUAP, Phosphorus, Soil Testin

Diversity of Diatom Communities in Delaware Tidal Wetland and Their Relationship to Water Quality

Diatoms are strongly influenced by water quality and serve as indicators of water quality degradation in freshwater systems. Here, sediment and water samples were collected from four sites in Blackbird Creek, DE, a salt marsh characterized as mostly freshwater to low saline brackish (<8ppt). Recent changes in land use resulted in increased agricultural activity, suggesting the need to develop water quality indicators in this region. To test the hypothesis that diatom community composition changes seasonally with variations in water quality parameters, sediment and water samples were collected in 2009 and 2010 for analysis. Water temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen were measured as well as water and sediment dissolved nutrient concentrations (nitrate, ammonia, and total and reactive phosphorous). DNA was extracted from sediments and changes in diatom community composition were evaluated by amplification of 18S rRNA gene using diatom-specific primers, followed by Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis. Shannon (H') index for TRFLP profiles ranged from 2.5 to 3.0 and Simpson (Ds) index was 0.9 which infers moderate levels of diatom species richness and high diversity in these study sites. Although there were no water quality parameters that were significantly correlated with diatom community composition as determined by TRFLP patterns, temperature was the most highly correlated (r = 0.203). Dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH of water also had moderate but insignificant impacts on the diatom community. Further analysis of cloned 18S rRNA sequences revealed the presence of diatom taxa that tolerate wide salinity ranges, and included Navicula, Cyclotella, Thalassiosira and Skeletonema. Entomoneis sp. were also present in the spring and fall seasons. Overall, results in this study demonstrate significant differences in water qualities among the study years but little change in diatom community composition between study sites and seasons, but may serve as a baseline for future studies

Pigment production from a mangrove Penicillium

A mangrove Penicillium producing red pigment was cultured in an optimized medium that was designed by the authors previously and used in this study. The purpose of this study was to identify the pigment and also to study the effect of bio elements on pigment production. Pigment from the medium was efficiently extracted using chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. Most of the red pigment was extracted into ethyl acetate and further purified by preparative thin layer chromatography. From 1H and 13C NMR data supported by electronic imaging mass spectrometry, structure of the compound was elucidated as 2-(4-acetyl phenyl) acetic acid. The yield of pigment produced was studied with respect to various salts and bio elements. Salts at high concentrations (sodium chloride, ammonium sulfate, and sodium nitrite) had a drastic effect on pigment yield because most of the pigment remained adhered to the mycelium instead of diffusing into the medium. Also, when bio elements were supplemented to the medium; calcium, iron, and zinc enhanced pigment yield whereas; potassium, magnesium, copper and manganese did not have significant impact on pigment production. Lead had a drastic negative effect on the pigment yield. Therefore, this study proves that salts and bio elements play a major role in the production of various metabolites from mangrove fungi.Keywords: Penicillium, 2-(4-acetyl phenyl) acetic acid, bio elements, salts, soluble pigment.African Journal of Biotechnology, Vol 13(26) 2668-267

Efficacy of Heavy Use Area Protection (HUAP) Pads in Poultry Farm

This research focuses on the efficiency of recommended heavy use area protection (HUAP) pads installed in poultry houses utilizing the Choptank River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is severely affected by crop agriculture and poultry feeding operations. Water quality degradation along with scarcity of water is a significant concern in this area, suggesting a need for changes in both environmental and groundwater management practices. Our objective in this study was to compare the efficiency of HUAP in reducing litter spillage and nutrient runoff between two poultry houses, one of which was constructed in 2005 and the other in 2009. The poultry house constructed in 2005 did not have HUAP pads initially; they were built in 2006. The poultry house built in 2009 had the pads from the starting point. We collected soil and water samples each month and analyzed them for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), nitrate, nitrite, total nitrogen, phosphate, and other soil properties throughout the year. The pH of soil and water samples was in the range of 6.8–8.0 and 6.5–7.2, respectively. We collected six water samples in total in the ditch, from points at retention ponds near the farm ditch to sites in wooded areas on the farm. Water sample B (where ditch water meets retention pond water from the poultry farm) had the highest EC value and nitrate, nitrite, and total nitrogen concentrations compared with other water samples. The subsequent water samples downstream had reduced loads of nutrients. The study results suggest that there was a minimum carryover of nutrients from soil into the runoff water, storm ditches, and adjacent stream. There was also a minimal effect of house cleaning and storm events in raising the concentration of nutrients in soil and water samples at our study sites. The older poultry site had higher total nitrogen and phosphorous surrounding the pads, whereas no elevated levels of nutrients were identified at the newer site. The ability of HUAP pads to hold onto contaminates decreases with age and use. This study also shows that the impacts from poultry activities on surface and groundwater can be minimized by using management practices such as HUAP pads. These practices can reduce pollution in the farm, increase productivity, and save farmers and ranchers time and money in the long run

Effects of Microbial and Heavy Metal Contaminants on Environmental/Ecological Health and Revitalization of Coastal Ecosystems in Delaware Bay

The presence of heavy metals, excess nutrients, and microbial contaminants in aquatic systems of coastal Delaware has become a public concern as human population increases and land development continues. Delaware's coastal lagoons have been subjected to problems commonly shared by other coastal Mid-Atlantic states: turbidity, sedimentation, eutrophication, periodic hypoxic/anoxic conditions, toxic substances, and high bacterial levels. The cumulative impact of pollutants from run-off and point sources has degraded water quality, reduced the diversity and abundance of various fish species, invertebrates, and submerged aquatic vegetation. The effects are especially pronounced within the manmade dead end canal systems. In this article, we present selected case studies conducted in the Delaware Inland Bays. Due to the ecological services provided by bivalves, our studies in Delaware Inland Bays are geared toward oysters with special focus on the microbial loads followed by the water quality assessments of the bay. The relationships between oysters (Crassostrea virginica), microbial loads and nutrient levels in the water were investigated. The heavy metal levels monitored further away from the waste water treatment plant in the inland bays are marginally higher than the recommended EPA limits. Also, our studies confirmed that aerobic bacteria and Vibrionaceae levels are salinity dependent. Total bacteria in oysters increased when nitrate and total suspended solids increased in the waters. Studies such as these are important because every year millions of Americans consume raw oysters. Data collected over the last 10 years from our studies may be used to build a predictive index of conditions that are favorable for the proliferation of human pathogenic bacteria. Results from this study will benefit the local community by helping them understand the importance of oyster aquaculture and safe consumption of oysters while making them appreciate their ecological and commercial values. This will also be of tremendous help to the commercial shellfish aquaculture farms to predict poor conditions to prevent oysters' consumption when bacterial levels are high in water

THE EFFECT OF A SMALL RUMINANT FARM OPERATION AND SUSTAINABLE FARM PRACTICES: SOIL QUALITY AND RUN-OFF AT THE UNIVERSITY HICKORY HILL FARM, DELAWARE

This project was designed to evaluate the effect of ruminant grazing practices at Hickory Hill Farm on the surrounding environment by measuring soil nutrients and runoff chemistry. Three pastures on the farm (Goat, Cattle and Control) were selected for soil sampling and nutrient analyses were recorded. Physical water quality parameters were conducted on the runoff collected from the farm after Hurricane Sandy. The sites with animal activity had higher levels of sulfate, phosphate, nitrate, Mehlich 3 phosphorus and conductivity when compared to control site. However, the control site had slightly higher pH and chloride levels. Nitrogen and phosphorous levels were very low at the control site when compared with the cattle and goat sites. Overall, soil quality was not found to be severely degraded from ruminant grazing activities. It will be vital to continue monitoring the farm to ensure its management practices are allowing optimal farm profitability and environmental health

Assessment of Vibrio parahaemolyticus levels in oysters (Crassostrea virginica) and seawater in Delaware Bay in relation to environmental conditions and the prevalence of molecular markers to identify pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains.

This study identified Vibrio parahaemolyticus in oyster and seawater samples collected from Delaware Bay from June through October of 2016. Environmental parameters including water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, and chlorophyll a were measured per sampling event. Oysters homogenate and seawater samples were 10-fold serially diluted and directly plated on CHROMagarᵀᴹ Vibrio medium. Presumptive V. parahaemolyticus colonies were counted and at least 20% of these colonies were selected for molecular chracterization. V. parahaemolyticus isolates (n = 165) were screened for the presence of the species-specific thermolabile hemolysin (tlh) gene, the pathogenic thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh)/ thermostable related hemolysin (trh) genes, the regulatory transmembrane DNA-binding gene (toxR), and V. parahaemolyticus metalloprotease (vpm) gene using a conventional PCR. The highest mean levels of the presumptive V. parahaemolyticus were 9.63×103 CFU/g and 1.85×103 CFU/mL in the oyster and seawater samples, respectively, during the month of July. V. parahaemolyticus levels in oyster and seawater samples were significantly positively correlated with water temperature. Of the 165 isolates, 137 (83%), 110 (66.7%), and 108 (65%) were tlh+, vpm+, and toxR+, respectively. Among the V. parahaemolyticus (tlh+) isolates, 7 (5.1%) and 15 (10.9%) were tdh+ and trh+, respectively, and 24 (17.5%), only oyster isolates, were positive for both genes. Potential pathogenic strains that possessed tdh and/or trh were notably higher in oyster (39%) than seawater (15.6%) isolates. The occurrence of total V. parahaemolyticus (tlh+) was not necessarily proportional to the potential pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus. Co-occurrence of the five genetic markers were observed only among oyster isolates. The co-occurrence of the gene markers showed a relatedness potential of tdh occurrence with vpm. We believe exploring the role of V. parahaemolyticus metalloprotease and whether it is involved in the toxic activity of the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) protein can be of significance. The outcomes of this study will provide some foundation for future studies regarding pathogenic Vibrio dynamics in relation to environmental quality

Experimental and numerical investigation of laser-FSW hybrid welding technique for high strength materials

Friction stir welding (FSW) of high-strength materials and thicker plates has a number of challenges that are preventing widespread industry application such as (i) premature tool failure, (ii) selection of tool material and design, and (iii) weld productivity. A finite element (FE) based analysis for Laser-FSW hybrid welding technology is carried out in ABAQUS, commercially accessible FE software, to solve these typical difficulties. The thermal analysis of Laser-FSW hybrid technique is done using two moving heat sources for the case of 3.2 mm thick S45C steel plate. A negative moving heat source is placed as a replacement of the backing plate material in the high contact pressure region under the FSW tool. It was shown that the laser heat source needs to be 10 mm ahead of the FSW tool for achieving the duplex phase (Ferrite + Bainite/Martensite) microstructure. © 202