Alien Registration- Gilley, Earl B. (Seal Harbor, Hancock County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/19947/thumbnail.jp

Bird Friendly Beef: Exploring the Impacts of Regenerative Forage Production

In the eastern US, managed hayfields and pasturelands represent a significant portion of remaining available grassland bird habitat, hosting several declining species including the eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna) and the grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum). However, these working landscapes have deteriorated in their ability to support grassland birds in recent decades due to more frequent and early hay cuttings and intensive grazing. Since the conservation of grassland birds is inextricably linked to agricultural systems, for conservation to be effective, land management must aim to benefit both producers and birds. Regenerative agriculture is an emerging approach that incorporates land management practices that benefit agricultural ecosystems and increase efficiency and profitability. Regenerative grazing has demonstrated associations with greater bird abundance, but there is a significant gap in research that investigates whether these practices contribute to successful nesting. Collaborators from Smithsonian’s Virginia Working Landscapes, American Farmland Trust, and George Mason University set out to explore the effects of regenerative grazing practices on forage quality and the reproductive success of grassland birds. We established four experimental grazing and haying treatments on private working lands. For each treatment, we collected forage samples for nutrient analysis and quantified reproductive success using a combination of territory mapping and systematic nest searching. Our preliminary analysis suggests that grazing pastures early and stockpiling for fall and winter grazing results in standing forages suitable in quality for several different production classes of livestock while reducing producer reliance on harvested feeds such as hay. Our observations also identified this system to provide the greatest propensity for fledgling success of grassland birds due to the lack of disturbances during peak nesting periods which traditionally are due to trampling, haying, and predation

Accumulation and Release of Nutrients by Immersed Stalks Collected on Selected Dates Following Harvest

The concentrations of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) in runoff from cropland areas may be influenced by accumulation and release of P and N by stalk residues. A laboratory study was conducted to measure the effects of time since harvest and immersion period on accumulation and release of P and N by corn, soybean, and wheat stalks. Experimental variables included type of stalk material (corn, soybean, and wheat), time since harvest (six residue collection dates over an approximate 1-year period), and stalk immersion period (25 s (0.42 min), 250 s (4.2 min), 2500 s (42 min), 25,000 s (6.9 h), and 86,400 s (24 h)). The initial concentration of each of the P and N constituents in a test solution was 6 μg mL−1. The soybean, wheat, and corn residue released PO4-P at mean rates of 40, 69, and 141 μg g−1 residue, respectively. The amount of PO4-P that was released consistently increased as immersion period became greater. Corn and wheat residue either accumulated or released NO3-N depending on residue collection date. Soybean residue accumulated an average of 20 μg NO3-N g−1 residue. Wheat residue obtained on five of the collection dates accumulated an average of 13 μgNO3-N g−1 residue. Residue collection date also influenced accumulation of NH4-N by soybean and wheat residue. Corn residue released an average of 77 μg NH4-N g−1 residue. The type of crop residue material, the amount of time the residue has remained in the field following harvest, and residue immersion period were found to influence nutrient concentrations of solution

Narrow Grass Hedge Effects on Nutrient Transport Following Compost Application

The placement of stiff‐stemmed grass hedges on the contour along a hillslope has been shown to decrease nutrient transport in runoff. This study was conducted to measure the effectiveness of a narrow grass hedge in reducing runoff nutrient transport from plots with a range of soil nutrient values. Composted beef cattle manure was applied at dry weights of 0, 68, 105, 142, and 178 Mg ha-1 to a silty clay loam soil and then incorporated by disking. Soil samples were collected 243 days later for analysis of water‐soluble phosphorus (WSP), Bray and Kurtz No. 1 phosphorus (Bray‐1 P), NO3-N, and NH4-N. Three 30 min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24 h intervals, were then applied. The transport of dissolved phosphorus (DP), total P (TP), NO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), runoff, and soil erosion were measured from 0.75 m wide × 4.0 m long plots. Compost application rate significantly affected soil measurements of WSP, Bray‐1 P, and NO3-N content. The transport of DP, TP, NO3-N, NH4-N, TN, runoff, and soil erosion was reduced significantly on the plots with a grass hedge. Mean runoff rates on the hedge and no‐hedge treatments were 17 and 29 mm, and erosion rates were 0.12 and 1.46 Mg ha-1, respectively. Compost application rate significantly affected the transport of DP, TP, and NO3-N in runoff. The experimental results indicate that stiff‐stemmed grass hedges, planted at selected downslope intervals, can significantly reduce the transport of nutrients in runoff from areas with a range of soil nutrient values

Leonard B. Gilley Correspondence

Entries include letters on Farmington State College stationery, poems written by Gilley and his wife together and separately, and a biography. Date range: 1970-04/1970-0

Temporal Changes in Nutrient Transport Following Land Application of Manure

Little information is currently available concerning temporal changes in nutrient transport following the addition of manure to cropland areas. This study was conducted to measure nutrient transport in runoff as affected by tillage and time following the application of beef cattle or swine manure to a site on which corn [Zea mays (L.)] was grown. Rainfall simulation tests were initiated 4, 32, 62, 123, and 354 days following land application. Three 30-min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24-hour intervals, were conducted at an intensity of approximately 70 mm hr-1. Dissolved phosphorus (DP), particulate phosphorus (PP), total phosphorus (TP), NO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), electrical conductivity (EC), and pH were measured from 0.75-m wide by 2-m long plots. Concentrations of DP, TP, and NH4-N, in general, declined throughout the year on both the no-till cattle and no-till swine manure treatments. Tillage did not significantly affect concentrations of DP, PP, TP, NH4-N or pH on the swine manure treatments, but significant variations in these variables were measured over time. Under no-till and tilled conditions on both the cattle and swine manure treatments, the smallest concentrations of DP, NO3-N, NH4-N, and TN occurred on the final test date. The increase in pH of runoff during the study is attributed to the addition of CaCO3 to the rations of beef cattle and swine. Tillage appeared to have less of an impact on runoff nutrient transport from cropland areas than length of time since manure application

Temporal Changes in Nutrient Transport Following Land Application of Manure

Little information is currently available concerning temporal changes in nutrient transport following the addition of manure to cropland areas. This study was conducted to measure nutrient transport in runoff as affected by tillage and time following the application of beef cattle or swine manure to a site on which corn [Zea mays (L.)] was grown. Rainfall simulation tests were initiated 4, 32, 62, 123, and 354 days following land application. Three 30-min simulated rainfall events, separated by 24-hour intervals, were conducted at an intensity of approximately 70 mm hr-1. Dissolved phosphorus (DP), particulate phosphorus (PP), total phosphorus (TP), NO3-N, NH4-N, total nitrogen (TN), electrical conductivity (EC), and pH were measured from 0.75-m wide by 2-m long plots. Concentrations of DP, TP, and NH4-N, in general, declined throughout the year on both the no-till cattle and no-till swine manure treatments. Tillage did not significantly affect concentrations of DP, PP, TP, NH4-N or pH on the swine manure treatments, but significant variations in these variables were measured over time. Under no-till and tilled conditions on both the cattle and swine manure treatments, the smallest concentrations of DP, NO3-N, NH4-N, and TN occurred on the final test date. The increase in pH of runoff during the study is attributed to the addition of CaCO3 to the rations of beef cattle and swine. Tillage appeared to have less of an impact on runoff nutrient transport from cropland areas than length of time since manure application

EMISSION OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS FROM LAND-APPLIED BEEF CATTLE MANURE AS AFFECTED BY APPLICATION METHOD, DIET, AND SOIL WATER CONDITION

Land application of beef cattle manure may result in the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC). This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of diet, land application method, soil water condition, and time since manure application on VOC emissions. Manure was collected from feedlot pens where cattle were fed diets containing 0%, 10%, or 30% wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS). The effects of manure application method (surface-applied or incorporated) and soil water condition (saturated or wet) on VOC emissions were measured over a 48 h period. Heptanoic, hexanoic, isobutyric, and isovaleric acids contributed 23.5%, 17.6%, 9.26%, and 3.39% (0.034, 0.258, 0.030, and 0.014 g m-2 min-1), respectively, to total odor activity values (OAV). The aromatics indole and skatole contributed 14.7% and 8.84%, (0.005 and 0.0004 g m-2 min-1), respectively, to total OAV. Dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) contributed 9.50% (0.013 g m-2 min-1) and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) contributed 5.68% (0.030 g m-2 min-1) to total OAV. Emissions of the sulfur compounds (DMDS and DMTS) were substantially greater for the 30% WDGS diet. With the exception of heptanoic acid, flux measurements were greater from the plots where manure was surface-applied than from the plots where manure was incorporated. Emissions of each VOC were greater on the first day following manure application when a saturated soil water condition was present. VOC flux values were found to rapidly decrease following manure application. Effective best management practices for reducing VOC emissions are to incorporate manure soon after application and to delay land application when there is a high probability of rainfall

Narrow grass hedge effects on microbial transport following variable applications of beef cattle manure

The effectiveness of a 1.4 m wide grass hedge in reducing microbial transport following manure application was examined in this study. Beef cattle manure was applied to 0.75 m wide by 4.0 m long plots established on an Aksarben silty clay loam located in southeast Nebraska. Manure was added at rates required to meet none or the 1-, 2-, or 4-year nitrogen requirements for corn. The transport of phages, total coliforms, E. coli, and enterococci was measured for three 30 min simulated rainfall events, which were separated by approximately 24 h intervals. The narrow grass hedge reduced total counts of phages, E. coli, and enterococci from 10.8 to 9.01 log PFU ha-1, from 12.4 to 11.9 log CFU ha-1, and from 11.8 to 11.2 log CFU ha-1, respectively. For the plots that received manure, no significant differences in transport of phages or enterococci were found among the three manure application rates. Rainfall simulation run significantly affected measurements of phages, total coliforms, and enterococci, with measurements during the three runs varying from 8.91 to 10.5 log PFU ha-1, from 12.7 to 13.3 log CFU ha-1, and from 11.2 to 11.7 log CFU ha-1, respectively. Counts for phages, total coliforms, and enterococci were significantly less for the first than the second and third rainfall simulation runs. All four of the microbial constituents were significantly correlated to dissolved P, particulate P, total P, and total N. A narrow grass hedge placed on the contour significantly reduced microbial transport following variable applications of beef cattle manure

Structural and functional effects of acoustic exposure in goldfish: evidence for tonotopy in the teleost saccule

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mammalian and avian auditory hair cells display tonotopic mapping of frequency along the length of the cochlea and basilar papilla. It is not known whether the auditory hair cells of fishes possess a similar tonotopic organization in the saccule, which is thought to be the primary auditory receptor in teleosts. To investigate this question, we determined the location of hair cell damage in the saccules of goldfish (<it>Carassius auratus</it>) following exposure to specific frequencies. Subjects were divided into six groups of six fish each (five treatment groups plus control). The treatment groups were each exposed to one of five tones: 100, 400, 800, 2000, and 4000 Hz at 176 dB re 1 μPa root mean squared (RMS) for 48 hours. The saccules of each fish were dissected and labeled with phalloidin in order to visualize hair cell bundles. The hair cell bundles were counted at 19 specific locations in each saccule to determine the extent and location of hair cell damage. In addition to quantification of anatomical injury, hearing tests (using auditory evoked potentials) were performed on each fish immediately following sound exposure. Threshold shifts were calculated by subtracting control thresholds from post-sound exposure thresholds.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All sound-exposed fish exhibited significant hair cell and hearing loss following sound exposure. The location of hair cell loss varied along the length of the saccule in a graded manner with the frequency of sound exposure, with lower and higher frequencies damaging the more caudal and rostral regions of the saccule, respectively. Similarly, fish exposed to lower frequency tones exhibited greater threshold shifts at lower frequencies, while high-frequency tone exposure led to hearing loss at higher frequencies. In general, both hair cell and hearing loss declined as a function of increasing frequency of exposure tone, and there was a significant linear relationship between hair cell loss and hearing loss.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The pattern of hair cell loss as a function of exposure tone frequency and saccular rostral-caudal location is similar to the pattern of hearing loss as a function of exposure tone frequency and hearing threshold frequency. This data suggest that the frequency analysis ability of goldfish is at least partially driven by peripheral tonotopy in the saccule.</p