I. Geostatical Analysis of Forms of Soil Nitrogen in a Continuously Cropped Wheat Field II. Geostatistical analysis of Soil Phosphorous Potassium, Organic Carbon and pH in a Long-Term Wheat Field III. Changes in Phosphorus, Aluminum and Manganese in Three Acid-Affected Soils That Have Been Amended With Phosphorous

Soil Scienc

Determining mehlich‐3 and DTPA extractable soil zinc optimum economic threshold for maize

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the most susceptible crops to zinc (Zn) deficiency. However, in much of the world, soil Zn tests are poorly calibrated, and thus determining a critical soil test, level for Zn is challenging. The objectives of this study were to: (i) produce a field calibration of the Zn Mehlich-3 (M3-Zn) method for predicting maize grain yield response to Zn fertilizer application, (ii) compare the capacity of DTPA extractable Zn (DTPA-Zn) with M3-Zn for predicting the response of maize yield to Zn fertilizer, (iii) determine whether inclusion of soil pH, organic matter (SOM) and extractable phosphorus in a M3-Zn model improves its predictive capacity and (iv) evaluate an economic approach for determining soil Zn thresholds. We conducted 55 field experiments covering a wide range of edaphic and climatic conditions. Maize responded to Zn fertilizer in 29% of the trials. The capacity of M3-Zn and DTPA-Zn to predict relative yield of maize was similar. Inclusion of other soil variables (pH, extractable phosphorus and SOM) did not or only slightly improve the prediction of M3-Zn. Based on the relationship between M3-Zn and DTPA-Zn (R2 = 0.89), one test can be predicted from the other without affecting the calibration. The M3-Zn 'economic threshold' ranged from 0.98 to 2.79 mg kg−1, while for DTPA-Zn it varied from 0.41 to 1.61 mg kg−1. The broad range of economic thresholds shows that differences in maize productivity and grain price between regions and seasons make establishing a single Zn threshold for all economic-productive situations inappropriate.Fil: Martínez Cuesta, Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Wyngaard, Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación Para la Producción Agropecuaria y El Desarrollo Sostenible. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación Para la Producción Agropecuaria y El Desarrollo Sostenible.; ArgentinaFil: Sainz Rozas, Hernan Rene. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Reussi Calvo, Nahuel Ignacio. Laboratorio de Analisis de Suelos Fertilab; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Carciochi, Walter Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Eyherabide, Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación Para la Producción Agropecuaria y El Desarrollo Sostenible. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación Para la Producción Agropecuaria y El Desarrollo Sostenible.; ArgentinaFil: Colazo, Juan Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Barraco, Mariano Manuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Guertal, Elizabeth A.. Auburn University.; Estados UnidosFil: Barbieri, Pablo Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Innovación Para la Producción Agropecuaria y El Desarrollo Sostenible. - Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Instituto de Innovación Para la Producción Agropecuaria y El Desarrollo Sostenible.; Argentin

The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Interdisciplinary Research in Agriculture

Increasingly, interdisciplinary research is being touted as a way to solve real-life problems of interest to the taxpayers who support research at public universities. The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits of interdisciplinary agricultural research involving economists and natural scientists, to discuss problems associated with carrying out this type of work and to offer some suggestions on how such research can be facilitated. Mutual trust and ongoing relationships can lead to better timing of collaboration and more satisfaction for all parties. Open communications are also important for success in collaboration. Within the border university environment, it is important for tenure and promotion committees to be able to properly evaluate interdisciplinary work; otherwise, faculty will not be properly rewarded for these efforts

The Pleasures and Pitfalls of Interdisciplinary Research in Agriculture

Increasingly, interdisciplinary research is being touted as a way to solve real-life problems of interest to the taxpayers who support research at public universities. The purpose of this paper is to examine the benefits of interdisciplinary agricultural research involving economists and natural scientists, to discuss problems associated with carrying out this type of work and to offer some suggestions on how such research can be facilitated. Mutual trust and ongoing relationships can lead to better timing of collaboration and more satisfaction for all parties. Open communications are also important for success in collaboration. Within the border university environment, it is important for tenure and promotion committees to be able to properly evaluate interdisciplinary work; otherwise, faculty will not be properly rewarded for these efforts.Interdisciplinary research, Agriculture, Economics, Agribusiness, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Economics of Turfgrass-Sod Production as Compared to Row Crops in Alabama

In the South, turfgrass-sod has been a profitable alternative to row crops for many years. With depressed housing markets and higher crop prices, the current economic competitiveness of turfgrass-sod depends critically on the ability to harvest the crop as soon as it matures, and on input and output prices

TURFGRASS PRODUCTION: ECONOMIES OF SIZE, OPTIMAL PRODUCT MIX, AND PRICE SENSITIVITY

Notable economies of size were found both in establishment and continued operation of a turfgrass-sod facility in Alabama. Over a seven-year time horizon, bermudagrass was the most profitable grass to produce on every farm size. Both zoysia and centipede also had positive economic returns over the time horizon

TURFGRASS PRODUCTION: ECONOMIES OF SIZE, OPTIMAL PRODUCT MIX, AND PRICE SENSITIVITY

Notable economies of size were found both in establishment and continued operation of a turfgrass-sod facility in Alabama. Over a seven-year time horizon, bermudagrass was the most profitable grass to produce on every farm size. Both zoysia and centipede also had positive economic returns over the time horizon.Production Economics,