SCALES: A Computer Program to Convert among Three Developmental Stage Scales for Wheat

The Haun, Feekes, and Zadoks-ChanpKonzak developmental stage scales are often used to report phenological information for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) development. Agronomists familiar with one of these scales may have only a passing acquaintance with developmental scales other than the one they consider most appropriate for their purposes. This makes review and interpretation of the literature more difficult. Although wheat development models often report phenological results, they generally use no more than one scale. For these reasons, and because there is not a simple numeric correspondence among the three scales, a computer program to convert among them is a useful tool. SCALES is a three-module FORTRAN program that relates the three scales based on published descriptions. The interactive user interface module requests an input scale value and minimal additional information, which the conversion module uses to determine values for the remaining two scales via a dichotomous key. The output module writes the conversion results to the monitor. SCALES may be used independently for comparing phenological data based on different developmental scales, or the conversion module may be incorporated into computer models to provide output of developmental stage information for the simulation

SCALES 2: COMPUTER PROGRAM TO CONVERT AMONG DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE SCALES FOR CORN AND SMALL GRAINS

Producers and agronomists need crop developmental scales that are easy to use, universally accepted, and accurate. Development of such a scale requires correlation of stages among scales currently in use and correlation of developmental patterns among crops. A computer program for converting among staging systems is a useful tool in developing new staging systems with wider applicability. The BBCH scale (BASF-Bayer-Ciba-Geigy-Hoechst) has been proposed as a prototype of a universal scale. We have added the BBCH scale to our scale conversion program for wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and developed a similar conversion program for corn (Zea mays L.), based on correlations reported in the literature. SCALES 2 provides a tool to translate among several widely used scales for corn and small-gain development, and can be used to develop familiarity with the various scales

Nitrogen and Dry Matter Distribution by Culm and Leaf Position at Two Stages of Vegetative Growth in Winter Wheat

Knowledge of N and assimilate partitioning in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improves management efficacy and crop model development. Our purpose was to describe N and dry matter distribution during vegetative growth of blades, sheaths, and internodes on four culms. Winter wheat grown at the Colorado State University Horticultural Farm was sampled at Haun Stage 5 and jointing. Samples were dried, weighed, and analyzed for N. As the canopy developed and older tissue contributed more of total tissue, N concentration decreased although N mass and dry weight increased. Dry matter and N mass decreased from MC to T1 and T2 to T11, while the reverse order was found for N concentration. Dry weight and N mass decreased as culm order increased (culm age decreased), because phyctomers were smaller and fewer existed. Nitrogen concentration had the opposite trend because new tissue contained about 40 g N kg-1 but declined as the tissue aged to 30 g N kg-1. Initial growth of all tissues had concentrations \u3e50 g N kg-1 and at senescence declined to 19 g N kg-1. Phytomer positions on different culms tended to have similar N concentrations while identical phytomers on primary tillers tended to have greater dry weights than those on the MC and secondary tillers. Phytomers tended to increase in N concentration and mass and dry weight acropetally. Results show that viewing the canopy as the interplay of appearance, growth, interaction, and senescence of culms or phytomers can increase understanding of canopy N and dry weight dynamics

DEVELOPMENT OF A QUALITY-ASSESSED AGRICHEMICAL DATABASE FOR MONITORING ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACTS ON GROUND-WATER QUALITY

The Quality-Assessed Agrichemical Contaminant Database for Nebraska Ground Water is a unique repository of nitrate and pesticide data collected by federal, state, and local agencies. Each contaminant concentration in the database has been evaluated based upon well-defined criteria that address completeness of the well-attribute data, analytical method and field and laboratory quality control practices and assigned to one of five quality levels. The quality assessment level always accompanies the contaminant concentration so that the end-user knows the quality assurance effort expended in the acquisition of the data, can select comparable data, and choose data whose quality assurance effort is commensurate with project objectives. The database can be viewed and queried on-line; downloaded in its entirety; or imported to a spreadsheet or a geographic information system. Setting criteria for data quality and assessing the level of quality have resulted in significant increases in the percentages of high quality (Levels 3–5) nitrate and pesticide data. These high quality data presently constitute 52% of the nitrate and 55% of the pesticide data

Responses of stream invertebrates to an ashpit effluent : Wisconsin power plant impact study /

Fly ash from the 527-MW Coal-fired Columbia Generating Station Unit I (Columbia Co., Wisconsin) is discharged as a slurry into an adjacent ashpit. Water from the ashpit is pumped to a ditch that joins the ashpit drain and Rocky Run Creek before they reach the Wisconsin River. Habitat alterations have been noted as relatively minor changes in water quality parameters (e.g., alkalinity, hardness, pH, and turbidity), as increased amounts of some dissolved trace elements (Cr, Ba, Al, Cd, and Cu), and as the precipitation of trace elements (Al, Ba, and Cr) into a floc that coats the stream bottoms. The ashpit drain became an unsuitable habitat for aquatic invertebrates after Columbia I began operating. Rocky Run Creek is still a suitable habitat for many aquatic invertebrates, but evidence of sublethal stresses and habitat avoidance exists."August 1980."Includes bibliographical references.Fly ash from the 527-MW Coal-fired Columbia Generating Station Unit I (Columbia Co., Wisconsin) is discharged as a slurry into an adjacent ashpit. Water from the ashpit is pumped to a ditch that joins the ashpit drain and Rocky Run Creek before they reach the Wisconsin River. Habitat alterations have been noted as relatively minor changes in water quality parameters (e.g., alkalinity, hardness, pH, and turbidity), as increased amounts of some dissolved trace elements (Cr, Ba, Al, Cd, and Cu), and as the precipitation of trace elements (Al, Ba, and Cr) into a floc that coats the stream bottoms. The ashpit drain became an unsuitable habitat for aquatic invertebrates after Columbia I began operating. Rocky Run Creek is still a suitable habitat for many aquatic invertebrates, but evidence of sublethal stresses and habitat avoidance exists.Sponsored by U.S. Envioronmental Protection AgencyMode of access: Internet