Comparative Study of \u3ci\u3eMecinus Janthiniformis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attack and Simulated Mowing for Control of \u3ci\u3eLinaria Dalmatica\u3c/i\u3e Spp. \u3ci\u3eDalmatica\u3c/i\u3e (Plantaginaceae)

Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica spp. dalmatica (L.) Mill. (Plantaginaceae) has invaded over one million hectares in the western United States and Canada, in habitats similar to its native range. Two field studies were conducted to examine the impact of simulated mowing or insect herbivory on L. dalmatica growth and reproduction. Simulated mowing over the duration of the study decreased L. dalmatica total biomass per square meter, significantly reduced the total number of fruits and flowers per square meter, and resulted in significantly shorter flowering stems in the simulated mowing plots than in their controls. Plants in plots attacked by Mecinus janthiniformis Toševski and Caldara (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) had significantly less biomass per square meter, significantly fewer total numbers of fruits and flowers per square meter, and significantly fewer reproductive structures per stem than plants in paired control plots over the duration of the study. Specifically, both management tactics resulted in a negative impact on this invasive plant. With repeated tissue removal or damage, a reduction in numbers of fruits and flowers per stem on both the stems subjected to simulated mowing and Mecinus-attacked stems relative to their controls suggests that long term stress effects on the plants may be similar. The results of these studies suggest that mowing may warrant further evaluation as a possible method of control in areas where M. janthiniformis release is not effective

Computational Contributions to the Automation of Agriculture

The purpose of this paper is to explore ways that computational advancements have enabled the complete automation of agriculture from start to finish. With a major need for agricultural advancements because of food and water shortages, some farmers have begun creating their own solutions to these problems. Primarily explored in this paper, however, are current research topics in the automation of agriculture. Digital agriculture is surveyed, focusing on ways that data collection can be beneficial. Additionally, self-driving technology is explored with emphasis on farming applications. Machine vision technology is also detailed, with specific application to weed management and harvesting of crops. Finally, the effects of automating agriculture are briefly considered, including labor, the environment, and direct effects on farmers

Apparent contradiction between negative effects of UV radiation and positive effects of sun exposure

We would like to comment on the three contributions in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 97, No. 3, February 2, 2005: Kathleen M. Egan, Jeffrey A. Sosman, William J. Blot: Editorial: Sunlight and Reduced Risk of Cancer: Is the Real Story Vitamin D? (pp. 161-163) ; Marianne Berwick, Bruce K. Armstrong, Leah Ben-Porat, Judith Fine, Anne Kricker, Carey Eberle, Raymond Barnhill: Sun Exposure and Mortality From Melanoma. (pp. 195-199) ; Karin Ekström Smedby, Henrik Hjalgrim, Mads Melbye, Anna Torrång, Klaus Rostgaard, Lars Munksgaard, et al.: Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure and Risk of Malignant Lymphomas. (pp. 199-209)

Fair agricultural innovation for a changing climate

Agricultural innovation happens at different scales and through different streams. In the absence of a common global research agenda, decisions on which innovations are brought to existence, and through which methods, are taken with insufficient view on how innovation affects social relations, the environment, and future food production. Mostly, innovations are considered from the standpoint of economic efficiency, particularly in relationship to creating jobs for technology-exporting countries. Increasingly, however, the realization that innovations cannot be successful on their technical prowess alone calls for a broader investigation

Terahertz spectroscopy for proximal soil sensing: An approach to particle size analysis

Spatially resolved soil parameters are some of the most important pieces of information for precision agriculture. These parameters, especially the particle size distribution (texture), are costly to measure by conventional laboratory methods, and thus, in situ assessment has become the focus of a new discipline called proximal soil sensing. Terahertz (THz) radiation is a promising method for nondestructive in situ measurements. The THz frequency range from 258 gigahertz (GHz) to 350 GHz provides a good compromise between soil penetration and the interaction of the electromagnetic waves with soil compounds. In particular, soil physical parameters influence THz measurements. This paper presents investigations of the spectral transmission signals from samples of different particle size fractions relevant for soil characterization. The sample thickness ranged from 5 to 17 mm. The transmission of THz waves was affected by the main mineral particle fractions, sand, silt and clay. The resulting signal changes systematically according to particle sizes larger than half the wavelength. It can be concluded that THz spectroscopic measurements provide information about soil texture and penetrate samples with thicknesses in the cm range

Comparative Study of \u3ci\u3eMecinus Janthiniformis\u3c/i\u3e (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Attack and Simulated Mowing for Control of \u3ci\u3eLinaria Dalmatica\u3c/i\u3e Spp. \u3ci\u3eDalmatica\u3c/i\u3e (Plantaginaceae)

Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica spp. dalmatica (L.) Mill. (Plantaginaceae) has invaded over one million hectares in the western United States and Canada, in habitats similar to its native range. Two field studies were conducted to examine the impact of simulated mowing or insect herbivory on L. dalmatica growth and reproduction. Simulated mowing over the duration of the study decreased L. dalmatica total biomass per square meter, significantly reduced the total number of fruits and flowers per square meter, and resulted in significantly shorter flowering stems in the simulated mowing plots than in their controls. Plants in plots attacked by Mecinus janthiniformis Toševski and Caldara (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) had significantly less biomass per square meter, significantly fewer total numbers of fruits and flowers per square meter, and significantly fewer reproductive structures per stem than plants in paired control plots over the duration of the study. Specifically, both management tactics resulted in a negative impact on this invasive plant. With repeated tissue removal or damage, a reduction in numbers of fruits and flowers per stem on both the stems subjected to simulated mowing and Mecinus-attacked stems relative to their controls suggests that long term stress effects on the plants may be similar. The results of these studies suggest that mowing may warrant further evaluation as a possible method of control in areas where M. janthiniformis release is not effective

Berücksichtigung von Bodenvariabilität bei der Kalk-Ausbringung

In Brandenburg ist die räumliche Variabilität der kalkungsrelevanten Bodenparameter Textur, pH und Humus so groß, dass durch Beprobungen auf 3-5 ha Teilflächen gemäß den VDLUFA-Empfehlungen Unterschiede nur unzureichend erfasst werden. Dies bedingt bei pH-anspruchsvollen Kulturen, wie Luzerne und Kleearten, heterogene Bestände und einen geringeren Vorfruchtwert. Gerade im Ökolandbau ist es daher wichtig, kleinräumige pH bedingte Probleme zu erkennen und Methoden zu entwickeln, die ortsspezifisches Kalkmanagement ermöglichen. Im Rahmen des EIP-Agri-Projektes „pH-BB: Präzise Kalkung in Brandenburg“ kommen zwei mobile Sensorplattformen auf einem ökologischen und zwei konventionellen Betrieben zum Einsatz. Im Beitrag werden für einen 75 ha großen Schlag hochaufgelöste Karten des pH ("pH-mapper", Veris Technologies) und der VDLUFA-Bodengruppen (Geophilis GmbH) mithilfe von Sensorkartierungen erstellt. Diese werden zu einer CaO-Bedarfskarte nach dem VDLUFA-Algorithmus verrechnet und zu einer praxistauglichen Kalk-Applilkationskarte aggregiert. Für die Bodengruppen 1, 2 und 3 wurde bei pH-Werten von 4.45 bis 7.06 (Median = 6.04, Q1 = 5.89, Q3 = 6.22) ein Bedarf von 0 bis 5521 kg CaO/ha (x̅ = 646 kg CaO/ha, s = 484 kg CaO/ha) ermittelt

High Prevalence of Spirochetosis in Cholera Patients, Bangladesh

The microbes that accompany the etiologic agent of cholera, Vibrio cholerae, are only now being defined. In this study, spirochetes from the genus Brachyspira were identified at high titers in more than one third of cholera patients in Bangladesh. Spirochetosis should now be tracked in the setting of cholera outbreaks