Improvements in turfgrass color and density resulting from comprehensive soil diagnostics

There are roughly 220 golf courses in Arkansas, and as many as 50% of these courses were constructed using common bermudagrass fairways. Although resilient, common bermudagrass loses density and quality over time. In this experiment physical and chemical properties of the soil were analyzed to determine the causes of decline in turf quality observed on several fairways of a local golf course. Once a particular fairway was selected for study and preliminary soil sampling conducted, GS+, a geostatistical computer program, was used to map the location of certain chemical deficiencies. A moderate to severe Mg deficiency was detected throughout the fairway. Twelve different fertility treatments were designed to enhance the overall density, texture, and color of the turf. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), Primo™ (a plant growth regulator), and Nitron (an organic nitrogen source) all showed significant improvements in turf quality. Extensive and comprehensive soil testing was found to be very beneficial; “hidden” nutrient deficiencies were discovered, which allowed site-specific treatments to be included in the test

Comparison of growing media for container grown plants

Greenhouse and growth chamber experiments are conducted worldwide in efforts to produce solutions that would increase yields of agronomic crops. However, the results of those experiments vary due to the many growth media being used. An experiment was conducted in the fall of 2010 to identify a broadly acceptable growth media that would produce uniform stands and optimum results in greenhouse and growth chamber settings. A total of six growth media were tested on cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) at the Arkansas Agricutural Research and Extension Center’s Altheimer Lab in Fayetteville. The plants grown in each medium were harvested six weeks after planting and the measurements performed included plant height, plant dry matter, leaf area, and nutrient analysis. The results indicated that a positive, significant difference (P \u3c 0.05) existed between “Sunshine” mix (MIX1) and the other media. Plants grown in MIX1 experienced greater plant height, dry matter, leaf area, and also experienced higher leaf tissue levels of N, P, and S. “Sunshine” (Mix1) is a readily available growth medium that produces optimum plant growth and uniform results in growth chamber and greenhouse experiments

The influences of poultry litter biochar and water source on radish growth and nutrition

Many row-crop fields today have declined in soil fertility due to poor management practices and overuse of pesticides. Under these conditions, plant nutrient uptake can be sub-optimal. There are several soil amendments that can be used to improve soil quality and plant growth. This study focused on the addition of biochar to the soil and the use of structured water to enhance plant growth. Biochar is produced by pyrolysis of organic feedstocks. Previous studies which focused on biochar have shown an increase in plant yield, nutrient availability in the soil, and soil water holding capacity. Structured water is the liquid crystalline state of water which has unique characteristics due to the ordering of the hydrogen bonds in the water molecules. There have been numerous claims in the natural and organic health literature about the benefits of structured water in human and animal health, but little has been reported in the scientific literature concerning plant growth response. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar and structured water on the growth and nutrient content of radishes (Raphahus sativa L.). Data showed that the water type used had the most significant response. Biochar and tap water had a significant and positive interaction. Tap water and biochar used together resulted in higher yield, leaf area, plant fresh weight, and nutrient contents as the rate of biochar increased. Radish growth showed a negative response to structured water in almost every circumstance

The influence of poultry litter biochar on early season cotton growth

Cotton is known for being sensitive to cool, wet soils, especially in the early stages of growth. Amendments to soil can aid cotton seedlings in development and nutrient uptake. However, soil amendments can be costly and detrimental to the environment, and alternatives such as the addition of biochar have been considered. Biochar is produced from biomass that has gone through pyrolysis and has been shown to improve plant yield, microbial response, soil structure, soil cation–exchange capacity, and water use efficiency. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of biochar on early season cotton growth. The aim of this study was to determine whether biochar aids nutrient uptake and seedling development during the seedling’s life cycle. The study was established in October 2013 in the greenhouse at the University of Arkansas using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included a control with no fertilizer or biochar, a control with fertilizer (56 kg N/ ha) and no biochar, and two fertilizer treatments (0 or 56 kg N/ ha) each with 1500 or 3000 kg/ha biochar. Plants were grown for eight weeks then harvested to collect plant height, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, and leaf area. Data showed that the highest level of biochar with additional fertilizer provided the best growth response in plant height, fresh weight dry weight, and leaf area at 27.52 cm, 14.7g, 1.87 g, and 419.48 cm2 , respectively

MORPHOLOGICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT OF INDETERMINATE AND DETERMINATE SOYBEANS (GLYCINE MAX (L.) MERRILL) AS INFLUENCED BY ROW WIDTH AND PLANT POPULATION DENSITIES

Abstract not availabl

The effect of Austrian winter-pea cover crop and cow-pea companion crop on corn yield

Leguminous cover crops have the potential to combat the rising input cost of commercial nitrogen (N) fertilizers. This experiment examines benefits of implementing a leguminous cover and/or companion crop into a corn production system. Legumes biologically fix nitrogen from the atmosphere, adding to the nitrogen content of the soil. In this experiment Austrian winter peas (Pisum arvense) (AWP) were used as the leguminous cover crop and cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) were used as the companion crop. A two year experiment was carried out in which winter peas were planted on half the field in the fall and allowed to grow until late April to early May. The pea biomass was recorded, then the peas were plowed into the soil allowed to incorporate and begin decomposition, followed by corn planting. Different rates of commercial nitrogen were applied and varying seeding rates of companion-crop peas were also evaluated. Nitrogen was applied at 0, 112, and 224 kg ha-1. Companion-crop peas were planted at 0, 4, and 8 plants m-1. The corn was harvested, and yield as influenced by the various treatments, was evaluated. In both years, cover-crop peas provided all or a significant amount of corn N needs. This has useful implications for producer profitability and the environment since commercial N requires fossil fuels during its production

Pine Woodchip Biochar Impact on Soil Nutrient Concentrations and Corn Yield in a Silt Loam in the Mid-Southern U.S.

Biochar has altered plant yields and soil nutrient availability in tropical soils, but less research exists involving biochar additions to temperate cropping systems. Of the existing research, results vary based on soil texture, crop grown, and biochar properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of pine (Pinus spp.) woodchip biochar at 0, 5, and 10 Mg·ha−1 rates combined with urea nitrogen (N) on soil chemical properties and corn (Zea mays L.) yield under field conditions in the first growing season after biochar addition in a silt-loam alluvial soil. Biochar combined with fertilizer numerically increased corn yields, while biochar alone numerically decreased corn yields, compared to a non-amended control. Corn nitrogen uptake efficiency (NUE) was greater with 10 Mg·ha−1 biochar compared to no biochar. There were limited biochar effects on soil nutrients, but biochar decreased nitrate, total dissolved N, and Mehlich-3 extractable sulfur and manganese concentrations in the top 10 cm. Pine woodchip biochar combined with N fertilizer has the potential to improve corn production when grown in silt-loam soil in the mid-southern U.S. by improving NUE and increasing yield. Further research will be important to determine impacts as biochar ages in the soil

Quantitation of Immunoglobulin to Hepatitis E Virus by Enzyme Immunoassay

We developed a quantitative enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for antibody to hepatitis E virus (HEV) by using truncated HEV capsid protein expressed in the baculovirus system to improve seroepidemiology, to contribute to hepatitis E diagnosis, and to enable vaccine evaluations. Five antigen lots were characterized; we used a reference antiserum to standardize antigen potency. We defined Walter Reed antibody units (WR U) with a reference antiserum by using the four-parameter logistic model, established other reference pools as assay standards, and determined the conversion factor: 1 WR U/ml = 0.125 World Health Organization unit (WHO U) per ml. The EIA performed consistently; median intra- and intertest coefficients of variation were 9 and 12%, respectively. The accurate minimum detection limit with serum diluted 1:1,000 was 5.6 WR U/ml; the test could detect reliably a fourfold antibody change. In six people followed from health to onset of hepatitis E, the geometric mean antibody level rose from 7.1 WR U/ml to 1,924.6 WR U/ml. We used the presence of 56- and 180-kDa bands by Western blotting as a confirmatory test and to define true-negative and -positive serum specimens. A receiver-operating characteristics plot identified 30 WR U/ml as an optimum cut-point (sensitivity, 86%; specificity, 89%). The EIA detected antibody more sensitively than a commercially available test. The EIA was transferred to another laboratory, where four operators matched reference laboratory results for a panel of unknowns. Quantitation of antibody to HEV and confirmation of its specificity by Western blotting make HEV serology more meaningful