Evaluation of Secondary and Micronutrients for Soybean Production in Kansas

Study of secondary and micronutrients is growing because of their potential contribution to yield increases. The objective of this study was to evaluate soybean response to secondary and micronutrient fertilizer application to maximize yields. A randomized complete block design was employed with four replications at five locations during 2013 and five locations in 2014. Treatments consisted of an unfertilized control; micronutrient fertilizer as individual nutrients for boron, copper, manganese, sulfur, and zinc; and a mix of these nutrients using two different placements (dry broadcast and liquid band). Soil samples were collected prior to planting and after harvest. Soybean trifoliates were collected at R2–R3 growth stage and analyzed for the micronutrients evaluated in this study. At harvest, nutrient concentration was analyzed in the seed, and yield was calculated at 13% moisture. No significant difference was found in yields between treatments by location or across locations. Results from tissue and grain analysis showed significant treatment effects on zinc concentrations across locations

Evaluation of Long-Term Phosphorus Fertilizer Placement Effect on Soil Phosphorus and Crop Yield

Phosphorus (P) accumulation in soil with long-term P fertilizer placements can result in a potentially large available reserve of this nutrient for subsequent crop production. This study investigated the effect of phosphorus fertilizer management (placement: broadcast versus deep band) after ten years on soil P, and yield response of crop rotation. Field studies were conducted for a period of ten years in Manhattan, KS. Three treatments were evaluated: 1) control with no P fertilizer application and two fertilizer treatments (80 lb P2O5/a); 2) surface broadcast; and 3) deep band at approximately 4- to 6-in. depth. All treatments received strip-tillage. After ten years, soil samples were collected from the row at two sampling depths (0–3 and 3–6 in.), and the soil P and grain yield of 2015 were evaluated. The accumulation of large amounts of soil P was directly affected by P fertilizer placement. The broadcast P fertilizer placement increased the soil P by the resin method in the topsoil (0–3 in.) and deep band in the subsoil (3–6 in.). Broadcast and deep band placements had the same effect on grain yield of corn and soybean, however, the deep band showed an average lower grain yield for wheat than broadcast

Moving ahead from food-related behaviours: an alternative approach to understand household food waste generation

Food waste prevention is a hot topic on the policy agenda. According to available data, urgent measures need to be undertaken to significantly reduce the current generation of food waste. However, it is important to thoroughly understand consumers' behaviour to define measures that will lead to a long-lasting change in the situation. The aim of the present work is to analyse consumer food waste behaviour by means of a model that brings together food-related and waste management variables. To do so, a survey was given to 418 consumers of the metropolitan area of Barcelona. Results show that food waste is directly influenced by purchasing discipline, waste prevention habits and materialism values and indirectly influenced by environmental values. This highlights the importance of addressing the problem from different perspectives and emphasizes the importance of considering this problem as a transversal element for policy makers. We suggest that household food waste prevention and reduction needs to be included as a key element in different policy areas.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Millimagnitude Photometry for Transiting Extrasolar Planetary Candidates. V. Follow-up of 30 OGLE Transits. New Candidates

We used VLT/VIMOS images in the V band to obtain light curves of extrasolar planetary transits OGLE-TR-111 and OGLE-TR-113, and candidate planetary transits: OGLE-TR-82, OGLE-TR-86, OGLE-TR-91, OGLE-TR-106, OGLE-TR-109, OGLE-TR-110, OGLE-TR-159, OGLE-TR-167, OGLE-TR-170, OGLE-TR-171. Using difference imaging photometry, we were able to achieve millimagnitude errors in the individual data points. We present the analysis of the data and the light curves, by measuring transit amplitudes and ephemerides, and by calculating geometrical parameters for some of the systems. We observed 9 OGLE objects at the predicted transit moments. Two other transits were shifted in time by a few hours. For another seven objects we expected to observe transits during the VIMOS run, but they were not detected. The stars OGLE-TR-111 and OGLE-TR-113 are probably the only OGLE objects in the observed sample to host planets, with the other objects being very likely eclipsing binaries or multiple systems. In this paper we also report on four new transiting candidates which we have found in the data.Comment: 11 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Breeding for Resistance to Strike Leaf Blight (\u3ci\u3eScolecotrichum graminis\u3c/i\u3e) of Orchardgras in Argentina

A collection of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) was screened under field conditions for resistance to strike leaf blight (SLB) caused by the fungus Scolecotrichum graminis. On the whole, thirty five entries from different countries were studied by sampling ten genotypes from each origin, clonally propagated and transplanted as spaced-plant trial in a randomized design with two replicates. Plants were periodically assessed during 1996 and 1997 by estimating disease severity (percentage of leaf affected). During 1997, disease severity data were used to calculate the area under disease progress curves (AUDPC) as a complementary attribute to screen for resistance to SLB. Important genetic differences were observed among different entries by analyzing the amount of symptoms through disease severity during 1996. Similarly, large differences were detected between entries when analyzed through AUDPC, none of them related to origin of germplasm. Results indicated that there should be good possibilities of selecting resistant genotypes to S. graminis from INTA Pergamino orchardgrass germoplasm collection

Multispectral images of peach related to firmness and maturity at harvest

wo multispectral maturity classifications for red soft-flesh peaches (‘Kingcrest’, ‘Rubyrich’ and ‘Richlady’ n = 260) are proposed and compared based on R (red) and R/IR (red divided by infrared) images obtained with a three CCD camera (800 nm, 675 nm and 450 nm). R/IR histograms were able to correct the effect of 3D shape on light reflectance and thus more Gaussian histograms were produced than R images. As fruits ripened, the R/IR histograms showed increasing levels of intensity. Reference measurements such as firmness and visible spectra also varied significantly as the fruit ripens, firmness decreased while reflectance at 680 nm increased (chlorophyll absorption peak)

Preparation of Dipteran Larvae for Scanning Electron Microscopy with Special Reference to Myiasigen Dipteran Species

Although controversy exists concerning the role of chemical fixatives in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) studies of Dipteran larvae, we have observed that filtered 10% formaldehyde solution gives excellent results as a preservative. After immersing in vivo in formaldehyde, the larvae material is preserved for prolonged periods (up to 8 months), before examination with SEM. As a fixative, formaldehyde preserves the structure of the larval cuticle and produces no visible artifacts. Moreover, postfixation is not necessary. Due to pecularities of the way of life of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (principally the accumulations of necrotic tissue, purulent particles, and other types of substances that often adhere to the numerous spines of larvae), this species must be cleaned before examination by SEM. Manual cleaning with alternating bidistilled water and 0.9% saline solution proved to be a rapid, easy and inexpensive method that gave good results. Both lyophilization drying and critical point drying were used before sputtering the material. While lyophilization drying proved to be the most effective method for instars II and III, critical point drying was the best technique for study of specimens belonging to instar I. The optimum time for drying and conditions for lyophilization and sputter-coating with gold were determined experimentally. Samples were mounted on SEM stubs with double-sided adhesive and silver conductive paint. The method proposed is easy and effective for the SEM study of larvae myiasis-producing diptera

Soil Phosphorus Fractions After Long-Term Fertilizer Placement in Different Kansas Soils

Phosphorus (P) fertilizer placement can affect the long-term dynamics and forms of P, and the overall soil P pools. These changes can vary by soil type, and affect P uptake and use efficiency by crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in the labile P fractions in three Kansas soil types under P fertilizer placements (broadcast versus deep band) after ten years of crop rotation. Three field studies were conducted at Scandia, Ottawa, and Manhattan. Three treatments were evaluated: 1) a control with no P fertilizer application and two fertilizer treatments (80 lb P2O5/a); 2) surface broadcast; and 3) deep band at approximately 4–6 in. depth. All treatments received strip-tillage. After ten years, soil samples were collected from the row, and between the row at two sampling depths (0–3 and 3–6 inches) and soil P pools (inorganic and organic P labile) were measured. Significant changes in soil labile P pools for treatments compared to control were observed due to the long-term effect of P fertilizer placement. The broadcast P fertilizer placement increased the total labile (PtLP) and inorganic labile P (PiLP) in the soil surface (0–3 in.) and deep band in the subsoil (3–6 in.) at all sites studied. However, the highest amount of organic labile P (PoLP) was observed for the control broadcast treatments in the subsoil (3–6 in.) at the Scandia site. The total labile P was affected by maximum P adsorption capacity (MPAC) and P fertilizer placement