Increased water- and fertilizer-use-efficiency in containerized crop production, via reduced water loss, enhances crop-available nutrients while reducing non-point source agrichemical contributions in accordance with regulatory standards. Previous studies detailed nutrient leaching patterns throughout crop production seasons, leaving little known about water and dissolved nutrient (solute) movement through soilless substrates during irrigation. The following experiments evaluated fundamental water and solute transport principles through pine-bark based substrates. 1) Ilex crenata Thunb. 'Bennett's Compactum' were grown in 2.7 L containers. Tensiometers detected wetting front (WF) movement throughout the substrate during irrigation. 2) Tracer solution (containing NO3-, PO43- and K+) and deionized water (DI) were applied to substrate-filled columns to characterize tracer breakthrough under saturated and unsaturated conditions. 3) Controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) was topdressed (surface-applied), incorporated (throughout substrate), dibbled (center of substrate) or not applied to fallow substrate, irrigated with DI and leachate analyzed to determine nutrient concentrations throughout irrigation. Tensiometers revealed that seasonal root growth affected substrate pre-irrigation moisture distribution. Wetting fronts channeled through the substrate before becoming thoroughly wetted. Tracer breakthrough occurred with less effluent volume under unsaturated conditions. Breakthrough of NO3- and PO43- was relatively conservative, though 37% of K+ was retained by the substrate. Leachate concentrations for topdressed and incorporated CRF peaked early (first 50mL effluent) before diminishing with continued leaching. Leachate concentrations for dibbled CRF initially increased (first 150mL leachate), plateaued and then diminished. These results show the relative rapidity which water and solutes move through pine-bark during irrigation and demonstrate methods for future research on within-irrigation solute transport. / Master of Science

Soil degradation is a common occurrence in Haiti that is mainly caused by the cultivation of marginal lands and deforestation, which both contribute to the excessive erosion rate seen in the country today. The Central Plateau of Haiti is a mountainous region in which a majority of the population is rural and practices subsistence agriculture on hillsides and steeply-sloping land. Essential plant nutrients, such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), are commonly a limiting factor in crop production, yet fertilizer is unavailable or is too expensive for smallholder farmers to purchase. This study was conducted to a) evaluate organic matter and nutrient stocks of various soils in the Central Plateau region, along with other chemical and physical characteristics and b) to evaluate the phosphorus-scavenging ability of commonly-grown crops to isolate those that may benefit subsequent smallholder yields. Soils from four locations in the Central Plateau were assessed for organic matter in labile and non-labile fractions as well as for cation exchange capacity (CEC), total organic carbon (C) and N, pH, texture, and other characteristics. Results indicated that most of the soil (92%) was contained within aggregates, and organic matter was mainly present in stable, slowly-decomposing fractions. Seven species were evaluated in a controlled-environment pot experiment for bulk and rhizosphere soil P and pH, plant dry weight, and above- and below-ground P tissue content as indicators of the species' ability to solubilize P from the soil. Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC) produced the most biomass and was able to take up the most P, though lablab (Lablab purpureous (L.) Sweet), took up comparable amounts of P. / Master of Science / LTRA-6 (A CAPS program for the Central Plateau of Haiti)

O emprego de sistemas em fluxo com multi-impulsão são destaques quanto ao volume de efluentes gerados e a possibilidade de mecanização, operando em condições dinâmicas. A utilização de microbombas solenoide é potencial em processos de adsorção/dessorção de analitos, pois desempenham o fluxo pulsado, e quando operadas em conjunto com o estabelecimento da condição de leito fluidizado, contribuem para o aumento da eficiência de adsorção/dessorção. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi desenvolver e avaliar sistemas de extração sólido-líquido e análises química em fluxo, explorando fluxos pulsados e o estabelecimento da condição de leito fluidizado, visando melhorar a eficiência de interação da amostra e reagente. Para tanto, foram desenvolvidos sistemas em fluxo com multi-impulsão associados ao uso de colunas de leito fluidizado. 1) Sistema para determinação da capacidade de adsorção de fósforo; determinação do fósforo remanescente (P-rem) em solos; 2) Sistema para determinação da capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC) de solos, avaliando a adsorção e a dessorção de analitos. Foi demonstrado que o fósforo e o cálcio contidos em solução são eficientemente adsorvidos/dessorvidos pelo solo, reduzindo significativamente os efeitos de aumento de pressão com o estabelecimento do leito fluidizado (fluidização pulsada) nas colunas contendo 50 mg de amostras de solo. A substituição do fluxo pulsado (microbomba solenoide) pelo fluxo contínuo (bomba peristáltica) limitou a interação sólido-líquido, pois estabeleceu caminhos preferenciais, desfavorecendo as condições de mistura. A utilização das microbombas solenoide em conjunto com a fluidização das amostras de solo, apresentou vantagens quanto à diminuição da quantidade de massa de solo requerida (entre 100 e 200 vezes), redução do consumo de reagentes e resíduos gerados (40 vezes), demonstrando o potencial do sistema em fluxo proposto por ser uma alternativa ambientalmente adequada. Os sistemas propostos são versáteis e facilmente adaptados para outros estudos de extração / Multi-pumping flow systems are highlights on the volume of effluents generated and mechanization, operating in dynamic conditions. Solenoid micro-pumps are potential in the analyte adsorption/desorption processes, because they play the pulsed flow and when operated in conjunction with the establishment of the fluidized bed condition, contribute to the increase of the adsorption/desorption efficiency. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate solid-liquid extraction and flow analysis systems, exploring pulsed flows and establishing the fluidized bed condition in order to improve the solid-liquid interaction efficiency. It was developed multi-pumping flow systems associated with the establishment of the fluidized bed columns. 1) System for determination of phosphorus adsorption capacity; determination of the remaining phosphorus (P-rem) in soils; 2) System to determine the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils, evaluating the adsorption and desorption of analyte. It has been shown that the phosphorus and calcium contained in solution are efficiently adsorbed/desorbed by the soil, significantly reducing the effects of pressure increase with the establishment of the fluidized bed (pulsed fluidization) in the columns containing 50 mg of soil samples. The substitution of the pulsed flow (solenoid micro-pump) by the continuous flow (peristaltic pump) limited the solid-liquid interaction, since it established preferential pathways, undermining the mixing conditions. The use of the solenoid micro-pumps in conjunction with the fluidization of the soil samples presented advantages in terms of decreasing the amount of soil mass required (between 100 and 200-fold time), reducing the consumption of reagents, solutions and waste production (40-fold time), demonstrating the potential of this system to be an environmentally friendly alternative. The proposed systems are versatile and easily adapted to other extraction studies

O emprego de sistemas em fluxo com multi-impulsão são destaques quanto ao volume de efluentes gerados e a possibilidade de mecanização, operando em condições dinâmicas. A utilização de microbombas solenoide é potencial em processos de adsorção/dessorção de analitos, pois desempenham o fluxo pulsado, e quando operadas em conjunto com o estabelecimento da condição de leito fluidizado, contribuem para o aumento da eficiência de adsorção/dessorção. O objetivo geral deste trabalho foi desenvolver e avaliar sistemas de extração sólido-líquido e análises química em fluxo, explorando fluxos pulsados e o estabelecimento da condição de leito fluidizado, visando melhorar a eficiência de interação da amostra e reagente. Para tanto, foram desenvolvidos sistemas em fluxo com multi-impulsão associados ao uso de colunas de leito fluidizado. 1) Sistema para determinação da capacidade de adsorção de fósforo; determinação do fósforo remanescente (P-rem) em solos; 2) Sistema para determinação da capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC) de solos, avaliando a adsorção e a dessorção de analitos. Foi demonstrado que o fósforo e o cálcio contidos em solução são eficientemente adsorvidos/dessorvidos pelo solo, reduzindo significativamente os efeitos de aumento de pressão com o estabelecimento do leito fluidizado (fluidização pulsada) nas colunas contendo 50 mg de amostras de solo. A substituição do fluxo pulsado (microbomba solenoide) pelo fluxo contínuo (bomba peristáltica) limitou a interação sólido-líquido, pois estabeleceu caminhos preferenciais, desfavorecendo as condições de mistura. A utilização das microbombas solenoide em conjunto com a fluidização das amostras de solo, apresentou vantagens quanto à diminuição da quantidade de massa de solo requerida (entre 100 e 200 vezes), redução do consumo de reagentes e resíduos gerados (40 vezes), demonstrando o potencial do sistema em fluxo proposto por ser uma alternativa ambientalmente adequada. Os sistemas propostos são versáteis e facilmente adaptados para outros estudos de extração / Multi-pumping flow systems are highlights on the volume of effluents generated and mechanization, operating in dynamic conditions. Solenoid micro-pumps are potential in the analyte adsorption/desorption processes, because they play the pulsed flow and when operated in conjunction with the establishment of the fluidized bed condition, contribute to the increase of the adsorption/desorption efficiency. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate solid-liquid extraction and flow analysis systems, exploring pulsed flows and establishing the fluidized bed condition in order to improve the solid-liquid interaction efficiency. It was developed multi-pumping flow systems associated with the establishment of the fluidized bed columns. 1) System for determination of phosphorus adsorption capacity; determination of the remaining phosphorus (P-rem) in soils; 2) System to determine the cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soils, evaluating the adsorption and desorption of analyte. It has been shown that the phosphorus and calcium contained in solution are efficiently adsorbed/desorbed by the soil, significantly reducing the effects of pressure increase with the establishment of the fluidized bed (pulsed fluidization) in the columns containing 50 mg of soil samples. The substitution of the pulsed flow (solenoid micro-pump) by the continuous flow (peristaltic pump) limited the solid-liquid interaction, since it established preferential pathways, undermining the mixing conditions. The use of the solenoid micro-pumps in conjunction with the fluidization of the soil samples presented advantages in terms of decreasing the amount of soil mass required (between 100 and 200-fold time), reducing the consumption of reagents, solutions and waste production (40-fold time), demonstrating the potential of this system to be an environmentally friendly alternative. The proposed systems are versatile and easily adapted to other extraction studies

No description available.

No description available.

Pine tree substrate (PTS) is a relatively new substrate for container crop production. There are no detailed studies that elucidate how storage time impacts PTS chemical, physical, and biological aspects. The objective of this research was to determine how PTS storage time influenced PTS chemical and physical properties, nitrification, and plant growth. Pine tree substrate was manufactured by hammer-milling chips of loblolly pine trees (Pinus taeda L.) through two screen sizes, 4.76 mm (PTS) and 15.9 mm amended with peat (PTSP). PTS and PTSP were amended with lime at five rates. A peat-perlite mix (PL) served as a control treatment. Prepared substrates were placed in storage bags and stored in an open shed in Blacksburg, Virginia. Subsamples were taken at 1, 42, 84, 168, 270, and 365 days. At each subsampling day, twelve 1-L containers were filled with each substrate. Six containers were left fallow and six were planted with marigold (Tagetes erecta L. "Inca Gold") seedlings. Substrate was also collected from select treatments for Most Probable Number assays to estimate density of nitrifying microorganisms, and for chemical and physical property analyses. Pour-through extracts were collected from fallow containers at 0, 2, and 4 weeks, and from marigold containers at harvest for determination of pH, electrical conductivity, ammonium-N and nitrate-N. At harvest, marigold height, width, and dry weight were measured. At least 1 kg·m-3 lime for PTS, and 2 to 4 kg·m-3 lime for PTSP were needed to maintain pH values ≥ 5.5 for 365 days. Bound acidity of unlimed PTS increased but cation exchange capacity for unlimed PTS and PTSP decreased over 365 days. Carbon to nitrogen ratio and bulk density values were unchanged over time in all treatments. There were minor changes in particle size distribution for limed PTS and unlimed and limed PTSP. Marigold growth in PTS and PTSP was ≥ PL in all limed treatments, except at day 1. Nitrite-oxidizing microorganisms were present and nitrification occurred in PTS and PTSP at all subsampling days. Pine tree substrate is relatively stable in storage, but pH decreases, and lime addition may be necessary to offset this decrease. / Ph. D.

<p dir="ltr">Digital soil mapping (DSM) combines field and laboratory data with environmental factors to predict soil properties. The accuracy of these predictions depends on factors such as model selection, data quality and quantity, and landscape characteristics. In our study, we investigated the impact of sample density and the use of various environmental covariates (ECs) including slope, topographic position index, topographic wetness index, multiresolution valley bottom flatness, and multiresolution ridge top flatness, as well as the spatial resolution of these ECs on the predictive accuracy of four predictive models; Cubist (CB), Random Forest (RF), Regression Kriging (RK), and Ordinary Kriging (OK). Our analysis was conducted at three sites in Indiana: the Purdue Agronomy Center for Research and Education (ACRE), Davis Purdue Agriculture Center (DPAC), and Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center (SEPAC). Each site had its unique soil data sampling designs, management practices, and topographic conditions. The primary focus of this study was to predict the spatial distribution of soil properties, including soil organic matter (SOM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), and clay content, at different depths (0-10cm, 0-15cm, and 10-30cm) by utilizing five environmental covariates and four spatial resolutions for the ECs (1-1.5 m, 5 m, 10 m, and 30 m).</p><p dir="ltr">Various evaluation metrics, including R², root mean square error (RMSE), mean square error (MSE), concordance coefficient (pc), and bias, were used to assess prediction accuracy. Notably, the accuracy of predictions was found to be significantly influenced by the site, sample density, model type, soil property, and their interactions. Sites exhibited the largest source of variation, followed by sampling density and model type for predicted SOM, CEC, and clay spatial distribution across the landscape.</p><p dir="ltr">The study revealed that the RF model consistently outperformed other models, while OK performed poorly across all sites and properties as it only relies on interpolating between the points without incorporating the landscape characteristics (ECs) in the algorithm. Increasing sample density improved predictions up to a certain threshold (e.g., 66 samples at ACRE for both SOM and CEC; 58 samples for SOM and 68 samples for CEC at SEPAC), beyond which the improvements were marginal. Additionally, the study highlighted the importance of spatial resolution, with finer resolutions resulting in better prediction accuracy, especially for SOM and clay content. Overall, comparing data from the two depths (0-10cm vs 10-30cm) for soil properties predications, deeper soil layer data (10-30cm) provided more accurate predictions for SOM and clay while shallower depth data (0-10cm) provided more accurate predictions for CEC. Finally, higher spatial resolution of ECs such as 1-1.5 m and 5 m contributed to more accurate soil properties predictions compared to the coarser data of 10 m and 30 m resolutions.</p><p dir="ltr">In summary, this research underscores the significance of informed decisions regarding sample density, model selection, and spatial resolution in digital soil mapping. It emphasizes that the choice of predictive model is critical, with RF consistently delivering superior performance. These findings have important implications for land management and sustainable land use practices, particularly in heterogeneous landscapes and areas with varying management intensities.</p>

This research work concentrate on developing digital soil maps to support field based plant phenotyping research. We have developed soil organic matter content (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), natural soil drainage class, and tile drainage line maps using topographic indices and aerial imagery. Various prediction models (universal kriging, cubist, random forest, C5.0, artificial neural network, and multinomial logistic regression) were used to estimate the soil properties of interest.