The purpose of this study is to collect sample soils from uncontaminated horizon (by digging completely through the soil profile or strata) and provide a chemical analysis of the important soils of Dimmit county, Texas.

The purpose of this study is to determine the amounts of the element sulfur, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, silicon, iron, aluminium, calcium, magnessium, and manganess found in the roots, hearts, sap, leaves, and bark of two plants, the short leaf pine and the blackjack oak.

No description available.

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / The invasion by Striga in most cereal crop fields in Africa has posed an acute threat to food security and socioeconomic integrity. Consequently, numerous technological and research developments have been made to minimize and even control the Striga impacts on crop production. So far, efforts to control Striga have primarily focused on the manipulation of the genetics of the host crops, as well as understanding the phenological and physiological traits, along with the chemical composition of the weed.

Master of Science / Department of Agricultural Economics / Andrew Barkley / This study examines the effect of extreme climatic conditions (drought, flood, and bushfires) on the livelihood of households in the Bawku West district of Ghana. The research identified the mechanisms with which households cope in such situations, and analyzed factors influencing the adoption of coping strategies for flood, coping strategies for drought, and coping strategies for bushfires. Data for the study were collected in selected villages across the district in the aftermath of the 2007/2008 extreme climatic events (a prolonged drought period followed by an erratic rainfall). A binary logit regression (BLR) model was then specified to estimate factors that influence the adoption of a given coping mechanisms. Results from the BLR model indicate that literacy level, membership with an FBO, household income, and location of households had positive and significant impacts on adaptation to drought. Similarly, source of seeds for planting, membership with an FBO, household income, and farm size had positive significant influence on adaptation to flood. Adaption to bushfire was positively influenced by radio ownership, seed source and income. The main effect of these climatic extreme events on households included destruction of crops, livestock and buildings; food and water shortage; poor yield or harvest and limited fields for livestock grazing. Therefore, government policies should be geared towards creating revenue generating channels and in strengthening institutions that provide access to farm credit, readily available improve seeds and extension. Additionally, policies that expedite information dissemination through radio and other public media will enhance households’ adaptive capacity.

The aim of the study was to find out the character of abundance fluctuations in a field vole population on immission clearings in the Krušné (Ore) Mountains during a 25 year series of trapping. Another aim was to find out the influence of climaticconditions on these cycles, concretely the influence of local climatic condition and the influence of North-Atlantic oscillation

The aim of this thesis was to determine content of - a -bitter acids in samples of hop obtained from different types of growing regions. Object of research were cultivars of Saaz late, Sládek and Premiant cultivated in three growing regions (Žatecko, Úštěcko, Tršicko) in year 2015. Nine hop samples from conventional agriculture and one from bio production were examined. For all growing areas, from which hop cones were obtained, was determined altitude, rainfall and average temperatures during vegetation period. Quantity of bitter acids were measured by HPLC. Our calculated correlation coefficients showed that the higher altitude and average temperature the lower content of bitter acids was measured and more precipitation has positive impact on content of bitter acids.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / With changes in climatic conditions being increasingly noticed around the world in the past 2 decades, drought has been identified as one of the main causes of food insecurity. Given the inseparable nature of food security and poverty, it has been impossible for Africa to attain the poverty reduction Millennium Development Goal as most of the continent still suffers food insecurity. Impacts of the drought described as one of the worst droughts which occurred in West an East Africa between 2009-2011, are still felt in some parts of Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and parts of Northern Tanzania close to Kenya. With almost 70% of sub- Saharan Africa’s population involved in agriculture, the occurrence of drought not only causes failure in food production but also negatively impacts food security and increases poverty. Understanding the impacts of drought on household food security is important for reducing household’s risk of poverty. Following this the study proposes policies for reducing the impact of drought on food security and other policies that can ensure complete eradication of food insecurity.

Submitted by Michele Mologni (mologni@unoeste.br) on 2017-08-28T21:25:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Wellington Eduardo Xavier Guerra.pdf: 4030242 bytes, checksum: b3483cf910e4fa90991e4974b2d7beb3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-28T21:25:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Wellington Eduardo Xavier Guerra.pdf: 4030242 bytes, checksum: b3483cf910e4fa90991e4974b2d7beb3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-06-29 / The low fertility soil and the lack of rain hinder the cultivation of both crops and pastures. The objective was to check the effect of minimum tillage with scarifier, combined with the management of fertilizers and applied to the crop of Urochloa brizantha, prior to soybean cultivation. The experiment was conducted during the agricultural year 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 in the Experimental Farm of the University of West Paulista, in Presidente Bernardes-SP, in a Ultisol distroferric. The area was divided into two plots of 160m x 167,1m. The experimental design was a factorial scheme 2x5 tracks, with four replications. They were delimited ten treatments of 32 m wide and 167.1 m long in each block, received ten managements: T1: No fertilization and liming without (control); T2: With application of lime; T3: With the application of lime + gypsum; T4: With the application of lime + gypsum + NPK; T5: With the application of lime + gypsum + NPK + micronutrients; T6: No fertilization and liming without (control) + scarification; T7: With application of lime + scarification; T8: With the application of lime + gypsum + scarification; T9: With the application of lime + gypsum + NPK + scarification; T10: With the application of lime + gypsum + NPK + micro + scarification. The parameters evaluated were: chemical analysis of soil, plant tissue analysis, determining the contribution of pasture, initial and final population of plants, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, weight of 100 grains (g), grain yield. Data were submitted to analysis of variance, the Tukey test comparison of means at 5% error probability. Soil use and management led to different chemical changes in management with C + G + NPK + MI in relation to soil fertility during the three agricultural years. Physical managements did not have significant changes in soil fertility. The chemical management of the soil with C + G + NPK had positive effects in relation to the nutrient contents in the trifolium of the soybean crop when the area was not scarified. Physical managements did not benefit the nutrition of soybean plants. In the agricultural year 2013/2014 (Year I) the area that was not scarified, presented the best performance when handled with limestone. In the agricultural year 2014/2015 (Year II) the yield of soybean cultivation was higher when the soil was treated with C + G + NPK + MI, and when the physical management was performed there was no difference. However, yield was 96.2% higher in relation to the first agricultural year. In the agricultural year 2015/2016 (Year III), there was no significant difference in soybean yield, however, there was an increase of 167.1% in the yield of the first agricultural year and 36.1% in relation to the second agricultural year. In the agricultural year 2013/2014 (Year I), the management performed did not have an effect on the dry matter mass of soybean and pasture Uruchloa brizantha cv. Marandu. The mass of the dry matter of the pasture Uruchloa brizantha cv. Piatã in the agricultural year 2014/2015 (Year II) was higher when the area was managed with limestone gypsum and NPK. The mass production of the dry matter of Uruchloa brizantha cv. Piatã in the agricultural year 2015/2016 (Year III), was higher when the soil was handled with limestone and gypsum. / O solo de baixa fertilidade e a escassez de chuvas dificultam o cultivo tanto de lavouras como de pastagens. O objetivo deste trabalho foi de verificar o efeito do preparo mínimo do solo com escarificador, combinado com o manejo de fertilizantes e corretivos aplicados na cultura da Urochloa brizantha, antecedendo ao cultivo da soja. O experimento foi conduzido durante os anos agrícolas de 2013/2014 (Ano I), 2014/2015 (Ano II) e 2015/2016 (Ano III) na Fazenda Experimental da Universidade do Oeste Paulista, em Presidente Bernardes-SP, em um Argissolo Vermelho distroférrico. A área foi dividida em dois talhões de 160m x 167,1m. O delineamento experimental foi em faixas em esquema fatorial 2 x 5, com quatro repetições. Foram delimitados dez tratamentos de 32 m de largura por 167,1 m de comprimento dentro de cada talhão, receberam dez manejos: Sem adubação e sem calagem; Com aplicação de calcário; Com a aplicação de calcário + gesso; Com a aplicação de calcário + gesso + NPK; Com a aplicação de calcário + gesso + NPK + micronutrientes; Sem adubação e sem calagem + escarificação; Com aplicação de calcário + escarificação; Com a aplicação de calcário + gesso + escarificação; Com a aplicação de calcário + gesso + NPK + escarificação; Com a aplicação de calcário + gesso + NPK + micronutrientes + escarificação. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: análise química de solo, análise de tecido vegetal, determinação do aporte da pastagem, população inicial e final de plantas, número de vagens por planta, número de grãos por vagem, massa de 100 grãos (g), produtividade de grãos. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância, ao teste Tukey de comparação de médias ao nível de 5% de probabilidade de erro. O uso e manejo do solo acarretaram por diferentes alterações químicas no manejo com C + G + NPK + MI em relação à fertilidade do solo durante os três anos agrícolas. Nos manejos físicos não ocorreram alterações significativas na fertilidade do solo. O manejo químico do solo com C + G + NPK surtiram efeitos positivos com relação aos teores de nutrientes no trifólio da cultura da soja quando a área não foi escarificada. Os manejos físicos não beneficiaram a nutrição das plantas de soja. No ano agrícola 2013/2014 (Ano I) a área que não foi escarificada, apresentou o melhor desempenho na produtividade quando manejada com calcário. No ano agrícola 2014/2015 (Ano II) a produtividade da cultura da soja foi maior quando o solo recebeu o manejo com C + G + NPK + MI, já quando foi realizado o manejo físico não houve diferença. Porém a produtividade foi 96,2% maior em relação ao primeiro ano agrícola. No ano agrícola 2015/2016 (Ano III) não houve diferença significativa da produtividade da cultura da soja, no entanto, houve um incremento de 167,1 % na produtividade do primeiro ano agrícola e 36,1 % em relação ao segundo ano agrícola. No ano agrícola 2013/2014 (Ano I) os manejos realizados não surtiram efeito para massa da matéria seca da cultura da soja e da pastagem Uruchloa brizantha cv. Marandu. A massa da matéria seca da pastagem Uruchloa brizantha cv. Piatã no ano agrícola 2014/2015 (Ano II), foi maior quando a área foi manejada com calcário gesso e NPK. A produção de massa da matéria seca da Uruchloa brizantha cv. Piatã no ano agrícola 2015/2016 (Ano III), foi maior quando o solo foi manejado com calcário e gesso.

This diploma thesis deals with maintaining possibilities for appropriate climatic conditions in outdoor greenhouse. The importance for growing plants is an appropriate temperature, humidity and adequate supply of water. The aim of the study is to suggest an apparatus sustaining beforehand defined conditions in the greenhouse with minimal requirements for maintenance. Apparatus uses analogue control by applying photosezistor and thermistor. For power supply are DC-DC converters used.