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No description available.

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is a major food resource of much of the world. Sweetpotato production is damaging to the soils in which it is grown due to the nature of production and the condition the soil is left to overwinter. There is potential for future regulation on the production of sweetpotato as related to runoff and nonpoint source pollution as the sediment from runoff erosion is easy to pinpoint in nearby waterways. Two studies were carried out to determine the effect of a reduced tillage practice and cover crops on the accumulation of nutrients in cover crops and yield of sweetpotato. The use of stale seed beds will reduce the number of tillage operations in a field and will allow earlier access to the field. Cover crops will benefit the soil with cover during rains while accumulating and recycling nutrients that may otherwise be lost and improving soil structure with the addition of organic matter.

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No description available.

Thiamethoxam and clothianidin are two neonicotinoids used in seed coatings for crops such as corn and soybeans. Both neonicotinoids have high solubility in water, so they are prone to transport via leaching and runoff. This thesis is comprised of two studies that evaluated potential solutions to mitigate neonicotinoid transport from fields. The first study examined the relationship between soil organic carbon content and neonicotinoid transport in a field planted in soybeans. Soils with increased organic carbon leached less thiamethoxam and clothianidin during early growing season leaching peaks; however, at the end of the season, higher organic carbon content only decreased leached mass of clothianidin. The second study was to determine neonicotinoid uptake of different ground covers used as cover crops or edge-of-field buffer strips, as well as the partitioning of thiamethoxam and clothianidin throughout the plants. Ground covers, such as crimson clover, had the highest recovery of applied thiamethoxam, meaning that it may be a good candidate to retain this pesticide in fields. Thiamethoxam and clothianidin concentrations were higher in leaf tissues than in stems or roots, indicating that above-ground biomass removal may be an effective way to reduce neonicotinoid loading in the environment. From these studies, I concluded 1) practices that raise the amount of organic carbon in the soil may help decrease early-season neonicotinoid transport, resulting in lower concentrations in surrounding waterways, and 2) careful selection of plant species, such as crimson clover, may help reduce neonicotinoid transport in the environment, while potentially reducing exposure to beneficial insects. / Master of Science / Pesticides called neonicotinoids are commonly applied to seeds in row crops, such as corn and soybeans, before they are planted. These pesticides are highly soluble in water, which can lead to them exiting fields through runoff or leaching. This thesis is comprised of two studies that examined several potential solutions for decreasing the amount of neonicotinoids available for transport. The first study examined the relationship between organic carbon in the soil and neonicotinoids, and whether this relationship helps to retain neonicotinoids in a soybean field. Soils with high organic carbon content decreased the amount of neonicotinoids exiting the field during early growing season storms; however, at the end of the season, high organic carbon content only decreased losses for one of the pesticides studied. The second study was to determine which of six plant species and two mixes used as cover crops or buffers were the most effective at removing neonicotinoids from soil, as well as where in the plant these neonicotinoids go after uptake. Ground covers, such as crimson clover, had the highest recovery of applied neonicotinoids, meaning they would be good candidates for planting around fields. Ultimately, neonicotinoid accumulation was higher in leaves than in stems or roots, meaning that removing and disposing of leaves in an environmentally safe way could be an effective way to decrease neonicotinoid pollution. From these two studies, I found that 1) increasing organic matter in the soil can stop neonicotinoids from exiting the area it was applied in, and 2) careful consideration of plant species in or around the field may help intercept neonicotinoids before they exit the field.

Mob stocking is a variation of rotational stocking known for restricting a large number of animals to a small area before being moved to new grass after a few hours. This method allows a long (90-day) recovery period but was hypothesized to diminish the nutritional value of herbage relative to continuous and rotational stocking with lesser stocking density at similar stocking rates. This thesis summarizes two studies conducted in Blacksburg and Raphine, and in Steeles Tavern, VA, respectively, at a single beef cattle stocking rate of 12 animal unit months per hectare live body weight. The objectives were to: (1) compare the yield and nutritional value of herbage in pastures managed with three stocking methods, termed mob, rotational, and continuous stocking; (2) compare the abundance of seeded clover species among the stocking methods; and (3) estimate the nutritional value of herbage that is consumed by beef cattle during mob stocking using extrusa sampled from esophageally-cannulated animals. Analysis of standing herbage during two years produced several important findings. Although standing herbage mass was significantly greater in mob stocked pastures at Blacksburg and Raphine, aboveground net primary productivity in 2014 did not differ significantly among mob, rotational, and continuous stocking at any of the project locations. Herbage nutritive value did not differ significantly among stocking methods over two years at Blacksburg and Raphine; however, herbage from mob stocked pastures at Steeles Tavern contained significantly greater concentrations of crude protein in September and October relative to herbage from continuous- and rotationally-stocked pastures at those times. Differences in herbage mass likely contributed to significant differences in establishment of seeded clovers: red clover [Trifolium pratense L. Cinnamon Plus] establishment was similar among stocking methods but white clover [Trifolium repens L. Will] establishment was greater in continuously stocked pastures than mob and rotationally stocked pastures. Hand-clipped samples collected at Blacksburg in September 2014 significantly underestimated the crude protein content of the herbage selected by the steers, although the concentrations of fiber constituents in herbage did not differ significantly between clipped samples and esophageal samples. Although the nutritive value of the herbage on offer did not generally differ among stocking methods at this stocking rate, diet selected was at times less nutritious during mob stocking than continuous and rotational stocking methods. At this stocking rate, stocking method had less influence on pastures than seasonal variation in weather and plant maturity. / Master of Science

Master of Science

Benefits of establishing legumes into permanent pastures have been well studied. Successful establishment of legumes in pastures can be challenging, however, and more information is needed about different seeding methods and variables that affect legume establishment. A pasture and a small plot experiment were conducted in Blacksburg, Va from 2009 to 2011to gain better understanding of how seeding method and management variables affected red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) establishment into permanent cool season grass pasture and sod. In the pasture experiment, seedling density was measured two months after sowing and grass, white clover, red clover, and weed biomass were periodically measured during the experiment. Broadcast seeding treatment had 93% more clover seedlings than drill treatment (P = 0.1087) two months after sowing. No difference (P > 0.10) for clover biomass was observed between sowing treatments in any year and clover establishment was considered successful (over 25% of pasture composition) in both treatments. In the drill treatment, clover seedling density was negatively affected by the residual grass biomass at sowing (P = 0.0196). In the broadcast treatment, a quadratic relationship between clover seedling density and residual grass biomass at sowing was found (P = 0.0516). Clover seedling density in April 2009 determined the amount of clover biomass in August 2009 (P = 0.0008) and the 2010 clover biomass mean (P = 0.0249). Further exploration of the influence fertilization with P and K, grass biomass at sowing, and defoliation frequency on clover establishment were studied in a split-split plot study. Fertilization with P and K was assigned to whole plots that were split in half and assigned a high or low grass biomass at sowing treatment, the subplots were split in and designated either a high or low cutting frequency. Prior to cutting, samples from each plot were sorted to grass, white clover, red clover, and weed. Plots with a low grass biomass at sowing (232 seedlings m-2) had a higher seedling density (P < 0.0001) compared with plots with a high grass biomass at sowing plots (111 seedlings m-2). Greater biomass of white and red clover depended both on having a low grass biomass at sowing and a high frequency of defoliation (P = 0.0026 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Red clover yield was also determined by interactions between fertilization and a high frequency of defoliation (P < 0.0001), as well as between fertilization and low grass biomass at sowing (P = 0.0026). Dry conditions resulted in low clover yields (6% of total herbage mass) with red clover producing four times the herbage mass of white clover. These data show that creating a favorable environment for seedlings to germinate and establish was more important than seeding method. / Master of Science

Throughout the African highlands forage legumes are relied on to add soil N, support increasing livestock populations, and reduce soil erosion. This research addresses a constraint designated by the International Livestock Center for Africa (ILCA) to identify African clover (Trifolium) germplasm and Rhizobium trifolii strain combinations with high productivity potential for the African highlands. A Vertisol and an Eutric Nitosol (Paleudalf), and seed from Trifolium decorum, T. quartinianum, T. rueppellianum, T. steudneri, and T. tembense were obtained from ILCA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A commercial collection and R. trifolii strains isolated from the Ethiopian soils were evaluated for symbiotic effectiveness with these clovers. Effective combinations were evaluated for growth and biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) in a greenhouse on both soils with limited, adequate, and excessive soil moisture. Rhizobia were also evaluated for survival in desiccated soil (12.5 and 17.5 g H₂O g⁻¹ soil) and for competitive nodule forming ability. Effective strains were found among soil isolates but not in the commercial collection. Highest dry matter yields and total BNF accumulation were obtained from T. tembense on all soil and moisture treatments followed by T. decorum and T. quartinianum. Trifolium rueppellianum and T. steudneri had low yields and BNF capacities. Plants receiving adequate and excessive moisture had higher yields than moisture stressed plants. The highest levels of cumulative BNF were obtained on the nitosol soil with either adequate or limited moisture. The moisture limited vertisol supported the lowest BNF levels. Rhizobial strains survived desiccation only in the vertisol at 17.5 g H₂O g⁻¹ soil. All strains could compete with background rhizobia populations to nodulate host plants. Nodule occupancy rates of 20 to 30% were required for high yields. Trifolium tembense, T. decorum, and T. quartinianum are adapted to soils with adequate or excessive moisture, T. rueppellianum and T. steudneri are suited to moisture limited conditions or short growing seasons. Effective rhizobia inoculants and selected clovers have the potential for increasing forage productivity in highland areas. / Ph. D.