Urban development alters the physical and chemical properties of soil which presents challenges for vegetation establishment. Compost, when applied as a soil amendment, can help to ameliorate these challenges. In field trials, we evaluated the effect of surface-applied composts and standard hydroseeding applications on changes in soil properties and turfgrass stand on a highway roadside. The short-term effects of (1) no compost application; (2) 2.5 cm compost surface mulch; (3) 2.5 cm compost application, incorporated; (4) 5.0 cm compost application, incorporated; (5) 0.6 cm compost blanket; and (6) straw mat on turfgrass establishment, quality and changes in soil properties were measured on an urban soil devoid of topsoil. In greenhouse studies, we compared the effect of depth of planting of two variously-sized turfgrass seeds in compost. The soils of the disturbed roadside and the urban soil had increased Mehlich I-extractable soil K, Mg, and P following compost application. Analysis of botanical composition on the highway roadside demonstrated that the percentage of fescue decreased with time, while weed species increased inversely in both treatments. Compost amendments on the urban soil increased turfgrass color over time, whereas turfgrass density was not affected by time. Turfgrass density was greatest in applications of a 5 cm depth compost incorporated 7-10 cm into the soil. No differences were observed in biomass harvested among treatments. Tall fescue seeds had greater germination and establishment than smaller sized bermudagrass seeds when sown below the surface of compost, regardless of depth. Composts help to regenerate topsoil-like functionality in disturbed soils by promoting vegetation establishment, including weeds, on highway roadsides and improving turf quality on urban soils. / Master of Science

Forests provide a number of ecosystem services which sustain and enrich the wildlife, human societies, and the environment. However, many disturbances threaten forest ecosystems, making it necessary to monitor their health for optimal management and conservation. Although there are many indicators of forest health, changes in biogeochemical cycling, loss of species diversity, and invasive plants are particularly useful due to their vulnerability to the effects of climate change and intensive agricultural land use. Thus, this work evaluates the use of imaging spectroscopy to monitor forest nutrient status, species diversity, and plant invasions in the Mid-Atlantic region. The research is divided into four separate studies, each of which evaluated a unique application for imaging spectroscopy data at a different scale within the forest. The first two studies examined loblolly pine nutrient status at the leaf and canopy scales, respectively. The first study determined that loblolly pine foliar macronutrient concentrations can be successfully modeled across the Southeastern US (R2=0.39-0.74). Following on these results, the second study focused on the relationship between physical characteristics, reflectance, and nutrients. Reflectance values and W scattering coefficients produced successful nitrogen models across loblolly pine plots at the canopy scale. Regression models showed similar explanatory power for nitrogen, although W scattering coefficients were significantly correlated with nitrogen at multiple wavelengths and reflectance variables were not. However, the direction of some of the correlations with W and the unusually high directional area scattering factor values indicate a need for further experimentation. The third study found that several imaging spectroscopy algorithms were moderately successful in identifying wavyleaf basketgrass invasions in mixed deciduous forests (overall accuracy=0.35-0.78; kappa=0.41-0.53). Lastly, the fourth study used a novel imaging spectroscopy/lidar fusion to identify canopy gaps and measure species diversity of understory vegetation. The lidar algorithm identified 29 of 34 canopy gaps, and regression models explained 49 percent of the variance in gap species diversity. In conclusion, imaging spectroscopy can be used to evaluate ecosystem health through forest nutrient status, nitrogen models, species diversity estimates, and identification of invasive plant species. / Ph. D.

Phytoplankton populations are integral to the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, and phytoplankton are an excellent study system for exploring ecological questions. Reservoirs often exhibit high horizontal (inflow to dam) and vertical (surface to sediments) environmental heterogeneity, which plays a large role in determining phytoplankton population dynamics. In this thesis, I explore how three bloom-forming phytoplankton taxa, the dinoflagellates Peridinium and Gymnodinium, and the cyanobacterium Planktothrix, respond to horizontal and vertical environmental gradients, respectively. First, I monitored recruitment, or the process of leaving the sediments and entering the pelagic life stage, of dinoflagellates across a horizontal reservoir ecosystem gradient. Surprisingly, coupling of dinoflagellate biology with reservoir physics and chemistry varied along this continuum; recruiting cells were sensitive to reservoir physics (e.g., flow rate, solar radiation) in the upstream riverine zone, while recruitment was related to reservoir chemistry (e.g., dissolved oxygen, nutrients) in the downstream lacustrine zone. This study indicates that upstream habitats should be monitored when studying reservoir phytoplankton dynamics. Next, I investigated the environmental drivers of the vertical distribution and biomass of a hypolimnetic cyanobacterial bloom over two consecutive summers. I collected high-resolution in situ phytoplankton data, and measured environmental variables throughout the water column. Across both years, the vertical distribution of this population was determined by light availability, while the cyanobacterial biomass was predicted by both light and nutrients. These two studies demonstrate that changing physics and chemistry across environmental gradients can regulate phytoplankton dynamics in reservoirs, and phytoplankton monitoring should include more spatially comprehensive sampling approaches. / Master of Science

Child care centers are becoming much more influential in educating and caring for children because more and more families choose supplemental care for their young children in child development programs. In June 1997, Child and Adult Food Program (CACFP) served nearly 2.2 million children and provided meals to 2.6 million children in March 1998. A large number of children eat at least one and sometimes two or more of their meals at child care centers. It is imperative that nutritious and satisfying meals and snacks are served at child care centers. The purpose of this study was to examine menus planned in Head Start Program and Child Day Care Centers in Virginia and to assess if they meet the national Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) standards for vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron. Lunch menus for 3-5 year old children were collected from 114 CACFP staffs attending a state wide CACFP menu training session. Fifty-seven weekly menus were selected based on geographic representation to analyze vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron levels by a nutritional analysis computer program. Menus were also divided into Head Start Program and Child Day Care Center for further analysis and comparison. For all 57 sites, the mean values of these lunches exceeded the one-third RDAs for vitamin A, vitamin C, and calcium; the average percentages were 198%, 121% and 134%, respectively. But the average iron level was only 63% RDAs. None of the child care centers met 100% of one-third RDAs for the lunch menus. Because dietary iron levels are consistently low, iron food sources were studied. The results showed no significant (p< 0.05) difference between the Head Start Program and Child Day Care Center. Based on the findings of this study, following the established meal pattern guidelines for the child nutrition programs did not guarantee adequate iron levels in the planned menus of the child care centers. Some foods with high iron levels should be used more often. Further research is needed for this population in implementing the appropriate dietary guideline. In addition, the menu planing, food purchasing and preparation should be part of the training programs for child care centers. / Master of Science

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Rose is an economically important crop for the national and the international market and due to this fact generates income to the Ceara State. Rose is a demanding crop in relation to fertilizers, requiring knowledge of soil fertility, nutritional plant requirements and nutrients use efficiency to obtain adequate fertilization. Based on the nutritional balance through the use of mechanistic and empirical models, it is possible to develop a system to quantify the plant nutrients demands to achieve a given productivity. This paper aims to establish parameters of a fertilizer and lime recommendation system to rose crop, based on the plant nutritional balance. The experiment was conducted at the company Cearosa in SÃo Benedito - CE. Plants will be collected during five months and once a month, five rose plants from four varieties (Top Secret, Avalanche, Attache and Ambience) As contradictory Airlines plants Were grinded. Samples will be ground and nutrients content will be determined: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn, e Zn. Every sampling plant time, were also soil samples collected at two depths (0-20 and 20-40 cm) In which they underwent fertility analysis. To estimate the fertilizer recommendation, the system was be subdivided into requirement subsystem (REQ), which includes the plant nutrients demands, considering the recovery efficiency of the nutrients to be applied and a rate to achieve the "sustainability" criteria and the supply subsystem (SUP) that comprises the soil nutrient supply. After determining the total REQ and SUP, held -if the nutritional balance, and if the result is positive (REQ> SUP), fertilizers application is recommended and if the result negative or zero (REQ &#8804; SUP), fertilizers application is not recommended. The system estimated that there is excess nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization for all cultivars , however , there needs to be supplemental potassium fertilizer . The system estimated that the soil is able to meet the demand of plants for P and Fe for all cultivars , however , there must be supplementary nitrogen fertilizer , potassium . As for micronutrients , the system estimated that there is need for additional fertilizer for Zn in all rosebushes and Mn for the rosebushes "Top Secret " and " Avalnche " , however with very close recommendation the optimal dose , ie equal to zero / A roseira à uma cultura de grande valor no mercado interno e externo, devido a esse fato, as rosas geram benefÃcios para o estado do CearÃ. à uma cultura muito exigente em relaÃÃo à adubaÃÃo, sendo necessÃrios conhecimentos da fertilidade do solo, exigÃncias nutricionais da planta e eficiÃncia na utilizaÃÃo de nutrientes, para obtenÃÃo de uma adubaÃÃo adequada. Partindo a hipÃtese de que conhecendo-se o balanÃo nutricional da cultura, levando-se em consideraÃÃo a demanda de nutrientes pela cultura para alcanÃar uma dada produtividade e o suprimento de nutrientes pelo solo, à possÃvel determinar a quantidade de nutrientes a ser adicionada na fertilizaÃÃo do solo. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo determinar com base no balanÃo de nutrientes solo-planta a quantidade de nutrientes a ser adicionada no solo para cultura da roseira. O experimento foi conduzido na empresa Cearosa, em SÃo Benedito - CE, as plantas foram coletadas durante cinco meses, sendo uma vez por mÃs, amostrando cinco plantas aleatÃrias, de quatro cultivares de rosas: (Top Secret, Avalanche, Attache e Ambience). As partes aÃreas das plantas foram moÃdas e mineralizadas para determinaÃÃo dos teores dos nutrientes: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, Mn e Zn. Simultaneamente a coleta de plantas, tambÃm foram coletadas amostras de solo em duas profundidades, camada de 0 a 20 e de 20 a 40cm. Na qual foram submetidas à anÃlise de fertilidade. Para estimar a recomendaÃÃo de adubaÃÃo o sistema foi subdividido em: subsistema requerimento (REQ), que contempla a demanda de nutrientes pela planta, considerando a eficiÃncia de recuperaÃÃo dos nutrientes a serem aplicados, alÃm de uma dose que atende ao critÃrio de âsustentabilidadeâ e o subsistema suprimento (SUP), que corresponde à oferta de nutrientes pelo solo. ApÃs a determinaÃÃo do REQ total e SUP total, realizou -se o balanÃo nutricional, no qual se apresentar resultado positivo (REQ > SUP), recomenda-se a aplicaÃÃo de fertilizantes, e negativo ou nulo (REQ &#8804; SUP), nÃo serà recomendado aplicar fertilizantes. O sistema estimou que o solo à capaz de suprir a demanda das plantas para P e Fe para todas as cultivares, no entanto, à necessÃrio que haja complementaÃÃo de adubaÃÃo nitrogenada, potÃssica. Assim como para os micronutrientes, o sistema estimou que hà necessidade de complementaÃÃo de adubaÃÃo, para Zn em todas as roseiras e Mn para as roseiras âTop secretâ e âAvalncheâ, no entanto com a recomendaÃÃo bem prÃximos a dose ideal, ou seja, igual a zero

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) is a platform technology that is able to realize versatile engineering functions and recover valuable resources in an energy-efficient manner. One of the potential applications of BES is to remove and recover nutrients simultaneously from nutrient-rich wastewater, such as digested manure from livestock. A four-chamber BES was developed and used in this study to explore the potential to remove and recover hexavalent Chromium from synthetic wastewater, and ammonia and phosphate from digested manure. The BES was able to achieve 99.6% removal of Chromium by membrane adsorption in 5 days but failed to recover in the concentration chamber. Nutrients were removed from the waste stream and recovered in the recirculated catholyte by the electrical field generated from the waste. The BES was demonstrated to achieve substantial COD removal, nutrients removal and recovery. On average, the removal efficiencies were about 50% for COD, 85% for NH4-N and 40% for PO4-P, and the concentration of NH4-N recovered in the catholyte was 670 mg/L after 5 cycles under an applied voltage of 0.8 V. PO4-P was not recovered in solution, probably because it has precipitated under the alkaline condition together with Mg2+ and Ca2+ concentrated in the catholyte. It was also demonstrated that nutrients removal and recovery depended on the current generation and were mostly completed at high current. To sum up, the BES was proven to be an effective and sustainable approach to remove and recover nutrients from digested manure. / Master of Science

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Understanding of the involved issues in nutritional dynamics process in eucalyptus stands is the base to sustainable management. Objective this study was to determine the nutritional dynamic in Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus globulus stand, Eldorado do Sul - RS. For this, was available: a) litter production (leaves, twigs diameter ≤ 1.0 cm, miscellaneous and thick branches diameter > 1.0cm) and nutrients uptake, from 6.5 to 9.5 years-old stand (2007 at 2010); b) leaf litter decomposition and nutrients release by litterbags method (adding 12g of dried leaves in nylon bags), for three years (2007 to 2009); c) aboveground biomass and nutrients amount in the eucalyptus (wood, bark, branches and leaves) and underground (wood and leaves) to ten-year-old stand (June 2010); d) interfere of different intensities of biomass removal (all aboveground biomass removal eucalyptus + underground; eucalyptus removal; wood with bark removal and only wood removal) in relation nutrients stock and; - silvicultural alternative for sustainable forestry management. Litter production was increasing with stand age increasing, showing seasonal behavior with deposition increasing with the air temperature increasing and being mainly composed by leaves fraction that also is main fraction nutrients return through litter. Accumulated litter showed decomposition coefficient of 0.54 with 1.86 years how time average renewal and 1.29 and 5.59 years to disappear 50 and 95% of the litter. Mass loss leaf showed positive correlation with nutrients concentration, indicating that the higher mass loss, higher the nutrients concentration in litter remaining. Litter leaf decay initially showed P, Fe, Mn and Zn immobilization and release of the others, in the second year occurred P release and in the third year occurred Mn and Zn release, with Fe exception. Eucalyptus biomass was allocated predominantly to stem (Wood + bark) with 93.7% and with the largest nutrients stock. Biomass components had different chemical composition, being generally higher in leaves and bark and smaller in wood and branches biomass. With the harvest of wood with the bark all the nutrients removal would suffer more than 45% of the total amount accumulated in aboveground biomass. However, removed just the wood, which has the highest nutrients utilization rate, the nutrients removed percentage, except by Cu and Zn, will be less than 50% and up to 10% in the case of Ca in relation the total biomass contained. Phosphorus and calcium can be the main nutrients became limiting in next rotation productivity, because the potential rotation estimates are close to one, when in the harvest of wood with the bark. Nutrients output through forestry harvest must be take account by companies during the planning of activities. Avoiding productivity decreasing with the next rotations, and also contributing sustainable management, because the nutrients exportation, Ca mainly, is high due to wood with bark harvest. / O entendimento dos aspectos envolvidos no processo da dinâmica nutricional em povoamentos de eucaliptos é a base para um manejo sustentável. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a dinâmica nutricional em um povoamento híbrido de Eucalyptus urophylla x Eucalyptus globulus em Eldorado do Sul RS, com dez anos de idade. Para isso, foi avaliado: a) a produção de serapilheira (folhas, galhos finos diâmetro ≤ 1,0 cm, miscelânea e galhos grossos diâmetro > 1,0 cm) e o aporte de nutrientes, dos 6,5 aos 9,5 anos de idade do povoamento (2007 a 2010); b) a decomposição da serapilheira foliar e liberação de nutrientes pelo método de litterbags (adição de 12g de folhas secas recém caídas em bolsas de naylon), durante três anos (2007 a 2009); c) o estoque de biomassa e nutrientes no eucalipto (madeira, casca, galhos e folhas) e sub-bosque (lenho e folhas) aos dez anos de idade do povoamento (junho de 2011); d) a influência de diferentes intensidades de remoção da biomassa (retirada de toda a biomassa eucalipto + sub-bosque; retirada de toda a biomassa de eucalipto; retirada da madeira com a casca e retirada apenas da madeira) sobre o estoque de nutrientes e; e) alternativas silviculturais para um manejo florestal sustentável. A produção de serapilheira foi crescente com o aumento da idade do povoamento, apresentando comportamento sazonal com maior deposição no período de aumento da temperatura do ar e sendo composta predominantemente pela fração folhas, que também é a responsável por maior parte do retorno de nutrientes via serapilheira. A serapilheira acumulada apresentou coeficiente de decomposição de 0,54 com tempo médio para a renovação de 1,86 anos e tempo médio para decomposição de 50 e 95% da serapilheira em 1,29 e 5,59 anos, respectivamente. A perda de massa foliar apresentou correlação positiva com a concentração de nutrientes, indicando que quanto maior a perda de massa, maior a concentração dos elementos no folhedo remanescente. A decomposição da serapilheira foliar apresentou inicialmente imobilização do P, Fe, Mn e Zn e disponibilização dos demais, a partir do segundo ano o P tornou-se disponível e a partir do terceiro ano o Mn e Zn também se tornaram disponíveis, com exceção do Fe. A biomassa do eucalipto encontra-se predominantemente alocada no fuste (madeira + casca) com 93,7% e com os maiores estoques de nutrientes. Os componentes da biomassa apresentaram composições químicas distintas, sendo geralmente maiores nas folhas e casca e menores nos componentes madeira e galhos. Com a colheita da madeira com casca todos os nutrientes sofreriam remoção superior a 45% de sua quantidade acumulada na biomassa total acima do solo. Entretanto, removendo apenas a madeira comercial, que apresenta o maior coeficiente de utilização de nutrientes, a porcentagem de remoção para os nutrientes, com exceção ao Cu e Zn, seria inferior a 50% e chegando até 10% no caso do Ca em relação ao total contido na biomassa. O fósforo e o cálcio poderão ser os principais nutrientes a tornarem-se limitantes na produtividade nas próximas rotações, pois as estimativas de rotações estão próximas a um, quando da colheita da madeira com casca. A saída de nutrientes do sítio via colheita florestal deve ser um componente levado em consideração por parte das empresas, durante o planejamento das atividades, e assim evitando que haja diminuição de produtividade nas próximas rotações e contribuindo para o manejo sustentável, pois a exportação de nutrientes, principalmente do Ca, é elevado devido à colheita da madeira com casca.

Master of Science / Department of Biology / Walter K. Dodds / North America has lost more than 95% of the original tallgrass prairie because of heavy land conversion, making prairie streams some of the most endangered habitats in North America. In order to effectively manage aquatic systems and improve biotic integrity of prairie streams research is needed that assesses the ecosystem characteristics of natural systems and evaluates the influence of anthropogenic alteration. We described the ecosystem characteristics of six ephemeral headwater streams draining tallgrass prairie within the Osage Plains of southwest Missouri. NO-3-N among all sites ranged from 1.56-91.36 μg L-1, NH+4-N ranged from 5.27-228.23 μg L-1, soluble reactive phosphorus ranged from below detection (1.0 μg L-1) to 41.22 μg L-1, TN ranged from 113.82-882.89 μg L-1, and TP ranged from 8.18-158.5 μg L-1during baseflow conditions. TN:TP molar ratios ranged from 22:1 to 53:1 indicating possible P was limiting relative to N in some streams. TSS during baseflow conditions ranged from 0.27-31.80 mg L-1. Autotrophic and heterotrophic comparisons of our study sites and reference sites classified our study streams as oligo-, meso-, and eu-autotrophic (N= 1, 4, and 1, respectively) and oligo-, meso-, and eu-heterotrophic (N= 4, 1, and 1, respectively). This study suggests that good water quality and moderate heterotrophic condition, with greater GPP resulting from an open canopy, are common conditions of tallgrass prairie streams. We also investigated interactions between land use/land cover, discharge rate, hydrologic alteration, and in-stream total suspended solids concentration in 23 Kansas- Missouri streams. Most streams had break points in the TSS loading rates at discharge rates exceeded <25% of days. Our estimates showed that 88% of the total annual TSS load occurred during the 11% of days with the greatest discharge rates. Buffered streams with greater percentages of grass and/or forest riparian areas had lower breakpoint values (indicating greater discharge rates were required to transport solid particles) and lower regression intercepts, which correlated to lesser TSS concentrations relative to unbuffered streams during high discharge days. In addition, grass buffered streams had smaller flood peaks and slower rise rates and forest buffered streams had less frequent floods, which lead to less total TSS transport.

Land application and storage of horse manure and municipal sludge can increase nutrient and bacteria concentrations in runoff. Biochar increases soil nutrient retention when used as a soil amendment. The objectives of this study were to determine if biochar, when mixed with horse manure or sludge, affects runoff concentrations of total Kjehldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), nitrate (NO3-N), total phosphorus (TP), dissolved phosphorus (DP), total suspended solids (TSS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and fecal coliforms (FC). Horse manure and sludge were applied to 2.4 x 6.1 m fescue plots (six each), with three plots of each material amended with 5-8% biochar w/w. Simulated rainfall (101.6 mm/h) was applied to the 12 treatment plots and three control plots. The first 0.5 h of runoff was collected and analyzed for the above-listed parameters. The data were analyzed using an ANCOVA, with SCS runoff curve number (CN) used as the covariate. In general, CN was directly correlated to runoff concentrations of parameters. Plots with low CN values displayed no treatment differences for any measured parameter. Biochar reduced runoff concentrations of TKN and NH3-N for municipal sludge treatments, and TKN, NH3-N, TP, TSS, and FC for horse manure treatments.

This thesis details the spatial and temporal influence of integrated multi-trophic aquaculture-derived organic effluent on the diet of cultured organic extractive organisms within an integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) facility in Kyuquot Sound, British Columbia. Naturally occurring and aquaculture-derived sources of nutrients were defined using isotopic analysis of δ15N and δ13C values, in order to examine feeding patterns of a cultured bivalve species C. gigas. By examining the diet of C. gigas located within the IMTA system, and at a reference site, spatial and temporal patterns of organic-effluent influence on organic extractive components within the IMTA system can be defined. Measurements were performed over four seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter) at a reference site and at stations adjacent to the fish component of the IMTA system, at distances of 0m, 15m, and 30m. Oysters at each station were suspended in the water column at depths of 6m and 18m. Chapter two of this thesis focuses on the vertical and horizontal patterns of aquaculture derived particulate waste influence on organic extractive components within the IMTA system. Examination of δ15N and δ13C values sampled from C. gigas tissue at each station indicated both horizontal and vertical dispersion, and subsequent uptake, of aquaculture-derived effluent. The importance of aquaculture-derived effluent to the diet of C. gigas was not uniform across stations or seasons. General trends indicate the strongest reliance upon aquaculture-derived effluent as a nutritional subsidy by C. gigas suspended at depths of 18m, and those located 15m and 30m adjacent to the fish component of the IMTA system in particular. This chapter also focuses on the examination of C. gigas feeding patterns using stable isotope analysis over a seasonal timescale, to describe temporal variability in the importance of aquaculture-derived effluent to the diet of organic extractive components within an IMTA system. Examination of δ15N and δ13C values sampled from C. gigas tissue at each station indicated strong seasonal shifts in importance of aquaculture-derived effluent as a nutritional subsidy to oysters within the IMTA system. General trends suggest that C. gigas cultured within the IMTA system feed most heavily upon aquaculture-derived effluent during the winter and spring months, while importance of naturally occurring food sources are more heavily relied upon during the summer and fall months. . / Graduate