Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1994. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 109-125). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Bacterial pathogens transmitted by the fecal-oral route endure several stresses during survival/growth in host and non-host environments. For foodborne pathogens, understanding the range of phenotypic responses to stressors and the environmental factors that impact survival can provide insights for the development of control measures. For example, the gastrointestinal system presents acidic, osmotic, and cell-envelope stresses and low oxygen levels, but Listeria monocytogenes can withstand these stresses, causing illnesses in humans. Survival/growth characteristics may differ among L. monocytogenes strains under these stressors due to their genetic diversities. Our knowledge of such phenotypic characteristics under bile and salt stresses are inadequate. In this dissertation, variation in growth characteristics was observed among L. monocytogenes strains under bile and osmotic stresses with no evidence of cross-protection, but rather an antagonistic effect was observed with the formation of filaments when pre-exposed to 1% bile and treated with 6% NaCl. This shows that variation in stress adaptability exists among L. monocytogenes strains with the ability to form filaments under these conditions. Similarly, Salmonella survival in soil is dependent on several factors, such as soil, amendment types, moisture, irrigation, and desiccation stress. In this study, the use of HTPP (heat-treated poultry pellets) was investigated as a soil amendment in the survival/growth of Salmonella in soil extracts mimicking runoff events, and in soil cultivated with spinach plants to assess its safety for use for an organic fertilizer. The presence of HTPP in soil increased S. Newport survival with a greater likelihood of its transfer to and survival on spinach plants. Increased microbial loads and rpoS mutant showed decreased growth/survival in soil extracts, however, rpoS was not important for survival in soil under the tested conditions showing possible lack of desiccation stress. These results show that HTPP provided nutrients to the Salmonella for increased growth and survival in soil extracts and soil, respectively, which show that the use of treated BSAAO to soils may still require appropriate mitigation to minimize Salmonella Newport contamination of leafy greens in the pre-harvest environment. Overall, the results in this study increased our understanding of L. monocytogenes and Salmonella phenotypic adaptation to stressful environments.

Athletic field rootzones are often sand-based for improved drainage. Sand-based rootzones may have stability issues if turfgrass is not fully established. Our objective was to use organic amendments to improve the stability of sand-based fields during the turfgrass establishment period and avoid overuse of inorganic materials, which have negative effects. We tested coconut coir, peat and wheat straw at 1% organic material, peat at 2% organic material, and an inorganic stabilizing fiber, StaLok, in the top 10 cm of the rootzone. Surface hardness, volumetric water content, traction, penetration resistance and visual quality were measured 2 to 4 months after construction of the plots. Surface hardness was greatest in the inorganic stabilizer and the wheat straw treatments. The kinetic penetration had no differences between the wheat straw (33.78-51.10 kPa) and the StaLok fibers (34.99-56.23 kPa). Wheat straw could be used to stabilize sand-based fields as an organic alternative to inorganic fibers.

Tomato and lettuce are amongst the most important fresh vegetables used in South Africa. However, growth, yield and quality of tomato and lettuce are constrained by water shortage and poor productivity of sandy soil. In South Africa, large parts of the agricultural land are in a semi-arid region and water is becoming scarcer and more costly. Recognizing the fundamental importance of water-holding amendments like gel-polymers to enhance water use efficiency and soil physical properties, this study was carried out to investigate the effects of pure gel-polymer and fertiliser-fused gel-polymer soil amendments across five irrigation intervals on growth, yield and quality of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). The response of tomato growth, yield and quality to irrigation interval and gel-polymer soil amendments (pure gel-polymer and fertiliser fused gel-polymer) was conducted in a tunnel. The gel-polymer treatments were: control (sandy soil), two pure gel-polymer levels (8 and 16 g-20 L-1 sandy soil, equivalent to 400 g and 800 g-m-3) and two fertiliser fused gel-polymer levels (20 and 40 g-20 L-1 sandy soil, equivalent to 1 kg and 2 kg-m-3). Irrigation was either applied once daily or every second, third, fourth or fifth day, equivalent to 0.8, 1.25, 1.45, 1.88 and 2.29 L of water per 20 L bag of sand. Fruit mass, fruit diameter, fruit number, plant height, stem diameter, number of trusses, root fresh and dry mass, total soluble solids, fruit juice pH and titratable acidity were determined. Neither irrigation interval nor gel-polymer amendments had an influence on tomato quality (total soluble solids, pH and titratable acidity). Generally, plant yield, height, stem diameter, number of trusses, and root fresh and dry mass were increased with gel-polymer amendments compared to pure sandy soil. Regardless of irrigation interval, both fertilizer-fused gel-polymer levels appeared to be effective in improving plant growth and yield compared to pure gel-polymer, which gave good results only at the higher level of application. The study revealed that gel-polymer amendments increased productivity of tomato on a sandy soil. Similarly, the response of lettuce growth, yield and quality to gel-polymers and irrigation intervals was investigated under a tunnel conditions. The gel-polymer treatments were: control, two pure gel-polymer levels (4 and 8 g-10 L-1 sandy soil, equivalent to 400 g and 800 g-m-3) and two fertilizer-fused gel-polymer levels (10 and 20 g-20 L-1 sandy soil, equivalent to 1 kg and 2 kg-m-3). Irrigation was either applied daily or every second, third, fourth or fifth day, equivalent to 0.63, 0.83, 1.04, 1.25 and 1.46 L per 10 L plastic bags. Measurements were made of fresh head mass, head height, head circumference, head diameter, stem diameter, fresh root mass, dry root mass and dry head mass. The dried head samples were analysed for percentage tissue calcium and nitrogen. Lettuce grown on sandy soil amended with higher level of pure gel-polymer (Stock 8) and both fertiliser fused gel-polymer levels (Aqua 10 and 20) resulted in significantly higher fresh and dry head mass, head circumference, head diameter, head height, stem diameter, and fresh and dry root mass as compared to low level of pure gel-polymer (Stock 4) and sandy soil without gel-polymer (control). All irrigation intervals did not have an effect on growth, yield and quality of lettuce except at irrigation interval of every third day, which significantly lowered head circumference. Gel-polymer did not have a significant effect on percentage calcium and nitrogen concentration in the leaf tissue. Growing lettuce in soil amended with higher pure gel-polymer (Stock 8) level and both fertiliser-fused gel-polymer (Aqua 20 and Aqua 40) would likely be economically advantageous for a grower due to improved growth and higher yield of good quality lettuce. / Dissertation (MSc (Horticulture))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Plant Production and Soil Science / unrestricted

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The vadose zone plays an important role in managing stormwater. Predicting the water balance and water movement is crucial in ground water remediation to keep water suitable for use. To aid in understanding soils ability to transmit and store water, soil and hydraulic properties were analyzed for soils in Marion County, Florida, and potential soil amendments. Soil and hydraulic properties were examined for two soil amendments and for the soils in Marion County, Florida, at the South Oak and the Hunter's Trace locations. The hydraulic properties measured were the soil moisture retention curve (SMRC) and saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ks). The soil properties measured were the particle-size distribution (PSD) and the specific gravity. From these, the bulk density and porosity were calculated. The SMRC corresponds to the water holding capacities, while the Ks corresponds to the soils ability to transmit water. Both are dependent on the soil properties. The SMRC for the soil amendments and native soils were developed in the laboratory using a Tempe Cell apparatus. In addition, the SMRC was measured in the field at the Hunter's Trace location with time domain reflectometry (TDR) and tensiometer equipment at three depths of 1-ft, 2-ft, and 3-ft over approximate a two month period. The SMRC obtained in the laboratory was compared to two analytical models, Brooks and Corey and van Genuchten, and to the field data. There is a strong correlation between the laboratory, analytical, and field SMRC for both South Oak and Hunter's Trace. In addition, there is a strong correlation between the laboratory SMRC and analytical models for the soil amendments. The Arya and Paris (AP) model, a pedotransfer function, was examined for its accuracy in predicting the SMRC for the soils at South Oak and Hunter's Trace, in addition to the soil amendments. Measuring the SMRC in the lab is a time consuming process; therefore, inferring the SMRC from textural and structural soil properties which are easier measured characteristics would be advantageous.

Currently, soil termiticides are the primary termite defense mechanism used under and around living spaces in the continental United States. While this form of treatment has been effective for many years, the creation of a new, more environmentally friendly termite management system could reduce the amount of termiticides introduced annually into the environment around structures. A natural barrier containing soil amendments and mulches amended with insect-repellent plant tissues discourages termite foraging and directs the termites away from the structure. The proposed integrated management system developed during this project, divides a structure into three zones. Each zone has particular responsibilities to the overall biological durability of the structure. This study concentrates on the inner-detritus zone, which extends 24” (0.61m) from the outer wall of the structure, an area that can harbor potential hazards such as moisture traps, conducive termite food, water and protection sources, and other factors that could put undue biological pressures on the structure. Altering this zone, more specifically the pH of the soil and the mixture of products used as mulch, creates an environment unsuitable for termite foraging. This integration of several termite repelling strategies should obviate or significantly reduce the need for termiticidal soil barriers under and around houses.

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M.S.