<p>As the world population continues to grow, it will be challenging to manage resources, reduce environmental pollution and maintain growing demand for food production. Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a novel solution to reduce freshwater use in agriculture, minimize environmental pollution from agriculture sector, and meet the growing food demand. CEA allows for the year-round cultivation in inhospitable climatic conditions. Hydroponics is a common method of growing crops in CEA, where plants grow in a solution enriched with nutrients and oxygen. The technique significantly reduces water use and fertilizer run-off during production. In the United States, lettuce is one of the most important crops grown using hydroponics.</p> <p> Hydroponic production uses several methods to grow lettuce including nutrient film technique (NFT) and constant flood table (CFT). Moreover, several cultivars of lettuce are grown in the Midwest. There is a lack of knowledge on whether optimal fertilizer concentrations change depending on the cultivar or hydroponic production system. Little information is known about the suitability of a cultivar to a specific method of hydroponic production. For year-round lettuce production in hydroponics, supplemental lighting (SL) and heating are required in the Midwestern regions of the U.S. The energy requirements for SL and heating can be too costly in winter for some growers to produce crop year-round. In addition to light quantity, spectral composition of light can impact growth. Heating the root zone to produce a micro-climate may be more efficient than heating the entire greenhouse and possibly reduce overall heating costs. However, information on spectral composition of light and the efficacy of root zone heating is unclear, at best. Certain cultivars that can tolerate cold stress can be more suitable in the U.S. Midwest during winter. Lettuce cultivar screening for yield under cooler environments is limited. </p> <p> A completely customizable hydroponic production system that can aid in conducting research related to above-mentioned issues was built as a part of my Master of Science program. Using this system, 24 popular cultivars from four lettuce groups were evaluated for productivity during summer/fall under different concentrations of fertilizer solution, and in two production methods including NFT and CFT during spring. In addition, yield of all 24 cultivars were evaluated under 10, 15.5 and 21.1 °C in a growth chamber. The eight best performing cultivars from the summer/fall trial were evaluated during the winter in a greenhouse with the addition of SL and root zone heating with minimal ambient air heating. </p> <p> Results indicated that the lowest level of electrical conductivity (EC) of the fertilizer solution used (1.3 dS·m^-1) resulted in highest yield, regardless of cultivar or method of production. Among the 24 cultivars; Red Sails (Leaf), Salvius (Romaine), Cedar (Oakleaf), and Adriana (Butterhead) had the highest yields among each group during summer. Growth chamber study indicated that Dragoon, Adriana, New Fire Red and Red Sails cultivars had higher yields than other cultivars under cooler (10 and 15.5 °C) air temperature conditions. In the winter study, lettuce cultivars did not reach harvestable size even after 40 days of growth without SL and root zone heating. Supplemental light composition significantly affected lettuce growth with higher yield under Purple (with higher proportion of red) than White LED lighting. Commercially acceptable lettuce could be produced using root zone heating. In general, plants grown under CFT yielded higher than those grown under NFT in the winter trial. Among the cultivars, Salvius, Black Seeded Simpson, Cedar, and Red Sails performed better under SL and root zone heating during winter.</p>

Value-added (VA) technologies can help farmers in the specialty crop industry generate new products, increase off-season income sources, expand market access, and improve overall profitability. These technologies can support the development of rural economies through the generation of new businesses and job creation. The USDA defines VA products as those 1) changed physical, 2) produced in a manner that enhances their value, and 3) physically segregated in a manner that results in enhancement of their value. Drawing from this definition, this study investigated VA technologies such as drying, cutting into customer-ready portions, washing and labeling specialty crops. The objectives of this study are threefold. First, we analyze how market access and diversification drive specialty crop farmers to adopt VA technologies. Second, we address the potential endogeneity between the adoption of VA technologies (vertical diversification) and the number of crops (horizontal diversification). Lastly, we investigate how market access drives farmers to utilize food labels for VA products. Data for this study came from a 2019 web-based survey of specialty crop farmers. A total of 766 farmers completed the survey, with a response rate of 21.5%. The questionnaire included questions related to farmer’s demographics (i.e., educational attainment, gender, farming experience), farm characteristics (i.e., crops, markets, and growing technologies), and farmers’ beliefs regarding their farm system. Results suggest that market access is a significant driver of VA technology adoption. Also, the size of the farm, networks, farmer’s perceptions, and employment growth influence adopting VA technologies. The results also show us that farmers adopting VA technologies tend to experience economic growth.

<p>This thesis aims to evaluate a Modular Manufacturing (MM) technical approach to Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for cultivating plant food crops in a repurposed urban space. The specific approach was to fit a modular hydroponic CEA system into an insulated cooler box with environmental control to act as a micro plant factory. The feasibility of the approach was evaluated and a benchmark comparison between repurposed urban space and controlled lab environments was produced.</p><p>Possessing accessibility and affordability to desired quantitatively and nutritious food is a pillar for a healthy lifestyle, yet food insecurity is a growing problem worldwide, in industrial as well as industrializing nations. Food insecurity is defined as “lacking the ability to meet nutritional needs at one or multiple times during the year.” [1] Though Developing countries tend to score poorly on the Food Security Index [2], the issue is common in developed countries as well, where countries like the U.S. Possess a household food insecurity rate of above 10% [1]. Especially, subgroups of the urban population and university students in developed countries are represented at a higher rate concerning food insecurity [3], due to food insecurity’s dependence on socioeconomic factors such as purchasing power and local accessibility.</p><p>Bringing production close to the consumers or to the Point-of-Need (PoN) would be a valuable tool for supplementing traditional food crop production and increasing access to high-quality food for groups exposed to food insecurity. This is especially attractive in densely populated areas and college campuses, where real estate is prime. Bringing production to the PoN does however carry certain challenges, such as severe resource restrictions, which are not present in traditional agricultural production in rural areas where there is vast access to land, water, and plenty of sunlight. Pushing the boundaries of CEA research, technology, and application areas will be crucial for the utilization of nontraditional agricultural land, agricultural resource optimization, and food security improvements in difficult-to-farm environments to facilitate delivery to PoN.</p><p><br></p><p><b>Salient outcomes:</b> The salient outcomes of this research were that a MM platform was proven to be feasible for CEA cultivation of food crops in a repurposed urban space as well as a controlled location. Specimens cultivated in a repurposed urban space were shown to have a lower growth rate compared to a controlled location, but the important comparison is to the currently nonexistent productivity in such spaces.</p><p><b>Intellectual merit:</b> The MM CEA platform was designed, prototyped, and tested using components-of-the-shelf (COTS) as recommended by frugal engineering methodology [4]. This manufacturing platform was engineered for a case study for repurposing unused “garage space” on the college campus at Purdue University. The platform was further used for a set of studies to evaluate the feasibility of the MM platform and the production efficiency of the platform not only in a repurposed urban space but also across harsh environments across winter-spring seasons. Romaine lettuce cultivars were used as a sample plant for winter and spring studies due to their property as a popular consumable, nutritious, and relatively short growth time for better productivity. The following research issues were addressed by this research: (1) design of a modular manufacturing module; (2) testing of the module in the indoor controlled lab environment; (3) advancing design based on findings in no.2; (4) CEA testing of the integration of multiple modules (two and water supply) in the Purdue University garage (living lab) and the indoor lab environment.</p><p><b>Broader Impact:</b> The results from this research could serve as a proof-of-concept to validate the feasibility of functional modules and their integration in scaled-up urban food crop production using repurposed space. This case study especially could open opportunities for college campuses across the US (and the world), to repurpose multi-storied garage spaces for healthy food production at PoN, for example, accessible to students’ dorms and cafeterias. This MM model could further be extended to other forms of urban areas for food security and production in communities in the vicinity of garages and similar spaces in form. Utilizing unrecognized space resources in an otherwise resource-restricted environment could be the supplemental production needed to fight food desertification and insecurity in urban locations. Bringing food production to the PoN would increase the accessibility of high-quality and nutritious fresh produce, improving conditions for localized food insecurity problems.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Water scarcity and acute drought continue to be serious concerns, even in humid climates where precipitation normally exceeds evapotranspiration (ET), highlighting the need for improved landscape water conservation practices. Lawns represent the largest area in most managed landscapes and require regular mowing, feeding and sometimes supplemental summer irrigation to persist. A general historical guideline for lawn irrigation is to supply 25-38 mm per growing wk-1 in the absence of rainfall. This fixed volume is often applied on a programmatic “set and forget” three times per week schedule (e.g. M-W-F). This application guideline often results in excess irrigation as it does not take into account plant need or prevailing environmental conditions. Further, in times of acute summer drought policymakers may restrict irrigation to once or twice weekly to conserve water. The effects of these regulations on turf health and potential water savings are unclear. Thus, two multi-year summer field studies were conducted to identify opportunities for improved lawn water conservation. Study one evaluated the effect of varying weekly irrigation volume and frequency on mature Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.:KBG) located under a fixed-roof rainout structure. Turfgrass response was measured as visual turf quality (TQ), digital green color (DGC), volumetric soil water content (VWC) and area under the curve for each response variable. In year one, KBG was subject to six irrigation programs and compared to a high deficit control for 49 days. The programs were: 25 mm total water wk-1 applied either three times (M-W-F) or twice (M and F) weekly, 19 mm total wk-1 twice weekly (M and F), 13 mm total wk-1 once weekly and 60 or 80% accumulated ETo three times weekly. Due to poor performance, the high deficit control and 60% ETo were excluded from further evaluation. In year two, seven programs were evaluated: 33 mm total water wk-1 applied once, twice, or three times weekly, or every-other-day, 25 mm total wk-1 applied twice or three times weekly and 80% ETo twice weekly for 63 days. In both years, generally, 25-33 mm wk-1 applied two or three times wk-1 produced the most consistent TQ, DGC and highest VWC. Study two compared three supplemental irrigation programs to a natural rainfall control for six widely planted cool-season lawn grasses for 70 days. The six lawn grasses were: a KBG sod, seeded drought tolerant and susceptible KBG cultivars, a turf-type tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Durmort.: TTTF) blend and two KBG and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.:PRG) mixtures. In Study two, highly significant differences p < .001 occurred for irrigation program and lawn grasses. While supplemental irrigation aided all grasses, rainfall in year one and two measured 119 mm and 343 mm, respectively, affecting data in each study year. Area under the turfgrass quality curve (AUTQC) was lowest for the rainfall control (339 and 425) and highest for 33 mm wk-1 applied three times (507 and 526) and 80% ETo programs (508 and 535) in year one and two, respectively. Annual responses for DGC and VWC generally followed TQ trends. For grasses subject only to natural rainfall, TTTF, and the KBGs were generally superior to the KBG:PRG mixtures, thus emphasizing the importance of species selection. In summary, these studies compared a traditional “set and forget” irrigation program to a range of alternative programs and different lawn grasses. These data provide evidence for irrigation savings by employing a combination of planting drought tolerant lawn species and adopting a more limited irrigation program. Future field studies should include the evaluation of adaptive, data-driven programs based on forecast environmental conditions and threshold responses like DGC or predetermined VWC set points calibrated for varying soil types and growing environments.</p>

<p dir="ltr">Pedicels are the slender stalks that attach the fruit to the plant. They play a crucial role in fruit development. The characteristics of the pedicel comprise complex traits that are controlled by multiple genes. To study whether genetic control of fruit mass was via control of pedicel characteristics, we used two unique hybrid apple populations: ‘20 Ounce’ x ‘Prairie Fire’ and ‘Edward VII’ x ‘Prairie Fire’. Both ‘20 Ounce’ and ‘Edward VII’ x ‘Prairie Fire’ produce large fruit over 200 g, whereas ‘Prairie Fire’ is a small-fruited crabapple with fruit size less than 2 g. These populations offer the potential to investigate how pedicel attributes relate to apple fruit size. Previous work established a correlation between pedicel characteristics and apple fruit mass. Specifically, pedicel length showed an inverse relationship, while pedicel diameter was directly related to fruit mass. Shorter and broader pedicels were expected to offer the least resistance to water and nutrient flows. We hypothesize that among the genes that control fruit mass, some govern pedicel length and diameter. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) analysis (Linkage mapping) was performed, and 5 QTLs were associated with characteristics such as fruit mass, pedicel length and pedicel diameter with LOD scores of 4 and above. That being said, no common region was associated with both the fruit mass and pedicel characteristics. This does not support our hypothesis and suggests that different regions may be controlling all these traits. Knowledge of QTLs and subsequently genes that affect fruit mass and pedicel characteristics in apple have potential applications in apple breeding and fruit production. The identification and manipulation of these genes holds the promise of developing new apple cultivars with improved pedicel traits and ultimately fruit mass and enhanced fruit quality.</p>

O presente trabalho foi realizado em cafeeiros (Coffea arabica L.) cv. Icatu Vermelho IAC 4045, cultivados a pleno sol e consorciados com banana ‘Prata An㒠(Musa AAB), em Mococa - SP (Latitude 21º 28’ S, Longitude 47º 01’ W, altitude 665m). Foi realizada a caracterização microclimática, entre outubro de 2001 e setembro de 2002, onde foram medidos a radiação solar global, saldo de radiação, velocidade do vento e temperatura e umidade relativa do ar nos dois sistemas de cultivo. No período do inverno de 2002 e 2003, foi realizado um estudo da influência das bananeiras na variabilidade espacial da temperatura do ar e folha, além do saldo de radiação, em episódios de resfriamento noturno. Realizou-se também uma caracterização aerodinâmica e energética dos cultivos, entre dezembro de 2002 e novembro de 2003, onde foram obtidos os perfis dos bulbos seco e úmido, além da velocidade do vento em sete níveis de medida. Entre julho de 2001 a junho de 2004 foram atribuídas notas de desenvolvimento fenológico dos cultivos, além de se avaliar, o crescimento das plantas em altura e diâmetro da copa. Nas safras de 2002, 2003 e 2004 foram avaliados os parâmetros de produção nos dois sistemas de cultivo, além da variabilidade desses nas parcelas do cultivo consorciado. Houve uma atenuação dos valores de radiação solar global (21%) no cultivo de café consorciado e uma redução de 16% e 48% nos valores do saldo de radiação e velocidade do vento, em relação ao cultivo a pleno sol. Com relação à temperatura e umidade do ar, foram encontradas diferenças apenas na temperatura máxima no ponto central da parcela do cultivo consorciado, que apresentou médias superiores em relação ao cultivo a pleno sol no verão e outono, e em relação ao ponto situado próximo as bananeiras na primavera, verão e outono. Nos episódios de resfriamento do ar no período noturno, apesar do cultivo consorciado apresentar menor perda radiativa, ocorreu apenas um acréscimo de 0,3ºC na temperatura do ar nos episódios amostrados, sendo que para a temperatura das folhas esses valores atingiram até 0,5ºC. Foi verificado ainda que a ação de quebra-vento das bananeiras no cultivo consorciado, promoveu alterações nos perfis de temperatura e umidade do ar, apresentando gradientes reduzidos, em relação ao cultivo a pleno sol, acima do dossel dos cafeeiros. Os valores médios dos componentes do balanço de energia nos sistemas de cultivos de café a pleno sol e consorciado não apresentaram diferenças. Nos sistemas de cultivo avaliados, o crescimento vegetativo em altura e diâmetro apresentou maior atividade vegetativa no período primavera-verão em relação ao período outono-inverno, não tendo sido encontradas diferenças significativas das taxas de crescimento, de desenvolvimento fenológico e dos índices de produção entre os cultivos. No cultivo consorciado, o ponto amostral próximo às bananeiras apresentou diferenças em relação aos demais pontos amostrados no crescimento vegetativo e desenvolvimento fenológico para algumas épocas do ano, além de apresentar menor produção por planta e maior massa de 100 sementes. / A study was carried out in coffee crop (Coffea arabica L.) cv. Icatu Vermelho IAC 4045, unshade and shaded by banana ‘Prata An㒠(Musa AAB), in Mococa, São Paulo State, Brazil (Latitude South 21º 28 ', Longitude West 47º 01 ', altitude 665m). The microclimatic measurements (solar radiation, net radiation, wind speed, air temperature and air moisture) were taken from October, 2001 to September, 2002 under different crops conditions. During the winter of 2002 and 2003, a study of the influence of the banana plants was done on space variability of air and leaf temperature, besides net radiation, for cold nights. The aerodynamic and energy characterization were done from December, 2002 to November,2003, by obtining the profiles of the bulb wet and dry air temperature, also measurements the wind speed in seven different levels. From July, 2001 to June, 2004 phenological data for the coffee crops were taken. The growth of the plants concerning height and diameter was also evaluated. The harvests of 2002, 2003 and 2004 were appraised by the production parameters, and their variability for different positions in shaded coffee crop. The banana trees reduced the incoming solar radiation to the coffee crop by 21%, and by 16% and 48% in the values of the net radiation and wind speed, respectively. Concerning on air temperature and air mosture, differences were found just for the maximum air temperature at the central point of the shaded crop, showing higher averages in relation to the unshaded crop during the summer and autumn, and also in relation to the nearest point to the banana plants during the spring, summer and autumn. During cold nights, spite the shaded coffee crop showing smaller radiation loss, an increment of 0.3ºC in the air temperature was observed and for the leaves the values reached 0.5ºC. It was verified an windbreak action of fanlight of the banana trees in the shaded crop, promoting deviation in air temperature and humidity profiles, showing reduced gradients, in relation to the unshaded crop, above the coffee plants canopy. The mean values of the energy balance components for the different systems of cultivation did not show difference. In the cultivation systems evaluated, the vegetative growth in height and diameter showed higher vegetative activity during the spring-summer period in relation to the autumn-winter period. No significant differences of the growth taxes, of phenological development and of the yield indexes were found. In coffee crop shaded, the nearest point to the banana plants showed differences in relation to the other amostral points in vegetative growth and phenological development for some seasons of the year, besides showing smaller plant yield and higher weight of 100 seeds.

Für die ortsspezifische Düngung spielt die räumliche Erfassung von ertragsrelevanten Standorteigenschaften (z.B. Textur und Nährstoffnachlieferungsvermögen) eine große Rolle bei der Bemessung der Düngungsempfehlung. Durch die Berücksichtigung der schlaginternen Variabilität ist eine abgestufte standortangepasste Bewirtschaftung möglich. Auf fünf ackerbaulich genutzten Schlägen in verschiedenen Bodenregionen Deutschlands wurden räumliche und zeitliche Untersuchungen zur vertikalen und horizontalen Mineralstickstoffverteilung in Rasterform durchgeführt. Mit Hilfe des N-Modells HERMES wurden Simulationsrechnungen zur N-Dynamik durchgeführt und anhand des volumetrischen Wassergehalts, des Ertrags und des mineralischen Stickstoffgehalts überprüft. Als Referenz dienten die Daten aus der Rasterbeprobung. Die Vergleiche zwischen den simulierten und gemessenen Werten zeigen beim volumetrischen Wassergehalt, beim Ertrag und beim mineralischen Stickstoff auch über mehrere Vegetationsperioden hinweg eine gute Übereinstimmung bei den Mittelwerten, so dass man die Modellergebnisse auch für die N-Düngungsempfehlung herangezogen hat. Datensätze der Reichsbodenschätzung und der digitalen Hofbodenkarte wiesen im Gegensatz zur kleinräu­migen Rasterbeprobung keine ausreichende Genauigkeit bei den räumlichen Verteilungsmustern der ertragsrelevanten Standortgrößen auf und sind demnach nicht als Planungsgrundlage für die ortsspezifische Düngung geeignet. Über Szenariorechnungen lassen sich verschiedene Düngungsvarianten (wie einheitlich und ortsspezifisch gedüngte Variante) für identische Flächen direkt miteinander vergleichen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten beim Einsatz des preagro-N Moduls über drei Vegetationsperioden (2000 bis 2002) ein Einsparungspotential bei der ortsspezifischen Düngung von durchschnittlich 4 %, bei Verwendung der Modellempfehlungen (HERMES) sogar von durchschnittlich 18 % gegenüber der einheitlichen Variante ohne Ertragsdepressionen beführten zu müssen. / For the site-specific fertilization plays the spatial variability of soil parameters (such as texture) an important role for the calculation of fertilizer recommendation. In consideration of spatial variability is a gradual management in the field possible. The distribution of the vertical and horizontal soil mineral nitrogen patterns on five fields were investigated in different regions in Germany. Additionally these data were used for the validation of the nitrogen dynamics of the nitrogen crop growth model HERMES. The comparison between simulate and measurement data showed for the soil moisture, the grain yield and the mineral nitrogen over many vegetation periods good results by the average values. Under this situation is it possible to use simulation model for the nitrogen fertilizer recommendation. Simulations with data sets from the plot sampling (large scale soil map) compared against simulating using German Soil Appraisal or digital farm soil map data showed information losses. The temporal dynamic by soil mineral nitrogen content in the rooting zone and the spatial pattern by the grain yield show a much better agreement with observed values, if large scale data were used for the simulation. The results from the preagro-N model showed at site-specific part over three vegetation periods (2000 to 2002) an economize effect from average 4 % against the uniform fertilisation part. If we had used the fertilizer recommendation from the nitrogen crop growth model HERMES over the same time, the economize effect conducted average 18 % against the uniform fertilisation part without yield depression.

O presente trabalho foi realizado em cafeeiros (Coffea arabica L.) cv. Icatu Vermelho IAC 4045, cultivados a pleno sol e consorciados com banana ‘Prata An㒠(Musa AAB), em Mococa – SP (Latitude 21º 28’ S, Longitude 47º 01’ W, altitude 665m). Foi realizada a caracterização microclimática, entre outubro de 2001 e setembro de 2002, onde foram medidos a radiação solar global, saldo de radiação, velocidade do vento e temperatura e umidade relativa do ar nos dois sistemas de cultivo. No período do inverno de 2002 e 2003, foi realizado um estudo da influência das bananeiras na variabilidade espacial da temperatura do ar e folha, além do saldo de radiação, em episódios de resfriamento noturno. Realizou-se também uma caracterização aerodinâmica e energética dos cultivos, entre dezembro de 2002 e novembro de 2003, onde foram obtidos os perfis dos bulbos seco e úmido, além da velocidade do vento em sete níveis de medida. Entre julho de 2001 a junho de 2004 foram atribuídas notas de desenvolvimento fenológico dos cultivos, além de se avaliar, o crescimento das plantas em altura e diâmetro da copa. Nas safras de 2002, 2003 e 2004 foram avaliados os parâmetros de produção nos dois sistemas de cultivo, além da variabilidade desses nas parcelas do cultivo consorciado. Houve uma atenuação dos valores de radiação solar global (21%) no cultivo de café consorciado e uma redução de 16% e 48% nos valores do saldo de radiação e velocidade do vento, em relação ao cultivo a pleno sol. Com relação à temperatura e umidade do ar, foram encontradas diferenças apenas na temperatura máxima no ponto central da parcela do cultivo consorciado, que apresentou médias superiores em relação ao cultivo a pleno sol no verão e outono, e em relação ao ponto situado próximo as bananeiras na primavera, verão e outono. Nos episódios de resfriamento do ar no período noturno, apesar do cultivo consorciado apresentar menor perda radiativa, ocorreu apenas um acréscimo de 0,3ºC na temperatura do ar nos episódios amostrados, sendo que para a temperatura das folhas esses valores atingiram até 0,5ºC. Foi verificado ainda que a ação de quebra-vento das bananeiras no cultivo consorciado, promoveu alterações nos perfis de temperatura e umidade do ar, apresentando gradientes reduzidos, em relação ao cultivo a pleno sol, acima do dossel dos cafeeiros. Os valores médios dos componentes do balanço de energia nos sistemas de cultivos de café a pleno sol e consorciado não apresentaram diferenças. Nos sistemas de cultivo avaliados, o crescimento vegetativo em altura e diâmetro apresentou maior atividade vegetativa no período primavera-verão em relação ao período outono-inverno, não tendo sido encontradas diferenças significativas das taxas de crescimento, de desenvolvimento fenológico e dos índices de produção entre os cultivos. No cultivo consorciado, o ponto amostral próximo às bananeiras apresentou diferenças em relação aos demais pontos amostrados no crescimento vegetativo e desenvolvimento fenológico para algumas épocas do ano, além de apresentar menor produção por planta e maior massa de 100 sementes. / A study was carried out in coffee crop (Coffea arabica L.) cv. Icatu Vermelho IAC 4045, unshade and shaded by banana ‘Prata An㒠(Musa AAB), in Mococa, São Paulo State, Brazil (Latitude South 21º 28 ', Longitude West 47º 01 ', altitude 665m). The microclimatic measurements (solar radiation, net radiation, wind speed, air temperature and air moisture) were taken from October, 2001 to September, 2002 under different crops conditions. During the winter of 2002 and 2003, a study of the influence of the banana plants was done on space variability of air and leaf temperature, besides net radiation, for cold nights. The aerodynamic and energy characterization were done from December, 2002 to November,2003, by obtining the profiles of the bulb wet and dry air temperature, also measurements the wind speed in seven different levels. From July, 2001 to June, 2004 phenological data for the coffee crops were taken. The growth of the plants concerning height and diameter was also evaluated. The harvests of 2002, 2003 and 2004 were appraised by the production parameters, and their variability for different positions in shaded coffee crop. The banana trees reduced the incoming solar radiation to the coffee crop by 21%, and by 16% and 48% in the values of the net radiation and wind speed, respectively. Concerning on air temperature and air mosture, differences were found just for the maximum air temperature at the central point of the shaded crop, showing higher averages in relation to the unshaded crop during the summer and autumn, and also in relation to the nearest point to the banana plants during the spring, summer and autumn. During cold nights, spite the shaded coffee crop showing smaller radiation loss, an increment of 0.3ºC in the air temperature was observed and for the leaves the values reached 0.5ºC. It was verified an windbreak action of fanlight of the banana trees in the shaded crop, promoting deviation in air temperature and humidity profiles, showing reduced gradients, in relation to the unshaded crop, above the coffee plants canopy. The mean values of the energy balance components for the different systems of cultivation did not show difference. In the cultivation systems evaluated, the vegetative growth in height and diameter showed higher vegetative activity during the spring-summer period in relation to the autumn-winter period. No significant differences of the growth taxes, of phenological development and of the yield indexes were found. In coffee crop shaded, the nearest point to the banana plants showed differences in relation to the other amostral points in vegetative growth and phenological development for some seasons of the year, besides showing smaller plant yield and higher weight of 100 seeds.

<p> Brown patch (caused by various <em>Rhizoctonia </em>and <em>Rhizoctonia-</em>like species) is one of the major summer diseases of tall fescue [<em>Schedonorus arundinaceus</em> (Schreb.) Dumort., nom. cons.]. Fungicides are available to suppress brown patch; however, there is increasing interest to reduce lawn pesticide inputs. Excessive summer nitrogen (N) applications and extended periods of leaf wetness have been suggested to enhance brown patch. Five projects were conducted from 2020 to 2022 to evaluate individual and various combinations of cultural management practices to improve brown patch management strategies through reducing chemical inputs and promoting environmentally sound integrated pest management (IPM) practices. Brown patch host resistance of 15 tall fescue cultivars was evaluated in a controlled environment study and various morphological characteristics were correlated to brown patch severity. A 45% reduction in brown patch was observed with a resistant cultivar, and cultivars with faster growth rates, wider sheath widths and shorter sheath length correlated with reduced brown patch resistance. A field study evaluated five cultivars fertilized with urea-N from April to July, totaling 73.5 or 245.0 kg N ha^-1. A resistant cultivar had the greatest influence on reducing disease, and N-rate generally did not influence disease severity. Differences in seasonal brown patch was compared in a three-year field study for various natural organic fertilizers. Feather-bone meal and soybean meal-based products decreased disease compared to non-fertilized turf. Chemical suppression of leaf-wetness was studied using different surfactant chemistries applied on a 14 to 21-d application frequency and some chemistries reduced disease. When evaluating the various interactions of cultivar, N rate, and surfactant compared to a granular fungicide, the greatest impact was achieved when planting a resistant cultivar, reducing disease severity by 68%. Additionally, the combination of a resistant cultivar and application of a surfactant had the same seasonal brown patch compared to a susceptible cultivar with fungicide applications during year two of evaluation. In summary, these studies demonstrate significant reductions in brown patch can be achieved when utilizing the aforesaid best management practices which can substantially reduce the need for frequent lawn fungicides.  </p>

<p>  </p> <p>Environmental conditions, like light quality and herbivory, can induce changes in plant physiology. Light quality can be manipulated using LEDs (light emitting diodes) to improve crop quality and yield in horticultural production. The manipulation of light quality has also been utilized in the management of agricultural insect pests. Previous research has provided evidence that changes in light quality can have effects on the growth and chemistry of cannabis crops (<em>Cannabis spp.</em>). Varieties of cannabis are grown for the production of the valued cannabinoids CBD and THC. Pest of cannabis include herbivorous arthropods that reduce hemp yield and quality. Arthropod herbivory can induce chemical and physical changes in plants. This thesis further investigates the role of light quality on both cannabis biology and the crop-pest interaction between cannabis and the cannabis aphid (<em>Phorodon cannabis</em>). In the experiments described herein, the effects of light quality and <em>P. cannabis </em>herbivory on cannabis were assessed by measuring impact on biomass accumulation, yield, and the production of CBD and THC. The effects of light quality on the life history traits of <em>P. cannabis </em>were also measured. Cannabis grown under red-blue light quality saw a reduction in vegetative growth but no reduction in yield. Light treatments had no measured effect on the concentrations of CBD and THC in the cannabis buds. Aphid herbivory decreased bud yield but increased vegetative growth. Aphid herbivory reduced the concentration of both CBD and THC in cannabis bud tissue. Under blue-rich light quality, <em>P. cannabis </em>experienced higher reproductive rates when compared to red-blue and full-spectrum lighting. </p>