Includes bibliographical references (leaves 241-25). Aims to evaluate sampling procedures; assess the extent and magnitude of yield loss caused by Pratylenchus neglectus; assess the population dynamics of Pratylenchus neglectus in cereals; determine whether resistance occurs in field crops; and, assess whether variation occurs between geographically isolated species of Pratylenchus neglectus

Raphanus raphanistrum L. (wild radish) is a widespread and economically problematic weed of winter crops including wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in southern Australia. Management of the weed is achieved by a range of non-chemical and chemical techniques. Current management is failing to contain the weed, which is increasing in abundance and distribution. The characteristics of staggered recruitment, dormancy, rapid growth, competitive ability and high levels of seed production contribute to its persistence. The literature review concludes that weeds formed the basis for perpetuation of R. raphanistrum, a claim further investigated by simulation modeling. The effective management of R. raphanistrum should aim to achieve declining populations and this requires the integration of all factors that regulate seed production. Reducing seed production of R. raphanistrum in wheat can be achieved by applying herbicides at reproductive stages of development. This technique has been demonstrated to be an effective, safe and practical method of reducing seed production of R. raphanistrum in wheat. Reducing seed production of R. raphanistrum by herbicides applied at reproductive stages of development is a technique that can be incorporated into an integrated weed management program to improve control / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 241-25). / xiv, 259 leaves, [10] leaves of plates : ill. (chiefly col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Aims to evaluate sampling procedures; assess the extent and magnitude of yield loss caused by Pratylenchus neglectus; assess the population dynamics of Pratylenchus neglectus in cereals; determine whether resistance occurs in field crops; and, assess whether variation occurs between geographically isolated species of Pratylenchus neglectus / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Applied and Molecular Ecology, 2001

"March 2003" / Bibliography: leaves 195-209. / Systems requirements: IBM PC or compatible; CD-ROM drive. / x, 209, A4 leaves : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. + 1 CD-ROM (4 3/4 in.) / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Geographical and Environmental Studies, 2003

<p>According to earlier research farmer's crop orientation in developing countries mainly depends on farm size, large-scale farmers prefer cash crop while small-scale farmers prefer subsistence crops. The first aim of this study is to see if this hypothesis can be applied on six households in Babati District in rural Tanzania. The second aim is to investigate if other factors than farm size affect crop portfolio choice and the final aim is to see if those crop portfolio models can be improved. A case-study research design and qualitative interviews are used. The primary data is based on a fieldwork that took place from the 18th of February until the 7th of March 2009 in the study area.</p><p>From a theoretical perspective the underlying assumptions of the Marcel Fafchamp's model <em>Crop portfolio choice under multivariate risks </em>is discussed in connection to the result of the study.</p><p>Interviews were made with six households of different farm size. The result of the study indicates that both small-scale and large-scale farmers are using cash crops. The fact that all crops can be used for selling, gives also small-scale farmers in season with higher prices, an opportunity to sell a large share of their crops. It's thereby not possible to state that large-scale farmers devote a larger share of their land for cash crop than small-scale farmers do.</p><p> </p>

The demand for biofuels continues to increase due in part to government standards and promotion as well as the ambitious goals set by various companies and industries. Camelina is considered to be an ideal energy crop because of its low input requirements, suitability for marginal soils, and naturally competitiveness with weeds. A partial equilibrium model with a break-even price approach is used to estimate the potential supply curves for Camelina in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. The supply curves are used to determine if the 50 million gallon goal set by the "Farm to Fly" initiative can be met. Given the current price of Camelina, $0.15/lb, the estimated supply of Camelina in all 4 states is 1,756,076,887 lbs and 1,493,684 acres. This estimation assumes that if the wheat-Camelina rotation is more profitable than the current crop rotation, then all of the acres will be converted to a wheat-Camelina rotation. When a 5% adoption rate is applied to the low and the intermediate rainfall zones and a 1% to the high rainfall zones, the number of acres converted to Camelina decreases to 72,213. These results suggest that given current market conditions, the supply of Camelina in the Northwest is not enough to meet the biofuel goal without an increase in yield and government promotion. / Graduation date: 2013

The contamination of ground water resources represents a serious problem and a prominent threat to the health of our society. This study focuses on the leaching of inorganic anions as a function of agricultural practices under natural field conditions. In order to enhance the understanding of such leaching processes, this thesis evaluates the spatial variability of the leaching characteristics of a site, the factors controlling percolation, and the use of a cereal rye cover crop to reduce nitrate leaching. Thirty-two Passive Capillary Wick Samplers (PCAPS) and 32 suction cups were installed at a depth of 120 cm under row crop produced in a Woodburn Variant loam (fine-loamy mixed mesic Aquultic Argixeroll). Significant correlation for the water flux was seen at the 2.0 m distance, beyond which values were uncorrelated. No spatial correlation was seen in hydrodynamic dispersion coefficients. Percolation was independent of field saturated hydraulic conductivity, while the quantity of incident water was strongly correlated with percolation. The occurrence of preferential flow affected the leaching process as documented by solute breakthrough ahead of the main solute peak. Rates of nitrogen fertilizer application were proportional to observed nitrate leaching losses. The cover crop significantly reduced the amount of nitrate leaching at all N fertilizer application rates. At the recommended rate, nitrate-N concentrations were lowered on average from 22.2 to 9.9 mg/l; cumulative N mass losses were cut by 62% due to plant uptake by the cover crop. The study demonstrated the importance of conducting long-term field experiments under natural conditions to accurately assess leaching processes. / Graduation date: 1996

There are about 40 durum wheat varieties registered in Turkey. Around 10 varieties are being commonly cultivated. Amanos 97, &Ccedil / esit 1252, Ege 88, Firat 93, Fuatbey 2000, Burgos, Kiziltan 91, Sari&ccedil / anak 98, Svevo and Zenith durum wheat varieties were used in this study. Semolina and pasta have been produced in an industrial plant under constant process conditions from these varieties. In general, pasta quality is determined by three main factors, the raw materials, the production recipe and the production process. In this study, the production recipe and the production process were fixed and only durum wheat varieties were variable. So, the effects coming from the production recipe and the production process on pasta quality were eliminated. Physical, chemical and sensory properties of these pasta were determined and the effect of different durum wheat varieties on pasta quality has been investigated to give a clear idea to the Turkish pasta industry about the most commonly grown durum wheat varieties in Turkey, hoping that Turkish pasta in domestic and international Markets will continue to grow with the help of clear understanding about the quality characteristics of the durum wheat they are using. v The important criteria of acceptability of pasta products is its cooking quality and cooking quality of pasta products is of importance to consumers and also to wheat producers, breeders and manufacturers. The pasta samples produced from Svevo, Zenith and Firat 93 varieties got the higher scores than others in pasta cooking quality while those produced from Sari&ccedil / anak 98, &Ccedil / esit 1252, Kiziltan 91, and Fuatbey 2000 durum wheat were evaluated as relatively low. The main reasons of cooking quality differences can be interpreted as a result of the difference in protein quantity and quality of the varieties. The bright yellow color of pasta products, rather than cooking behavior taste, is reported to be one of the most important considerations in assessing durum wheat quality. In this study, the pasta samples produced from Svevo, Zenith and Burgos varieties got the higher scores than others in pasta color (yellowness) while that produced from Firat 93 had the lowest yellow color. The main reasons of yellow color differences can be interpreted as a result of the differences in carotenoid pigments, lipoxygenase and peroxidase enzymes contents of the varieties.

Legumes being the most important crops worldwide are limited in terms of adaptability and productivity mainly by the abiotic stresses. In this study, the aim was to understand tolerance mechanisms of lentil cultivars under drought stress by physiological and biochemical analyses. This study was carried out with six Turkish Lentil cultivars (Seyran, Kafkas, Malazgirt, &Ccedil / agil, &Ccedil / ift&ccedil / i, &Ouml / zbek) subjected to drought stresses (10% and 15% PEG) and their physiological and biochemical properties were examined to select drought-tolerant and drought-sensitive cultivars. Drought stress was applied for 5 days to 7 days-grown lentil plants. 12-days old, stressed and control plant shoots and roots were analyzed in terms of physiological and biochemical parameters (length, fresh weight, ion leakage, proline, MDA and H

Lignin is the second most abundant biopolymer on Earth, right after cellulose, with a highly complex chemical structure that hinders its possible utilizations. Applications that utilize lignin in different manners are of great interest, due to its inexpensive nature. Present work is based on the notion of converting lignin into different biofuels that have only a few, however important, advantages over lignin as a direct energy source. The first part of current work (pyrolysis) details the analysis of lignin from a relatively new lignin isolation process called LignoBoost. It is obtained from the pulp and paper industry via CO₂ precipitation of lignin from black liquor (BL). This method is environment friendly, results lignin with minimal oxidation, eliminates the main bottleneck of the Kraft cycle (recovery boiler capacity), and yet leaves enough lignin in the process stream to recover pulping chemicals and generate energy for the pulp mill. Pyrolysis had converted this lignin into bio-oil with high aliphatic content and low oxidation level, all advantageous for application as liquid fuel. The second part of this dissertation proved the theory that lignin degradation and lipid accumulation metabolic pathways can be interconnected. Gram-positive Rhodococcus opacus species, DSM 1069 and PD630 were used to evaluate lignin to lipid bioconversion, starting with ethanol organosolv and Kraft lignin. This conversion is a first step in a multistep process towards biodiesel production, which includes transesterification, after lipids are extracted from the cells. Results clearly indicated that the lignin to lipid bioconversion pathway is viable, by cells gaining up to 4 % of their weight in lipids, while growing solely on lignin as a carbon and energy source.