Pesticide use is an important component of the agricultural industry. Pesticides are typically applied to crops as a droplet spray, and these droplets are susceptible to off-target movement due to wind, which is called spray drift. It has recently been recognized that shelterbelts may protect vulnerable downwind areas from spray drift. There is a need to characterize the movement of spray drift past a shelterbelt to better understand the extent of this protection and the variables which affect it. The variables investigated in this research may be classified as meteorological conditions, spray application settings, and shelterbelt properties.<p>This research investigated the movement of spray drift past a 5 m tall carragana/chokecherry shelterbelt. Spray was applied using a conventional sprayer that travelled on a path that was upwind and parallel to the shelterbelt. A tracer substance was mixed into the spray solution, and the deposition and airborne concentration of drift was measured using a variety of collectors placed at perpendicular distances up- and downwind of a shelterbelt. The mass of drift deposit on the collectors was determined using spectrofluoremetry and standard solutions.<p>When the spray swath was a distance of 3H (where H is the height of the shelterbelt) upwind of the shelterbelt, it was found that the ground deposition of drift at a distance of 0.5H downwind of the shelterbelt was reduced by approximately 74%, compared to the drift deposit at 0.5H upwind. The reduction over the same downwind distances was 29% in the open field setting. The airborne drift cloud was attenuated by the shelterbelt and the airborne concentration of drift exiting the shelterbelt was reduced by approximately 85% of the entering drift. The airborne drift concentration profile indicated that there was a greater proportion of drift travelling over the top of the shelterbelt rather than passing through the shelterbelt, with the peak concentration occurring at approximately 1.2H.<p>Qualitative and multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the significance of a number of meteorological and controlled variables on the deposition of drift. It was found that the mass of drift deposited downwind of the shelterbelt increased with a higher wind speed, higher temperature, and lower relative humidity. For the range of meteorological conditions sampled, the effect of wind direction and atmospheric stability were found to be insignificant. Finer spray qualities and higher shelterbelt optical porosity produced greater airborne drift and deposition downwind of the shelterbelt. With increasing upwind sprayer distance, the mass of drift deposited within the shelterbelt decreased.

Pesticide use is an important component of the agricultural industry. Pesticides are typically applied to crops as a droplet spray, and these droplets are susceptible to off-target movement due to wind, which is called spray drift. It has recently been recognized that shelterbelts may protect vulnerable downwind areas from spray drift. There is a need to characterize the movement of spray drift past a shelterbelt to better understand the extent of this protection and the variables which affect it. The variables investigated in this research may be classified as meteorological conditions, spray application settings, and shelterbelt properties.<p>This research investigated the movement of spray drift past a 5 m tall carragana/chokecherry shelterbelt. Spray was applied using a conventional sprayer that travelled on a path that was upwind and parallel to the shelterbelt. A tracer substance was mixed into the spray solution, and the deposition and airborne concentration of drift was measured using a variety of collectors placed at perpendicular distances up- and downwind of a shelterbelt. The mass of drift deposit on the collectors was determined using spectrofluoremetry and standard solutions.<p>When the spray swath was a distance of 3H (where H is the height of the shelterbelt) upwind of the shelterbelt, it was found that the ground deposition of drift at a distance of 0.5H downwind of the shelterbelt was reduced by approximately 74%, compared to the drift deposit at 0.5H upwind. The reduction over the same downwind distances was 29% in the open field setting. The airborne drift cloud was attenuated by the shelterbelt and the airborne concentration of drift exiting the shelterbelt was reduced by approximately 85% of the entering drift. The airborne drift concentration profile indicated that there was a greater proportion of drift travelling over the top of the shelterbelt rather than passing through the shelterbelt, with the peak concentration occurring at approximately 1.2H.<p>Qualitative and multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the significance of a number of meteorological and controlled variables on the deposition of drift. It was found that the mass of drift deposited downwind of the shelterbelt increased with a higher wind speed, higher temperature, and lower relative humidity. For the range of meteorological conditions sampled, the effect of wind direction and atmospheric stability were found to be insignificant. Finer spray qualities and higher shelterbelt optical porosity produced greater airborne drift and deposition downwind of the shelterbelt. With increasing upwind sprayer distance, the mass of drift deposited within the shelterbelt decreased.

MENv.Sc / Department of Ecology and Resource Management

Master of Science / Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources / Charles J. Barden / Windbreaks were originally promoted across the Great Plains region of the U.S to reduce wind erosion in general. A review paper published nearly 30 years ago showed yield increases for a variety of crops associated with windbreaks. However, with the widespread use of no-till systems in all farming and advanced crop genetics, the question is “Do windbreaks still provide a yield benefit?” This study compared multiple years of data from protected and unprotected fields across Kansas and few sites in Nebraska looking at relative crop yield differences of five crops: soybeans, wheat, corn, sorghum and sunflowers. Georeferenced data already existed, generated by automated combine yield monitors, and stored on farmer's computers. There were three sets of data collected for each field. The first level is general field level information, using aerial photography and on-site observations to measure the characteristics of the windbreak (length, height and density). The second was from the yield monitor; this data was analyzed with ArcGIS 10.3.1 to visualize windbreak interaction with crop yield. Multiple means comparisons (protected versus unprotected) through two sample T-tests were conducted to determine if the yield in protected areas of fields was significantly different from the yield in unprotected areas. The third data-layer is climate data that was factored into yield analysis to compare wet, normal and dry growing seasons through a Chi-Square 2x2 test analysis. Optical density of windbreaks from leaf-on/off ground-based photos was assessed using SigmaScan Pro 5.0 software as possibly an important factor influencing the windbreak effect. Finally, the yield loss was estimated from the windbreak footprint to see if yield increases are enough to compensate for the area taken out of crop production. Results showed that soybeans (81 crop/years) had the most positive response to windbreak effect with a yield increase 46% of the time, with a 16% average yield increase. Sorghum (31 crop/years) had the highest average yield increase with 25%. Narrow windbreaks (1 to 2 tree rows with an average of 52 ft. width) and those on the north edge of fields resulted in yield increases which compensated for the footprint of the windbreak more often than wider windbreaks on the south edges of fields. Significant yield increases were less than the decreases in the protected area. There was no evidence to show the windbreak effect on yield had any association with critical month precipitation for any crop or orientation group. According to the results obtained, modern hybrids and varieties are possibly less responsive to yield increases due to windbreak effect than older crop varieties. Future studies should collect more data from fields with different windbreak widths distributed more widely across the region to confirm these results. Overall, this project updated our knowledge of windbreak/crop yield interactions and may possibly influence their future role as a conservation practice in the Great Plains.

Les cuvettes du Damagaram Est (Sud-Est du Niger), sources importantes de productions alimentaires et de revenus, sont sujettes à ensablement par des sédiments éoliens. L’amplification du phénomène de la désertification au Sahel a exacerbé ce processus. L’objectif de ce travail, effectué au Nord-Ouest de Gouré, est d’évaluer l’impact de l’occupation du sol sur l’activité éolienne et l’ensablement des cuvettes d’une part, et d’autre part de tester l’efficacité d’une technique de fixation de dunes en terme de réduction des flux éoliens et de restauration écologique. Pour atteindre ces objectifs, nous avons suivi pendant 3 ans les caractéristiques du vent et l’activité éolienne ainsi que mesuré les flux de sédiments éoliens en relation avec l’évolution de la biomasse végétale. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que l’érosion éolienne sur les pâturages suit une dynamique saisonnière marquée, principalement en relation avec la dynamique temporelle de la hauteur de rugosité aérodynamique (Z0). Cette dynamique est due à l’impact de la pluviométrie et des activités pastorales et anthropiques sur la végétation herbacée. Les pâturages sur sols sableux apparaissent comme des zones potentielles de déflation au cours de la deuxième moitié de la saison sèche et pourraient ainsi contribuer à l’ensablement des cuvettes. Les tempêtes observées dans la première moitié de la saison des pluies au Sahel sont responsables d’une mobilisation importante de sédiments éoliens. L’analyse physico-chimique de ces sédiments montre globalement que les proportions de limons et d’argiles augmentent au détriment de la proportion de sables quand la hauteur de collecte augmente. Ceci s’accompagne d’un enrichissement important en nutriments (N, P, K) et en carbone. Les bilans de masse au niveau parcellaire sont globalement positifs, indiquant un apport net de sédiments, de nutriments et de carbone. Cependant, les incertitudes liées à ces bilans de masse sont très élevées. Si ces résultats semblent donc indiquer l’existence de sources de sédiments extérieures à la parcelle dans le contexte de cette étude, ils ne peuvent être interprétés comme preuve de l’absence d’érosion sur les sols dunaires à vocation pastorale. L’emploi de palissades antiérosives à base de Leptadenia pyrotechnica s’est révélé être une technique très efficace de fixation mécanique de dunes vives en zone semi-aride, permettant de réduire de plus de 95% les flux dès la première année. Elle entraîne la reprise des herbacées, tant en quantité qu’en diversité des espèces. Cette végétation renforce progressivement l’action anti-érosive. Cette technique constitue de ce fait une méthode adéquate de restauration des dunes dégradées en condition de non pâture. / The “cuvettes” of Eastern Damagaram (South-Eastern Niger), which are an important source of food and revenue, are being silted up by aeolian sediment. The amplification of the desertification phenomenon in the Sahel is exacerbating this process. The objective of this research, carried out to the North-West of Gouré, was to evaluate the impact of land use on the aeolian activity and the silting up of the cuvettes on the one hand, and on the other hand to evaluate the effectiveness of a dune fixation technique in terms of flux reduction and ecological restoration. To achieve these objectives, the wind characteristics and the aeolian activity were monitored for three years and we measured the sediment fluxes in relation to the development of the herbaceaous cover. It was shown that sediment fluxes on pasture land follow clear seasonal dynamics related to the temporal dynamics of the aerodynamic roughness length (Z0). These dynamics are due to the impact of rainfall as well as pastoral and human activities on the herbaceous vegetation. Pasture land on sandy soils appears to be a potential source of sediment during the second half of the dry season and may therefore contribute to silting up of the cuvettes. The dust storms observed during the early part of the rainy season in the Sahel are responsible for an important mobilization of aeolian sediment. The physico-chemical analysis of the sediment indicates an increase in the clay and silt content relative to the sand content as the height increases above ground. This goes together with an enrichment in nutrients (N, P, K) and carbon. The mass balances at plot level are positive overall, thereby indicating a net addition of sediment, nutrients and carbon. However, the uncertainty associated with these mass balances is very high. Although the results seem to indicate the existence of external sources of sediment in the present study, they cannot be interpreted as a definite proof of the absence of erosion on grazed dune soils. The use of windbreaks made of Leptadenia pyrotechnica proved to be a very effective mechanical dune fixation technique, reducing sediment fluxes by more than 95% as off the first year. The windbreaks resulted in a progressive recovery of the herbaceous cover, both in quantity and species diversity. The herbaceous cover reinforced the anti-erosive effectiveness of the windbreak. This technique therefore constitutes an adequate method for the restoration of degraded dunes under zero grazing conditions.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Sveriges lantbruksuniv. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

O cancro cítrico, causado pela bactéria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, é uma das doenças mais importantes da citricultura. O estudo do efeito de medidas alternativas de controle para o manejo desta doença assume grande importância tanto para áreas citrícolas onde a erradicação de plantas não é a principal medida de controle do cancro cítrico, como no Estado do Paraná, como para regiões onde a prática da erradicação vem sendo adotada como principal medida de controle da doença, como no Estado de São Paulo. Instalado em pomar citrícola do município de Ourizona, na região Noroeste do Estado do Paraná, este trabalho buscou estudar o progresso dessa importante doença em campo sob condições de proteção química das plantas, utilizando produto cúprico; e cultural, por meio de quebra-vento. Além disso, importantes informações relacionadas ao efeito de cada tratamento sobre a produção das plantas de laranja ‘Pêra’ também foram obtidas. Enquanto a aplicação de cobre apresentou efeito significativo na redução dos níveis de cancro cítrico, o emprego de quebra-vento pouco ou nada contribuiu para o controle da doença. Após 29 avaliações mensais, plantas submetidas à aplicação de bactericida cúprico apresentaram valores médios de AUDPC* de incidência da doença nas folhas de cerca de 20 %, nível 44 % inferior ao observado para as plantas não protegidas quimicamente. O mesmo comportamento foi observado para a severidade da doença. Após 18 avaliações mensais foi possível observar que plantas submetidas à aplicação de produto cúprico apresentaram em média folhas com níveis de AUDPC* de severidade 37 % menores do que plantas não protegidas quimicamente. Em 2004, quando os níveis da doença foram relativamente elevados, plantas submetidas ao controle químico apresentaram produção 54 % superior àquelas não tratadas. Em 2005, quando os níveis de cancro foram menores, não foi observada diferença na produtividade entre os tratamentos. Nas duas safras, plantas tratadas com bactericida apresentaram menor incidência da doença em frutos e maior proporção de frutos colhidos em relação a carga total da planta (colhidos + caídos). Dos modelos testados, o logístico foi o mais adequado para descrever o progresso temporal do cancro cítrico nos dois anos estudados para todos os tratamentos. Nas duas safras estudadas a proporção de frutos colhidos foi a variável que apresentou função de dano com maior coeficiente de determinação (R2) quando relacionada aos níveis de incidência e severidade de cancro cítrico observados. / Citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, is one of the most important diseases to citrus production. The effect of alternative measures of citrus canker control is very important to areas where plant eradication is the most important measure of control, as in Sao Paulo State, as well as to areas where eradication is not a major component of canker control, as in Parana State. This work aimed to study the progress of citrus canker in field conditions under chemical control, by using copper sprays; and cultural control, by using windbreak. Field plots were installed in a citrus orchard of ‘Pêra’ sweet orange located in Ourizona county, northwest of Parana State, Brazil. Information regarding the effect of each treatment alone or in combination was assessed. Whereas copper sprays showed significant effect on reducing citrus canker levels, windbreak did not contribute significantly to disease control. After 29 monthly assessments, plants submitted to copper sprays showed values of AUDPC* of citrus canker incidence near to 20 %. This disease level was 44 % lower than that observed to plants not protected with copper compound. The same pattern was observed to disease severity. After 18 monthly assessments, plants sprayed with copper showed values of AUDPC* of disease severity 37 % lower than that observed to plants of the check plots. In 2004, when the citrus canker level was higher, plants treated with copper yielded 54 % more than that not sprayed. In 2005, when the citrus canker level was lower, no significant difference was observed between treatments. In both seasons, plants sprayed with copper showed lower citrus canker incidence on fruits and higher rate of harvested fruits. Among the temporal models tested, the logistic was the most appropriate to describe citrus canker incidence over time in both years studied to all treatments. In both harvests the rate of harvested fruits was the variable that showed the higher coefficient of determination (R2) when related to citrus canker incidence and severity levels.

O cancro cítrico, causado pela bactéria Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, é uma das doenças mais importantes da citricultura. O estudo do efeito de medidas alternativas de controle para o manejo desta doença assume grande importância tanto para áreas citrícolas onde a erradicação de plantas não é a principal medida de controle do cancro cítrico, como no Estado do Paraná, como para regiões onde a prática da erradicação vem sendo adotada como principal medida de controle da doença, como no Estado de São Paulo. Instalado em pomar citrícola do município de Ourizona, na região Noroeste do Estado do Paraná, este trabalho buscou estudar o progresso dessa importante doença em campo sob condições de proteção química das plantas, utilizando produto cúprico; e cultural, por meio de quebra-vento. Além disso, importantes informações relacionadas ao efeito de cada tratamento sobre a produção das plantas de laranja ‘Pêra’ também foram obtidas. Enquanto a aplicação de cobre apresentou efeito significativo na redução dos níveis de cancro cítrico, o emprego de quebra-vento pouco ou nada contribuiu para o controle da doença. Após 29 avaliações mensais, plantas submetidas à aplicação de bactericida cúprico apresentaram valores médios de AUDPC* de incidência da doença nas folhas de cerca de 20 %, nível 44 % inferior ao observado para as plantas não protegidas quimicamente. O mesmo comportamento foi observado para a severidade da doença. Após 18 avaliações mensais foi possível observar que plantas submetidas à aplicação de produto cúprico apresentaram em média folhas com níveis de AUDPC* de severidade 37 % menores do que plantas não protegidas quimicamente. Em 2004, quando os níveis da doença foram relativamente elevados, plantas submetidas ao controle químico apresentaram produção 54 % superior àquelas não tratadas. Em 2005, quando os níveis de cancro foram menores, não foi observada diferença na produtividade entre os tratamentos. Nas duas safras, plantas tratadas com bactericida apresentaram menor incidência da doença em frutos e maior proporção de frutos colhidos em relação a carga total da planta (colhidos + caídos). Dos modelos testados, o logístico foi o mais adequado para descrever o progresso temporal do cancro cítrico nos dois anos estudados para todos os tratamentos. Nas duas safras estudadas a proporção de frutos colhidos foi a variável que apresentou função de dano com maior coeficiente de determinação (R2) quando relacionada aos níveis de incidência e severidade de cancro cítrico observados. / Citrus canker, caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri, is one of the most important diseases to citrus production. The effect of alternative measures of citrus canker control is very important to areas where plant eradication is the most important measure of control, as in Sao Paulo State, as well as to areas where eradication is not a major component of canker control, as in Parana State. This work aimed to study the progress of citrus canker in field conditions under chemical control, by using copper sprays; and cultural control, by using windbreak. Field plots were installed in a citrus orchard of ‘Pêra’ sweet orange located in Ourizona county, northwest of Parana State, Brazil. Information regarding the effect of each treatment alone or in combination was assessed. Whereas copper sprays showed significant effect on reducing citrus canker levels, windbreak did not contribute significantly to disease control. After 29 monthly assessments, plants submitted to copper sprays showed values of AUDPC* of citrus canker incidence near to 20 %. This disease level was 44 % lower than that observed to plants not protected with copper compound. The same pattern was observed to disease severity. After 18 monthly assessments, plants sprayed with copper showed values of AUDPC* of disease severity 37 % lower than that observed to plants of the check plots. In 2004, when the citrus canker level was higher, plants treated with copper yielded 54 % more than that not sprayed. In 2005, when the citrus canker level was lower, no significant difference was observed between treatments. In both seasons, plants sprayed with copper showed lower citrus canker incidence on fruits and higher rate of harvested fruits. Among the temporal models tested, the logistic was the most appropriate to describe citrus canker incidence over time in both years studied to all treatments. In both harvests the rate of harvested fruits was the variable that showed the higher coefficient of determination (R2) when related to citrus canker incidence and severity levels.