Some soils set to a hard structureless mass on drying and this behaviour may limit crop productivity. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which soil management and soil properties influence hard-setting behaviour in order to identify those soil properties which…
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Part I of this thesis is a critical review of the literature on the contents, availability and factors that individually and/or severally influence mineralization of organic N, P and S in soils. The review also pinpointed the importance of mineralized portions of these plant nut…
The increasing energy demand and focus on energy independence of most countries in the world has motivated scientists to find alternative renewable energy sources to fossil fuel. In this connection, biofuel from biomass has been identified to have several benefits including grea…
PART I: Renewable energy is a promising alternative to fossil fuel-based energy, but its development can require a complex set of environmental tradeoffs. A recent increase in solar energy systems, especially large, centralized installations, underscores the urgency of understan…
Phosphorus (P) and zinc (Zn) deficiencies are common in calcareous soils. Calcareous soils make up some of the most productive agricultural lands in the Mandozai district of the Khost province in southeastern Afghanistan and little is known about the phosphorus and zinc fertilit…
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)/perennial bunchgrass hay is grown on marginal soils in the Central High Plains. This region has recently been experiencing frequent droughts. Information on the effects of variation in precipitation on soil nitrogen (N) cycling, greenhouse gas (GHG) …
Legumes associate with soil-dwelling nitrogen fixing rhizobia bacteria, and through this relationship can maintain and increase soil fertility while improving human nutrition, an important function in low-resourced nations such as Malawi. Increasing legume production requires th…
Past research has demonstrated that raw animal manure application may increase soil test phosphorus (STP) differently than inorganic fertilizer. However, the exact mechanisms controlling the increase in STP when manure is applied are still poorly understood. Minimal research has…
For many years, the Casamance was a self-sufficient region. Recently, this region has experienced food deficits because of the persistent drought. Given the shortage of rainfall over the last several years and the increasing accumulation of salt, the number of abandoned mangrove…
Soils forming on or associated with limestone can be derived from the concentration of non-carbonate impurities and wind (eolian) and water transported materials. The objectives of this investigation were to: (1) study the chemical, physical, and mineralogical properties of red …
Soil phosphate is essential for the development and maturity of crops. Plants absorb phosphate from the soil solution which is continuously replenished by fertilizer application and/or desorption from the soil solid phase. Anion exchange membranes (AEMs), act in a similar way to…
Increased climate variability, rising costs of chemical inputs and marginally productive soils have recently become a challenge for dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) farmers who mainly rely on tillage management. Conventional (CT) and organic or chemical-free (CF) farm…
Throughout the world, large populations directly depend on the food, fuel and fiber produced by agroecosystems. These agricultural systems must be resilient to both increasing population pressures and changing environmental conditions. In many cases these systems are rainfed and…
Cover crops improve soil aggregate stability, increase water infiltration, and legume cover crops also fix nitrogen and scavenge nutrients that are subject to leaching. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted in Indiana to measure growth of different cover crops and thei…
Mangrove forests are national treasures of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and other arid countries with limited forested areas. Mangroves form a crucial part of the coastal ecosystem and provide numerous benefits to society, economy, and especially the environment. Mangrove tree…
Field studies were established at two locations (Lingle and Laramie, Wyoming) with two planting (fall and spring) seasons with five specific objectives: 1) to compare forage yield, forage quality, and stand persistence of different grass-legume mixtures; 2) to identify the optim…