A5068243055- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Agroforestry and silvopastoral systems
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Forest Biomass Utilization and Management
- Plant and fungal interactions
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Forest ecology and management
- Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Forest Management and Policy
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Botanical Research and Chemistry
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Cassava research and cyanide
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Agriculture and Rural Development Research
- Seedling growth and survival studies
- Tree Root and Stability Studies
- Plant Toxicity and Pharmacological Properties
- Molecular Biology Techniques and Applications
Virginia Tech
2016-2025
Virginia Cooperative Extension
2023
University of California, San Francisco
2014
Virginia–Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine
2004
University of Florida
2003
Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.)—a perennial, warm-season (C4) species—evolved across North America into multiple, divergent populations. The resulting natural variation within the species presents considerable morphological diversity and a wide range of adaptation. was adopted as crop—initially forage—only in last 50 yr. Its potential uses have recently been expanded to include biofuels. Management switchgrass for biofuels is informed by an understanding plant's biology. Successful...
Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) has been a species of value to humans for much our history given its broad adaptation and multiple uses. The plant is thought have originated in Eurasia but carried the rest world, largely use as fiber crop. Declining needs competition from other sources began reduce demands hemp. In turn, concern over psychotropically potent forms hemp (i.e., marijuana) would lead crop's effective prohibition during 20th century. Growing recognition many uses beyond traditional...
The global human population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, increasing the demand for food and fiber, but also raising concerns about environmental impact of agricultural production scaled meet their needs. Silvopastures—integrated tree–forage–livestock systems—have emerged as a viable practice required productivity stewardship outcomes. This review consolidates extensive research on silvopasture practices in United States highlights benefits these systems. A comprehensive...
Tasco-Forage an extract from the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum, has increased antioxidant activity in both plants and animals. Turf forage grasses exhibited amounts of α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, β-carotene, activities superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase response to exogenous application Tasco. Endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum [(Morgan-Jones Gams) Glenn, Bacon, Hanlin]-infected tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) can increase oxidative stress....
Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) is a known source of plant growth regulators, and application to turfgrasses has increased activity the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) specific vitamin precursors. Increased in both plants animals diminishes oxidative stress. Two pasture experiments investigated effects Tasco-Forage (a proprietary seaweed-based product) applied tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) on ruminants that grazed forage. In Exp. 1, was 70 100% infected with endophyte fungus...
Quantifying DMI is necessary for estimation of nutrient consumption by ruminants, but it inherently difficult on grazed pastures and even more so when supplements are fed. Our objectives were to compare three methods estimating forage (inference from animal performance, evaluation fecal output using a pulse-dose marker, herbage disappearance methods) identify the most useful approach or combination approaches pasture intake lactating dairy cows. During continuous 28-d periods in winter...
Abstract Current knowledge of yield potential and best agronomic management practices for perennial bioenergy grasses is primarily derived from small‐scale short‐term studies, yet these studies inform policy at the national scale. In an effort to learn more about how perform across multiple locations years, U.S. Department Energy ( US DOE )/Sun Grant Initiative Regional Feedstock Partnership was initiated in 2008. The objectives were (1) provide a wide range information feedstock selection...
The Regional Feedstock Partnership is a collaborative effort between the Sun Grant Initiative (through Land Universities), US Department of Energy, and Agriculture. One segment this partnership field-scale evaluation switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in diverse sites across USA. Switchgrass was planted (11.2 kg PLS ha−1) replicated plots New York, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Virginia 2008 Iowa 2009. Adapted cultivars were selected for each location baseline soil samples collected before...
Abstract Switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) has been the principal perennial herbaceous crop investigated for bioenergy production in North America given its high potential, relatively low input requirements, and potential suitability use on marginal lands. Few large trials have determined switchgrass yields at field scale lands, including analysis of costs. Thus, a field‐scale study was conducted to develop realistic yield cost estimates diverse regions USA . Objectives included measuring...
Abstract Industrial hemp ( Cannabis sativa L.) is an ancient crop used throughout history for fiber, oilseed, and therapeutic compounds. Hemp varieties were cultivated across diverse environments in the United States, but knowledge of those agronomic practices along with genetic resources was lost during a period which cultivation cannabis prohibited. Therefore, regional performance evaluations coupled scientific communication outcomes to public are crucial hemp's development as agricultural...
Condensed tannins (CTs) in certain leguminous forages can mitigate toxic alkaloid absorption linked to fescue toxicosis due their high affinity towards various steroidal and protein-like alkaloids. However, use as feed supplements remains underexplored. This study evaluated the impact of CT-rich sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) pellets on post-ingestive effects toxicosis. Twelve steers wild-type endophyte-infected tall pastures received either (LES) or LES with polyethylene glycol...
Summary Twenty‐seven wether lambs were utilized to evaluate select innate immunity and oxidative stress in response diet heat stress. Dietary treatments were: (i) control (tall fescue) hay = no Tasco TM (tradename for the extract of brown seaweed, Ascophyllum nodosum , Acadian Sealants Ltd, Nova Scotia, Canada); (ii) pre‐harvest Tasco‐Forage‐treated (iii) + post‐harvest Tasco‐EX. Tasco‐Forage Tasco‐EX are two forms that either applied foliage or used direct feeding, respectively. All...
Tree inventories are a cornerstone of forest science and management. Inventories essential for quantifying growth rates, determining biomass carbon stock variation, assessing species diversity, evaluating the impacts both management climate change. Recent advances in digital sensing technologies on mobile phones have potential to improve traditional through increased efficiency measurement transcription potentially increasing participation data collection by non-experts. However, degree...
Core Ideas Nitrogen rate did not affect soil properties for Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Virginia. Landscape position affected under higher slope. root N, surface area, weight the total profile. C N. Switchgrass roots can increase accumulation reduce risk of N loss in soils. ABSTRACT ( Panicum virgatum L.) has been recognized as a potential bioenergy feedstock, positively impact soils environment. The experimental sites were established 2008 at three locations with each Oklahoma (OK), Dakota...
Despite high volumes of manure production in the Shenandoah Valley Virginia, there are still areas forage that nutrient deficient because manures have traditionally been applied to higher‐value row crops. This study was conducted compare effects poultry litter and inorganic fertilizers on soil fertility production. Two sites had same treatments for two consecutive years: (1) split application (half spring half summer); (2) fertilizer at N, P, K rates as Treatment 1; (3) single litter; (4) 3;...
Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from crop residue management have been studied extensively, yet the effects of harvesting more than one in a rotation not reported. Here, we measured short-term changes methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2) response to removal continuous corn (Zea mays L.) (CC) corn–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) (CWS) rotations Mid-Atlantic USA. A first experiment retained five stover rates (0, 3.33, 6.66, 10, 20 Mg ha−1)...