Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Letter To The Members Of Sge From Your New Editor, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Overview Of The Geology, Paleontology, And Geoscience Education Opportunities Of The University Of Tennessee At Martin Coon Creek Science Center For Visitors, Researchers, And Docents, Michael A. Gibson

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Coon Creek Formation is an internationally recognized Upper Cretaceous (Campanian, 76 million-years-old) marine clastic lagerstätten deposit with over 500 identified species of nearly perfectly preserved invertebrates, vertebrates, plants, and trace fossils with original shell geochemistry and paleoecological fidelity preserved. The type-locality and type-section, located in rural McNairy County, Tennessee, was preserved for research and education in 1988 when the Memphis Pink Palace Museum constructed a 232-acre geoscience education facility on the site, now run as the University of Tennessee at Martin Coon Creek Science Center. Visitors to the site participate in a wide variety of geoscience education programming and …

46th Biennial Convention Of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, University Of Tennessee At Martin, September 16-18, 2022, Richard L. Ford, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE), the national honorary society for the Earth sciences, held its 46th biennial convention (September 16-18, 2022) at satellite facilities of University of Tennessee at Martin (UT Martin) located in Selmer, Tennessee. The convention was hosted by SGE’s Eta Alpha Chapter and the Department of Agriculture, Geoscience, and Natural Resources at UT Martin. Ten (10) of SGE’s approximately 60 active chapters sent delegates to the convention. The traditional convention field trip, an outing to UT Martin’s Coon Creek Science Center, focused on collecting and preparing marine fossils from the Upper Cretaceous Coon Creek Formation. …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2022, Denver, Colorado, Usa, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon sponsors an annual poster session at every Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 2022 Sigma Gamma Epsilon undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2022 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA, on Monday, October 10, 2022. Ten (10) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall F at the Colorado Convention Center between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM at the poster session. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are listed in this report.

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Chapter And Student Awards For Academic Year 2022-2023, Lee S. Potter

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon (SGE) encourages efforts to broaden the education and impact of its members through community outreach. In academic year 2022-2023, four awards were given at the chapter level: The Chapter Service Award to the Gamma Chi Chapter; and the James C. Walters Quality Chapter Award to the Gamma Sigma, Gamma Chi, and Epsilon Omega Chapters. Individual merit was recognized through the W. A. Tarr awards given to twenty-two members by their respective chapters. Two awards, the Austin A. Sartin and Charles J. Mankin Outstanding Poster Awards, were given to four students for merit in scientific …

Review Of Agricultural Biomass Burning And Its Impact On Air Quality In The Continental United States Of America, Sai Deepak Pinakana, Amit U. Raysoni, Alqamah Sayeed, Juan L. Gonzalez, Owen Temby, Dawid K. Wladyka, Katarzyna Sepielak

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Burning is a common method to dispose agricultural biomass residue. This practice is widely used by farmers during pre- and post-harvest seasons for crops such as wheat, rice, grass seed, soy, cotton, sugarcane, and corn. Farmers choose this method because it is cost and time effective. These burning activities emit several types of pollutants into the atmosphere, including CH4, SOx, NOx, CO, CO2, and particulate matter of different sizes (i.e., PM1, PM2.5 and PM10). Globally, the United States of America ranks third, preceded by China and India, in greenhouse gas emissions due to agricultural burning activities. According to the 2020 …

Drone-Based Airborne Vlf-Em In Detecting Groundwater Contamination Due To Landfill Leachate, Chanho Park, Mine Dogan

Waldo Library Student Exhibits

Modern landfills follow a strict state and federal regulation on their location, design, operation and monitoring practices. One of the key focus in the regulations is in terms of leachate. While the exact composition of the leachates depends on various factors such as waste composition and degradation processes, in general they contain groups of dissolved organic matter, inorganic cations and heavy metals.

Very Low Frequency-Electromagnetic (VLF-EM) has been widely used for delineating leachate plume direction and boundaries. Previous studies using VLF-EM were carried out as on-ground measurements due to limitations in technologies. With the advancements in Unmanned Airborne Systems (UAS), …

Arkansas Corn And Grain Sorghum Research Studies 2023, Jason Kelley, Travis Faske

Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Series

e 2023 edition of the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Research Studies Series includes research results on topics pertaining to corn and grain sorghum production, including weed, disease, and insect management; economics; irrigation; agronomics; soil fertility; mycotoxins; cover crop management; and research verification program results. Our objective is to capture and broadly distribute the results of research projects funded by the Arkansas Corn and Grain Sorghum Board. The intended audience includes producers and their advisors, current investigators, and future researchers. The Series serves as a citable archive of research results.

Urban Soil Compaction Remediation By Shallow Tillage And Compost In Hydroseeded Lawn, James Jihoon Kang, Adam Flores, Engil Isadora Pujol Pereira, Jungseok Ho

School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Construction activities often involve removal of topsoil and compaction of the exposed soil by heavy equipments. Such compacted soils with low organic matter can lead to low infiltration and poor vegetation establishment. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of tillage (shallow till) and compost on soil physical and biological properties in a hydroseeded lawn as a post-construction best management practice for soil compaction remediation. The experimental site received a total of four land treatments in five replicated trials and it was hydroseeded with common Bermuda grass: 1) No Tillage + Compost (NT-C), 2) No Tillage + …

Fluvial Channel Path Evolution – Documenting Decades Of Change Along The Little Wabash River, East Central Illinois, Usa, Diane M. Burns, David Viertel, Kwang Il Yoo

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

As highly dynamic landforms, rivers etch their channels into the surrounding and underlying strata over time, continuously reshaping the landscapes they traverse. This study examines geomorphological changes of the Little Wabash River in East Central Illinois between 1938 and 2011. The Little Wabash River is a meandering river sourced in southwestern Coles County, Illinois, and flows southward approximately 390 km to its confluence with the Wabash River. The historical location of the Little Wabash River was delineated to establish a baseline survey using archival aerial photography acquired in 1938. To understand how the channel evolved, investigations were conducted in each …

The Compass - Volume 93 Issue 1 - Complete Issue, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

The Potential Impact Of Endangered Species Legislation On Federal Grazing Lands And The Livestock Industry, G M. Luciuk, B Bristol, T W. Weins, D M. Boyle

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Crown based grazing is an integral part of the management structure of cattle operations, and is very important to the economic fabric of rural communities. Federal crown lands, such as the PFRA operated community pastures are an integral part of the resource conservation efforts in western Canada. These lands represent a significant reservoir of the remaining natural lands which are important for wildlife habitat. Sustainable management of such contiguous blocks of land is essential for the maintenance of biodiversity. Proposed endangered species legislation would require the development of recovery plans on federal lands for endangered, threatened and extirpated species. Rural …

Concepts For Mining Landscape Development In Eastern Germany With Grazing Animals And Agroforestry, S Eichler, F Herzog

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Leipzig South (Saxony) has been heavily transformed by open cast lignite mining. Alternative forms of land use are sought which contribute to an increase of biodiversity and an improvement of soil quality. This could be achieved by the selective introduction of grazing animals and perennials. Specific scenarios for open pits, dumping areas, open pits’ slopes and land reclaimed for agriculture are proposed. Socio-economic drawbacks are outlined.

The Use Of Grasslands To Improve Water Quality In The New York City Watershed, D J. Flaherty, J Drelich Jr

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how grasslands are used in the New York City (NYC) Watershed to improve water quality. A Watershed Agricultural Program was established to voluntarily implement Pollution Prevention Best Management Practices on watershed farms. Grasslands have been used in Whole Farm Plans to reduce nutrients, sediments and other toxic materials reaching New York City’s water supply. Rotational grazing has been used to limit access to streams and stream banks and improve nutrient distribution on pastures. Improved grassland management also helps correct the nutrient balance on the farm and facilitates better nutrient management. Brush removal …

Objective Indicators For Monitoring Drought In Grasslands, D H. White, S M. Howden

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Australia’s National Drought Policy was ratified by the Commonwealth (Federal), State and Territory governments in 1992. However, a sequence of El Niño-based events that started in Queensland in 1991 culminated in much of Australia experiencing abnormally low rainfall throughout 1994 and into 1995. Many farmers experienced substantial loss of income. The Commonwealth government therefore devised measures to determine which areas had been exposed to exceptional drought so that financial assistance could be directed as effectively as possible. In this paper we discuss progress in developing regionally-sensitive indicators and methodologies to aid in future assessments of drought exceptional circumstances.

Are We Ignoring Science In Our Quest For Simplicity In Range Management?, W A. Laycock

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Accurate determination of range condition and trend is essential for proper range management. In the United States, the range condition model currently used is not based on up-to-date ecological knowledge. It assumes a single stable state (climax) and linear pathways. Multiple stable state models more accurately depict community dynamics but have not been widely accepted. U.S. Federal land management agencies are using surrogates, such as qualitative “instant trend” measures and substitution of utilization for measured condition and trend to guide management. Most of these short cuts are not based on science. Attacks on livestock grazing by environmentalists are based on …

Socio-Economic And Climate Change In Mongolia - Effects On Grassland Ecosystems, C Opp

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In Mongolia, in combination with strong changes of the whole society during the past 76 years, from the feudal system to socialism and from the socialist system of planned development to the market economy, there are a lot of changes in the use of natural resources all over the country. In consequence of this a lot of effects on grassland ecosystems, caused by socio-economic and climate driving factors, were observed and studied in different scales: zonal, regional, local.

Integrating Biophysical And Economic Models For Assessing Impacts Of Change On Grazingland Ecosystems, J De Souza Neto, J R. Conner, J W. Stuth, W T. Hamilton, J W. Richardson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

PHYGROW, a hydrologic-based forage simulation model, was parameterized to represent a typical South Texas ranch engaged in the production of cattle and meat goats with an indigenous population of white-tailed deer. Forage production and associated stocking rates for two cattle: goat ratios were simulated for 20 years. Two, ten-year weather scenarios, one representing normal conditions (30% drought years) and one representing dryer weather conditions (50% drought years) were analyzed. Management decision rules were developed for the region to produce estimates of annual animal production and operating cost for the enterprises in each of the four scenarios. These performance and cost …

Linear And Community-Based Processes Of Ethical Decision Making For Grassland Workers, Gary W. Fick

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grasslands are basic elements in sustainable development, but few grassland workers are familiar with concepts of ethical decision making useful in integrating ecological, economic, and sociological components of sustainability. Most published procedures for ethical decision making are based on linear models for individualized social systems with modern technologies. In the context of sustainable agriculture, nonlinear community-based procedures may be more appropriate. In this paper, a nonlinear model from the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Indians is compared to more conventional linear procedures. After identification of a problem, linear models often leave the solution of the ethical dilemma (ranking ethical goals when they conflict) …

Policy Options For Decreasing N And P2o5 Losses From Grassland Based Dairy Farms, P.B M. Berentsen, G.W J. Giesen

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Policy instruments for reducing nutrient losses include extension and education, research, financial incentives such as subsidies and levies, and regulations. The potential of these instruments for reducing nitrogen (N), phosphate (P2O5), and ammonia (NH3) losses is examined for Dutch specialized dairy farms on sandy soils. A linear programming model is used to estimate policy impacts. Results indicate that efficiency improvements through extension, education, and research alone have the potential to decrease total N losses to government target levels in 2005 and to erase 92% of the gap between base and target P2O5 losses, but only 24% of the corresponding NH3 …

Production V Conservation: A Policy Dilemma In The Tree Clearing Debate In Queensland, Australia, J C. Scanlan, E J. Turner

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A process for developing policy for tree clearing that meets the competing goals of conservation and production has been followed. There were two levels at which policy was developed. An overall Statewide policy outlined general targets to meet commitments of the Queensland Government. Local guidelines were developed by a large number of groups containing representatives of government and interested conservation movement and industry representatives. The policy and the local guidelines are an important part of the process used to assess applications for permits to clear woody vegetation.

Forage Production And Performance Of Beef Yearlings Grazing Diploid And Tetraploid Crested Wheatgrass, J D. Bruynooghe, R.D H. Cohen, N W. Holt, P G. Jefferson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A series of experiments were conducted during 1994 and 1995 at Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada to evaluate forage production and animal performance on tetraploid Kirk (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) and diploid Fairway (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) crested wheatgrass pastures under grazing conditions imposed by beef (Bos taurus) yearling steers at four stock density levels (3, 4, 6 and 8 steers ha-1). Total ungrazed forage production for Kirk was greater (<0.05) than Fairway (6302 kg ha-1 vs. 5235 kg ha-1) in 1994 but less (P<0.05) than Fairway in 1995 (3709 kg ha-1 vs. 4633 kg ha-1). Animal performance (average daily gain, animal grazing days and total animal production) did not differ (P>0.05) for steers grazing either Kirk or Fairway pastures. Plant vigour and available energy reserves following one season of grazing were evaluated through etiolated growth with …

Vertical Distribution In Grass Swards: Interactions Between Dry Matter And Nutritional Quality, D R. Buckmaster, R H. Mohtar, S L. Fales

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A field experiment was conducted to study the distribution of mass and quality over plant height throughout the growing season in a pure stand of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.). When plant density (expressed as kg DM/ha per cm height) is plotted against a height of strata, all treatments show a similar linear shape distribution. ADF and NDF concentrations declined with sward height. Fall treatments had lower ADF and NDF concentrations than summer treatments. Conversely, CP concentrations showed an increase with plant height. Fall treatments showed higher CP than spring and summer treatments. Defoliation management did not affect orchardgrass quality. …

Application Of The Phygrow Forage Production- Runoff Model For Regional Stocking Analysis, J W. Stuth, J R. Conner, W T. Hamilton, D M. Schmitt

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

A hydrologic-based forage production model, PHYGROW, was used to simulate forage production and carrying capacity of a subtropical shrubland complex of over 34 species grazed by various ratios of cattle and goats with a population of indigenous white-tailed deer over a 20-yr simulated weather profile. The diet selection algorithm allowed the three animal populations to selectively graze preferred foods based on preferences of plant species, plant parts, and live:dead status by phenological stage. A level of maximum utilization of key species was specified. An incremental analysis of cattle:goat demand ratio was analyzed to determine how different combinations of livestock were …

Using Nested Paddocks To Study Multiple-Paddock Grazing Systems, B E. Anderson, W W. Stroup, W H. Schacht

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

There is insufficient information to guide development of multiple paddock grazing systems. Measuring vegetation responses to grazing period/recovery period intervals is prohibitively expensive when using most grazing research designs. Nested paddock designs reduce land area, number of herds, and number of paddocks needed for comparisons. Nested paddocks permit comparisons of animal performance among whole pasture treatments but comparisons are limited for animal performance differences among grazing/recovery period lengths. Nonetheless, nested paddock designs efficiently document vegetation responses to grazing intervals, which may permit predictions of animal performance.

Relationship Between Broadleaf Dock (Rumex Obtusifolius L.) And Seasonal Yield Of Orchardgrass Grazed Pasture, Y Iijima, Y Kurokawa, T Monya, Y Suzuki

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In order to grasp the ecology of R. obtusifolius and the effects of it on seasonal yield of grass in grazing pasture, we investigated seasonal sward characteristics and dry matter yield in grazing pasture. Dry matter yield and coverage of R. obtusifolius predominated those of grass after mid-June and mid-August, respectively. Throughout the year the coverage of R. obtusifolius negatively correlated to the grass yield. After August, the grass yield was negatively related to the yield and the population density of R. obtusifolius. From the facts described above, R. obtusifolius seems to reduce grass yield throughout the year, especially …

The Influence Of Light On The Succession Of Calcareous Grassland Using A Gis As An Instrument For Analysis, G Spatz, Th Fricke

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The change of light transmission along a gradient from shrub center to open grassland and its correlation to vegetation composition has been studied in two shrub surroundings on abandoned calcareous grassland. Light measurements were made at soil surface locations in high density and later interpolated to area maps. Low-growing plants were mapped in plots within the shrub area and their shapes subsequently digitized. Using SPANS GIS an overlay of maps representing light transmission, distance to shrub center and apearance of low-growing plants was made by calculating averages in a specified grid to create data sets for a statistical evaluation. The …

The Grazing Manager: A New Application Of The Carrying Capacity Concept, M M. Kothmann, R T. Hinnant

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Common approaches to evaluating carrying capacity are stocking rate trials for research and trial and error adjustments for ranchers. These approaches are inadequate as operational decision guides for grazing management. The Grazing Manager (TGM) is a generalized management level dynamic model that provides a new approach to stocking rate analysis. Grazing pressure is integrated over time with a function called pasture demand ratio (PDR) which is based on cumulative forage demand relative to cumulative forage production within a forage year. PDR is a dynamic variable that standardizes the forage balance relationship and makes the analysis of stocking rate data more …

Accounting For Selective Grazing In The Stocking Rate Decision, M F. Quirk, J W. Stuth

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

We describe the development and use of a simple, generic method for predicting botanical composition of herbivore diets, thereby allowing resource managers to consider selective foraging when setting stocking rates. For a particular season and herbivore, we found that forage species fall into one of 3 selection categories: preferred (consistently selected for), undesirable (consistently selected against), and variable (inconsistent selection pattern). Our studies showed that, for most situations, dietary composition is adequately predicted from regression relationships with the field proportions of preferred and undesirable species. We demonstrate how this method can help address issues such as the conservation of preferred …

Productivity And Genotypic Diversity Of Trifolium Ambiguum In The Central Caucasian Mountains, Georgia, R G. Patterson, P R. Espie

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Trifolium ambiguum occurred in12 diverse grassland communities, ranging from 1700 m to 2850 m, in the Kasbegi region, Central Caucasus. Total herbage mass in mid summer ranged from 310 to 763 g/m2with T. ambiguum composition ranging from 0.5 to 51%. Maximum T. ambiguum production occurred in fertile, regularly mown hay meadows, but was reduced in severely grazed pastures. It has persisted in these communities after centuries of grazing or cutting, without fertiliser input. T. ambiguum ploidy levels were predominantly diploid (82% frequency of occurrence), often in conjunction with triploid (18%) or tetraploid (27%) genotypes. The triploid T. ambiguum genotype ( …