University of Nebraska–Lincoln agronomy graduate students Leonardo Bastos, Madhav Bhatta, Joel Crowther, Manbir Kaur Rakkar and Michael Sindelar, took top honors at the 2016 American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America International Annual Meeting competitions held Nov. 6–9 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Bastos also took top honors at the 46th Annual North Central Extension Industry Soil Fertility Conference in Des Moines, Iowa on Nov. 2.
Bastos won the 2016 Outstanding Graduate Student Award in Des Moines. He is a doctoral student advised by Richard Ferguson.
He also won first place for his poster presentation at both the Des Moines meeting and in the ASA Agronomic Production Systems division in Phoenix. His poster title was “Can Unmanned Aerial System-mounted Passive Sensors be used to Recommend Sidedress Nitrogen Rates in Corn? A Comparison between Active and Passive Sensors.”
The objectives of Bastos’ research are to assess the correlation between active and passive crop canopy sensors’ vegetation indices at different corn growth stages and to assess sidedress variable rate nitrogen recommendation accuracy of active and passive sensors compared to the agronomic optimum nitrogen rate. This study is comprised of six site-years, being conducted in 2015 and 2016 on the different soil types of silt loam, loam and sandy loam and with a range of preplant nitrogen rates.
Bhatta, Crowther, Rakkar and Sindelar won the following awards at the Phoenix meeting.
Second place in the Crop Breeding and Genetics division graduate student poster competition went to Bhatta. He is a doctoral student in the plant breeding and genetics program advised by P. Stephen Baenziger.
Bhatta’s poster title was “Broadening the Genetic Base of Wheat Using Primary Hexaploid Synthetics.” He discussed how wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement from intercrosses of existing elite materials has narrowed the genetic diversity of the crop resulting in a slower genetic gain. The potential use of synthetic hexaploid wheat to enhance breeding outcomes is well known. However, the success of synthetic hexaploid wheat utilization in breeding could have been much higher if they were guided by the knowledge of genes controlling biotic stresses such as disease and abiotic stresses such as drought and cold.
Bhatta’s research focuses on identification of genes controlling resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses using primary synthetic hexaploid wheat.
Crowther, a master’s degree student advised by Tim Shaver and Joe Luck, received third place in the ASA Agronomic Production Systems division poster presentation competition.
Crowther’s poster title was “Integrating Management Zones and Canopy Sensors to Improve Nitrogen Recommendation Algorithms.” He explained how active canopy sensors are one tool for directing spatially variable nitrogen applications in maize, with the goal of improving nitrogen use efficiency. However, nitrogen recommendation algorithms can be inaccurate in subfield regions due to local spatial variability. Modifying these algorithms by integrating soil-based management zones may improve their accuracy by allowing the sensors to accommodate the entire spectrum of field conditions.
Crowther’s research focus is on using soil properties to improve current nitrogen recommendation algorithms for irrigated corn.
Rakkar placed first in the graduate student oral competition held by the SSSA Soil and Water Management and Conservation division. She is a doctoral student specializing in water and soil science and advised by Blanco.
“Impacts of Cattle Grazing of Corn Residues on Soil Properties after 16 Years” was the title of Rakkar’s presentation. She discussed how cattle grazing of corn residue showed a positive impact on certain soil nutrients and microbial communities. The cumulative impact of 16 years of cattle grazing on soil compaction was not high enough to cause any negative impact on crop yields. This study suggested that cattle grazing of corn residues at recommended stocking rates can act as a beneficial practice in an irrigated no-till corn-soybean system in the Midwest.
The implications on soil ecosystem services by cattle grazing and baling of corn residues across the precipitation gradient in Nebraska is the focus of Rakkar’s research.
Sindelar, a master’s student, placed third in the both the student five-minute rapid presentation and the poster presentation competitions in the SSSA Soil Physics and Hydrology division.
Sindelar’s presentations were titled “Changes in Soil Thermal Properties Under Corn Stover Removal and Cover Crops.”
He discussed the affect corn stover removal had on soil thermal conductivity and soil specific heat capacity in both presentations. The poster presentation also explored the effect corn stover removal had on soil specific heat capacity and soil thermal conductive through the growing season, at field capacity (-.033MPa) and permanent wilting point (-1.5MPa), and the correlation between volumetric water content and soil thermal conductivity. Cover crop was found not to have a significant effect on soil thermal conductivity or specific heat capacity at this time.
Sindelar’s research focus is on how soil thermal and hydraulic properties are affected by cover crop use and corn stover management. He is advised by Humberto Blanco.
More details at: http://agronomy.unl.edu/news/graduate-students-take-top-honors-annual-meetings