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2004-05 Ecology
Initiative Grants |
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The following projects are the result of a
November 2003 request for proposals issued by the Center’s
Ecology Initiative. More than 40 submissions were evaluated in a competitive process that included external reviewers and members of the Leopold Center’s advisory board.
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Assessment of triticale varieties for
swine feeding performance and tolerance to late planting,
year 1 of 2, $12,219, L. Gibson, J.L. Jannick, and M.
Honeyman, ISU Agronomy and ISU Research Farms (2004-E27)
Two winter and two summer triticale feeding trials will
be conducted to evaluate pig performance (hooped
housing). Investigators have seen both economic and
environmental advantage from growing triticale in Iowa,
but lack information on feeding performance.
Summary
of research findings [PDF]
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Developing ecologically sound and
profitable fertilizer and manure phosphorus management
strategies, year 1 of 3, $27,500, A.P. Mallarino,
ISU Agronomy (2004-E29) Evaluate long-term impacts of a
strictly response-based, low input phosphorus fertilizer
management program for corn and soybean; assess early
plant availability of poultry manure phosphorus; and use
the Iowa P-Index to estimate field phosphorus loss under
alternative phosphorus management practices. The project
investigator will use this data to develop improved
management guidelines for phosphorus.
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Developing potatoes with horizontal
resistance to the Colorado potato beetle, year 1 of
3, $7,233, D.G. Fisher, Maharishi University of
Management (2004-E36) Continue ongoing research to
develop potatoes with horizontal resistance to the
Colorado potato beetle. The investigator theorizes that
a process of recurrent mass selection can be used to
accumulate resistance while preserving high yield.
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Economically optimal enterprise mix
for Iowa farms, year 1 of 1 (begins Dec. 2004),
$15,000, J.D. Lawrence, ISU Economics (2004-E1) Develop
a computer model to incorporate price and production
risk for alternative crop and livestock enterprise when
a certain set of farm constraints (labor, capital,
solvency, land characteristics) are 'imposed' on Iowa
family-sized farms with and without government programs.
The model should be useful in evaluating the strengths
and weaknesses of diversified farming operations under
different economic and resource conditions.
Summary of research findings [PDF]
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Establishment of a field school for
weed ecology and management, year 1 of 3, $34,350,
M. Liebman and R.G. Hartzler, ISU Agronomy (2004-E6)
Collect data for weeds and pests for both large and
small field plots in two-, three- and four-year
rotations and organize an interactive
farmer-practitioner focused field school that targets
weed ecology and management, with an emphasis on
decision-making skills and capacities and easily
adaptable, broadly applicable techniques and models.
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Grapes, pheasant, sweet corn
education outreach effort, year 1 of 1, $2,100, J.
Kuntz and M. Moore, Mahaska County Agriculture and Rural
Development (MCARD) (2004-E19) Provide documentation and
outreach materials for a three-year demonstration
project where ducks, pheasants, and sweet corn have been
integrated into vineyard establishment.
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Integrating hunting and grazing --
Loess Hills and south central Iowa on-farm management
experiences, year 1 of 1, $12,833, J.L. Pease, A.L.
Major, ISU Natural Resource Ecology and Management
(2004-E43) Four landowners are cooperating in this
on-farm work to measure activities of 13 target species
of birds in rotationally grazed warm and cool season
grass pastures. The investigators are collecting
real-life data in an attempt to validate prior
experimental work on managing forages to benefit both
livestock and wildlife.
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Integration of natural seed
treatments in organic and open-pollinated corn systems,
year 1 of 2, $25,000, S. Goggi and K. Delate, ISU Seed
Science Center and ISU Horticulture/Agronomy (2004-E28)
Screen plant essential oils for antimicrobial properties
for seed and soil-borne corn pathogens, and establish
trials to test the efficacy of identified natural seed
treatments. Investigators hope to find effective
biological seed treatments for alternative cropping
systems (specifically those with sustainable, organic
and open-pollinated corn).
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Iowa pawpaw trial maintenance,
year 1 of 3, $1,750, P. O'Malley, ISU Extension
(2004-E23) In 1999 and 2000, plantings were established
near Columbus Junction and Nashua to assess viability of
pawpaws for upper Midwest production. This project will
provide production maintenance and record keeping for
previously established Iowa pawpaw trials, and begin
fruit evaluation phase of the trials.
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Quantifying the role of riparian
management to control nonpoint source pollution of
pasture and cropland streams, year 1 of 3, $113,276,
J. Russell and R.C. Schultz, ISU Animal Science and
Natural Resource Ecology and Management (2004-E24)
Comprehensively study, both on-farm and on research
farms, the sediment and phosphorus losses for a number
of management variations on cattle grazing systems in
and around riparian areas. The investigators are
refining ongoing research to get better data on
phosphorus movement as associated with pastures and
grazing systems.
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Forage double-cropping demonstration,
year 1 of 3, $5,000, I. Lamb, S. Barnhart, M. Honeyman,
Iowa Native Lands, ISU Agronomy and Agricultural
Research Farms (2004-E39) Research plots of cool season
legume crops (alfalfa and medium red clover) will be
interseeded with warm season native prairie species to
collect management and forage quality evaluation data.
The investigators are looking for forage alternatives
with improved diversity that require fewer management
inputs and still retain high-quality performance.
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EcoFair, (work completed) $2,750,
Maharishi University of Management (2004-E40) This grant
provided speaker fees and travel expenses for Chris
Maser, who presented a keynote address at the annual
eco-fair. His presentation employed a discussion of
forest ecology and history as a metaphor for
understanding the role and design of the human community
and the individuals that comprise it.
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Survey of mycorrhizal symbioses at
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, year 1 of 2,
$20,000, I. Lamb, P. Drobney, L. Tiffany, Iowa Native
Lands, Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge, and ISU Department of
Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology (2004-E18)
Conduct a preliminary survey of mycorrhizal (root
fungus) associations in remnant and reconstructed
prairies at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge to
establish baseline data and experimental protocols for
future investigation of this biological component of the
soil. The symbiotic relationships between plants, soil
and fungi and their contributions to plant and soil
vitality are poorly understood, and investigators offer
this as a starting point for understanding soil
functionality in perennial plant systems.
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The role of herbaceous woodland
perennial diversity for improving nutrient uptake
capacity of riparian areas, 1 year, $18,000, C.
Mabry McMullen and J.R. Thompson, ISU Natural Resource
Ecology and Management (2004-E4) Quantify the nutrient
uptake capacity of understory perennial herbaceous
plants and compare nutrient uptake capacity of
well-established understory to that of degraded woodland
understory. The absence of herbaceous spring perennials
in the grazed majority of Iowa riparian forests has been
associated with nutrient loss, and investigators believe
that nutrient retention could be significantly enhanced
by native herbaceous perennials.
Summary of research findings [PDF]
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Using the past to plan the future:
Retrospective assessment of landscape and land use
change in Clear Creek Watershed, year 1 of 1,
$12,998, L.A. Schulte, A. Rayburn, and L. Merrick, ISU
Natural Resource Ecology and Management, (2004-E08)
Investigate landscape and land use change in Clear Creek
watershed at four time periods using three ecological
and social measures: land cover, stream sinuosity, and
housing density. Investigators theorize this can provide
an understanding of the effects of land management
decisions.
Summary
of research findings [PDF]
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Variations in water and nutrient
cycling and soil properties during agricultural
landscape restoration, year 1 of 5, $25,000, H.
Asbjornson, M. Helmers, M. Liebman, L. Schulte, and R.
Kolka, ISU Natural Resource Ecology and Management,
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and Agronomy
(2004-E14) Examine differences in nutrient, water and
carbon storage and output for selected annual and
perennial plant communities and then provide educational
opportunities about the results. The investigators
theorize that we can reduce nutrient loads, improve
water management, and maintain or improve agricultural
productivity by strategic integration of perennial
plants in agricultural landscapes.
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Winter grazing of stockpiled
grass-legume forages to reduce costs of developing beef
heifers, year 1 of 1, $28,612, J. Russell, ISU
Animal Science (2004-E35) Evaluate cow performance, feed
requirements, and costs for maintaining pregnant
two-year cows with grazing stockpiled grass-legume
forage versus feeding hay with corn gluten
supplementation. The project is collecting a third year
of data and hoping for a more severe winter after having
two mild winters that may have affected the accuracy of
recommendations from the first two years of work.
Summary of research findings [PDF]
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