Illinois Agricultural Research Articles

Restoring the Human Voice to Oral History: The Audio-Video Barn Website

The digital revolution is giving oral historians exciting new ways to record, index, search, and share oral history interviews with larger and more remote audiences. The Illinois State Museum’s Oral History of Illinois Agriculture (OHIA) project used an array of digital methods and tools to develop an interactive website, called the Audio-Video Barn, which gives voice to people involved in agriculture and rural life in Illinois. The OHIA approach can serve as a model for anyone looking for engaging new ways to share oral histories with community audiences. First, the Audio-Video Barn joins a growing chorus of websites that go beyond the limitations of printed words in traditional oral history transcripts; it gives visitors access to primary-source audio and video recordings that restore emotion and meaning to the stories being told. Second, the Audio-Video Barn uses digital indexing of audio and video recordings to make them searchable in a database format. Finally, the Audio-Video Barn opens its doors to provide free access to searchable recordings via the Internet, making them widely available to diverse audiences.

Incorporating Learning Objects in a Curriculum Redesign to Meet Needs of Students with Specific Learning Disabilities in Illinois Agricultural Education Programs

A quasi-experimental pilot study of curriculum re-design using Learning Objects (LO) to instruct agricultural education students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) was conducted in five high schools in the federally designated economically distressed area, the Illinois Delta Region. Six LOs were developed based on a unit of instruction in The Illinois Core Curriculum for Agriculture and designed in a manner appropriate to SLD students. Students were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Results from pre-posttests in this study found Learning Objects increased learning for both SLD and traditional students.

Registration of ‘Saber’ Oat

‘Saber’ spring oat (Avena sativa L.) (Reg. No. CV‐377, PI 660683) was developed by the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station and released in 2010. Saber is an early‐maturing oat adapted to production in Illinois and surrounding states. It has performed well over a broad range of environments in tests in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Saber was developed using a modified single‐seed descent method in combination with the bulk population method. Saber was evaluated as IL02‐8658 and was developed from an F6:7 plant row produced in 2004 at Urbana, IL. The pedigree of Saber is ‘Tack’/’Spurs’. Tack and Spurs are both spring oat cultivars developed and released by the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station. Saber was selected and released based on its combination of excellent yield, high test weight, and tolerance to Barley yellow dwarf virus. Saber was evaluated in Illinois from 2004 to 2011 and was evaluated for 3 yr in the Uniform Early Oat Performance Nursery in 2007, 2008, and 2009, in which Saber ranked first for yield in 2007 and 2008 and sixth in 2009.

Registration of ‘Corral’ Oat

‘Corral’ spring oat (Avena sativa L.) (Reg. No. CV‐378, PI 660684) was developed by the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station and released jointly in cooperation with Cornell University in 2010. Corral is a midseason‐maturity spring oat adapted to production in New York, Pennsylvania, and the northeastern United States. The yield of Corral in New York has been excellent. Corral ranked first in the New York Variety Trial four consecutive years, from 2007 to 2010. Corral was developed using a modified single‐seed descent method in combination with the bulk population method. Corral was evaluated as IL00‐7267 and was developed from an F6:7 plant row produced in 2002 at Urbana, IL. The pedigree of Corral is IL95‐4774/IL95‐8346. Corral was selected and released based on its excellent yield, good test weight, and tolerance to Barley yellow dwarf virus. Corral was evaluated in Illinois from 2004 to 2011 and was evaluated for 2 yr in the Uniform Midseason Oat Performance Nursery in 2005 and 2006, where Corral ranked fourth for yield in 2005 and eighteenth in 2006. Corral was further evaluated in New York in 2007–2010, and the decision to release Corral was based on the strength of its performance in New York.

Registration of the High‐Yielding Soybean Germplasm Line LG04‐6000

The soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm line LG04‐6000 (Reg. No. GP‐379, PI 664025) was developed and released by the USDA‐ARS and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station at Urbana. LG04‐6000 was derived from an F5 plant from the cross of HS93‐4118 × LG97‐9912. LG97‐9912 was derived from LG90‐4181 × A3322. LG90‐4181 is from PI 436682 × ‘Lawrence’ (PI 518673). PI 436682 is the Chinese cultivar ‘Jilin 15’, and LG04‐6000 is the first germplasm released in the United States that has Jilin 15 as a progenitor. LG04‐6000 is classified in early maturity group IV. In tests at 8 locations in 2006 conducted cooperatively with commercial soybean breeding companies, LG04‐6000 yielded 127 kg ha−1 more than LD00‐3309. In tests at 22 locations in the Uniform Test IV in 2007 and 2008, LG04‐6000 was the highest‐yielding entry in the test in both years, exceeding the yield of LD00‐3309, the highest‐yielding check cultivar in both years, by an average of 8%. LG04‐6000 is known to be susceptible to race 4 and resistant to race 7 of Phytophthora sojae Kaufmann & Gerdemann. LG04‐6000 is the first example of germplasm derived from exotic parents adapted to the northern United States that has demonstrated a yield potential significantly higher than that of the best cultivars from public institutions. The combination of high yield and unique pedigree makes this line an exceptional new source of genetic diversity to improve the yield of U.S. cultivars.

Registration of Soybean Germplasm Line LG00‐6313

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm line LG00‐6313 (Reg. No. GP‐375, PI 660990) was developed and released by the USDA‐ARS and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, Urbana, IL. LG00‐6313 is the progeny of an F5 plant from the cross PI 574480B × PI 574477. Both parents are Chinese cultivars that are not in the ancestry of any released germplasm or cultivar in the United States. LG00‐6313 is classified as early maturity group IV. In cooperative tests at 4 locations with private industry, 7 locations in the USDA Uniform Soybean Tests–Northern States, Preliminary Test IV (2002), and 15 locations in the Uniform Test IV (2003), LG00‐6313 yielded 110, 102, and 99% of the highest yielding check in each test. LG00‐6313 is known to be susceptible to races 4 and 7 of Phytophthora sojae (Kaufmann & Gerdemann). LG00‐6313 can be used as a parent for soybean breeding programs to provide new genetic diversity to improve the yield of U.S. cultivars.

Registration of Soybean Germplasm Line LG00‐3372

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm line LG00‐3372 (Reg. No. GP‐376, PI 660989) was developed and released by the USDA‐ARS and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, Urbana, IL. LG00‐3372 is derived from an F5 plant from the cross PI 561319A × PI 574477 and is classified in late maturity group III. PI 561319A is an introduction from China that is not in the ancestry of any released germplasm or cultivar in the United States. PI 57447 is one of the parents of LG00‐6313, a germplasm line also released by the USDA‐ARS and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, Urbana, IL. In cooperative tests at 8 locations with private industry, 11 locations in the USDA Uniform Soybean Tests–Northern States, Preliminary Test III, in 2003, and 18 locations in the USDA Uniform Soybean Tests–Northern States, Uniform Test III, in 2004, LG00‐3372 yielded 104, 105, and 102% of the cultivar ‘Macon’. LG00‐3372 is known to be susceptible to races 4 and 7 of Phytophthora sojae (Kaufmann & Gerdemann). LG00‐3372 can be used as a parent for soybean breeding programs to provide new genetic diversity to improve the yield of U.S. cultivars.

Learning Disabled Student Needs Met Through Curriculum Redesign of the Illinois Agricultural Education Core Curriculum

This quasi–experimental pilot study included agricultural education students with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD) in five high schools in the federally designated economically distressed area called the Illinois Delta Region. A unit of instruction taken from the existing 165 units of The Illinois Core Curriculum for Agriculture was redesigned in a manner appropriate to SLD students. Students from the five selected programs were randomly assigned to treatment and control groups. Results from pre– and posttests in this study found the redesigned curriculum for SLD students effectively increased learning for both SLD and traditional students.

Registration of LD00‐2817P Soybean Germplasm Line with Resistance to Soybean Cyst Nematode from PI 437654

The soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm line LD00‐2817P (Reg. No. GP‐367, PI 658519) was developed at the University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station at Urbana, IL. The objective of the breeding effort that resulted in this release was the combining of high yield with soybean cyst nematode (SCN) (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) resistance from underutilized resistance sources. LD00‐2817P was selected from the cross ‘Ina’ × ‘Dwight’ as a F4:5 line. The line was tested for yield and other agronomic traits in 56 field environments and for resistance to 14 SCN populations in inoculated greenhouse tests. The line was released because it combines high yield performance with SCN resistance originating from plant introduction (PI) 437654. This PI 437654 source confers resistance to many SCN HG Types, especially HG Type 2.5.7 (equivalent to Races 1 and 5), which is becoming more common in the midwestern USA. LD00‐2817P has a relative maturity of 4.5 and is being released as a germplasm line because of its usefulness as a parent for soybean breeders developing new cultivars with HG Type 2.5.7 resistance.

Registration of LG04‐6863 Soybean Germplasm Line with Diverse Pedigree

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] germplasm line LG04‐6863 (Reg. No. GP‐364, PI 658307) was developed and released by the University of Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Delta Center, Portageville, MO, the USDA–ARS, and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station, Urbana, IL. It was approved for release May 2009. LG04‐6863 is an F5 plant selection composited in the F6 generation from ‘Rend’ × LG97‐9486. It has shown high yield potential in tests across the southern United States with 38% of its pedigree from plant introductions and unique diversity not known in soybeans adapted to southern U.S. environments. LG04‐6863 (relative maturity 4.4) has yielded, 101, 100, and 97% of yields of ‘Asgrow AG4403’ (3193, 4047, and 3833 kg ha−1), a widely grown Roundup Ready cultivar of similar maturity, across eight locations in the USDA Uniform Preliminary Early Group IV Test–Southern States; eight locations in the United Soybean Board Southern Early Group IV Diversity Trials; and 15 southeastern Missouri tests, respectively. It is resistant to stem canker and bacterial pustule. Reaction to phytophthora root rot (PRR; caused by Phytophthora sojae M.J. Kaufmann & J.W. Gerdemann) is unknown, but LG04‐6863 has shown good performance on heavy clay soils where PRR often occurs. Soybean introductions have been under utilized in breeding programs. LG04‐6863 will have use as an elite parent in soybean breeding programs to improve yield and broaden the germplasm base.

Acute hypoglycemia causes extended anhedonia in mice

In humans, hypoglycemia is associated with a variety of mood changes including a reduction in hedonic tone and energetic arousal and an increase in tense arousal. While these clinical symptoms are well characterized, their underlying mechanism is not. C57BL/6J mice were administered insulin that generated a blood glucose nadir of 56 ± 6 mg/dl 0.75 h after injection. At 4 h post insulin administration blood glucose had returned to normal (151 ± 19 mg/dl). Saccharin preference testing 24 h post hypoglycemia showed that insulin receiving mice had saccharin aversion (30 % vs 81 % of total fluid consumption) that took 72 h to resolve. In addition, insulin administered mice (24 h post hypoglycemia) had decreased mobility in the forced swim test and the tail suspension test that took 48 h to rectify. Importantly, activity and burrowing were not impacted 24 h post hypoglycemia. Taken together these data indicate that anhedonia and depressive‐like behavior are induced by hypoglycemia and resolve much more slowly than hypoglycemia, itself, or behaviors associated with locomotion and tunnel maintenance.This research was supported by grants from National Institutes of Health (DK64862 and NS58525 to G.G.F.) and University of Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (to G.G.F.).

Nitrogen fertilization and cropping systems effects on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen pools under chisel-plow tillage in Illinois

Agricultural soils can be a major sink for atmospheric carbon (C) with adoption of recommended management practices (RMPs). Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization and cropping systems on soil organic carbon (SOC) and total N (TN) concentrations and pools. Replicated soil samples were collected in May 2004 to 90 cm depth from a 23-year-old experiment at the Northwestern Illinois Agricultural Research and Demonstration Center, Monmouth, IL. The SOC and TN concentrations and pools, soil bulk density ( ρ b) and soil C:N ratio were measured for five N rates [0 (N 0), 70 (N 1), 140 (N 2), 210 (N 3) and 280 (N 4) kg N ha −1] and two cropping systems [continuous corn ( Zea mays L.) (CC), and corn–soybean ( Glycine max (L .) Merr.) rotation (CS)]. Long-term N fertilization and cropping systems significantly influenced SOC concentrations and pools to 30 cm depth. The SOC pool in 0–30 cm depth ranged from 68.4 Mg ha −1 for N 0 to 75.8 Mg ha −1 for N 4. Across all N treatments, the SOC pool in 0–30 cm depth for CC was 4.7 Mg ha −1 greater than for CS. Similarly, TN concentrations and pools were also significantly affected by N rates. The TN pool for 0–30 cm depth ranged from 5.36 Mg ha −1 for N 0 to 6.14 Mg ha −1 for N 4. In relation to cropping systems, the TN pool for 0–20 cm depth for CC was 0.4 Mg ha −1 greater than for CS. The increase in SOC and TN pools with higher N rates is attributed to the increased amount of biomass production in CC and CS systems. Increasing N rates significantly decreased ρ b for 0–30 cm and decreased the soil C:N ratio for 0–10 cm soil depth. However, none of the measured soil properties were significantly correlated with N rates and cropping systems below 30 cm soil depth. We conclude that in the context of developing productive and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems on a site and soil specific basis, the results from this study is helpful to strengthening the database of management effects on SOC storage in the Mollisols of Midwestern U.S.

Registration of Soybean Germplasm Lines LG97–7012, LG98–1445, and LG98–1605

Soyabean germplasm lines LG97-7012, LG98-1445 and LG98-1605 were cooperatively developed and released in 2001 by the USDA-ARS and the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station for use as parental lines in yield improvement programmes. LG97-7012, an F6 selection from LG89-1525 × 'A3322', has indeterminate stem termination, white flowers, grey pubescence, tan pods, yellow seed coat and buff hilum colour. LG98-1445, an F6 selection from LG91-7431 × 'Pioneer 9273', has indeterminate stem termination, purple flowers, tawny pubescence, brown pods, yellow seed coat and black hilum colour. LG98-1605, an F6 selection from LG88-8958 × LG89-771, has indeterminate stem termination, white flowers, tawny pubescence, brown pods, yellow seed coat and yellow hilum colour. These maturity group II and III lines combine high yield with unique genetic diversity not currently present in the commercially used gene pool in the USA.

Monitoring 2005 corn belt yields from space

The U.S. corn belt, centered on Illinois, suffered extreme drought conditions during the 2005 growing season (Figure l).The April–September rainfall ranked 10th lowest of the past 113 years (see http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/monitoring.html#state). Throughout Illinois, counties were declared agricultural disaster areas and corn yields were predicted to be 30 percent less than the record year of 2004, which had the highest corn yields in the last 50 years [Christian Science Monitor, 2005].However, the Illinois Agricultural Statistics Service estimated the overall corn yield was 145 bushels per acre, or just seven percent below the previous five‐year average, with “many farmers…surprised by the better than expected yields after the drought conditions” (see http://www.agstats.state.il.us/releases/crop.pdf and http://usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/nassr/field/pcp‐bb/2005/crop 1005.pdf).This better‐than‐expected yield has been attributed to advancements in seed genetics, equipment, and water‐management practices [Barrionuevo and Bradsher, 2005].

Traits of Soybean-Infecting Phytophthora Populations from Illinois Agricultural Fields

Phytophthora rot caused by Phytophthora sojae is a common and significant disease of soybean (Glycine max) in Illinois and throughout the Midwestern United States. The pathogenic characteristics of P. sojae populations in several Midwestern states have been reported recently, but pathogenicity and fungicide sensitivity traits of populations in Illinois were poorly understood. Isolates (n = 121) of soybean-infecting Phytophthora spp. were baited using susceptible cv. Sloan seedlings from soybean field soils with a history of seedling diseases in 24 counties across Illinois. The pathotype and race of isolates of P. sojae were characterized using 11 differential soybean cultivars in greenhouse tests using a hypocotyl inoculation method. Sensitivity to the fungicidal compounds metalaxyl and mefenoxam was tested with 63 isolates in vitro. Most (96%) of the Phytophthora isolates sampled from Illinois soybean fields were P. sojae, but 4% were an unidentified Phytophthora sp. as determined by phenotypic and genotypic traits. We present a preliminary description of another Phytophthora sp. from soybean fields in a restricted region of Illinois that is pathogenic and capable of killing soybean. Based on eight Rps gene differentials (Rps1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1k, 3a, 6, and 7 ), 22 virulence pathotypes of P. sojae were identified and 88% of all isolates were characterized to a defined race. The four most common races, which were 58% of all isolates, were races 1 (21%), 4 (15%), 33 (12%), and 28 (10%). Based on 11 differentials, (those noted above and Rps 2, 4, and 5), 31 virulence pathotypes were identified. The mean virulence complexities, which are the number of susceptible interactions on the sets of 8 and 11 Rps gene differentials, were 3.3 and 3.7, respectively. All isolates tested were sensitive to Apron XL, Allegiance, technical grade mefenoxam, and technical grade metalaxyl at 1.0 μg a.i./ml. The population of P. sojae is diverse and composed of multiple pathotypes and races in Illinois, and the results suggest that pathogen virulence partially explains poor performance of Phytophthora-resistant cultivars in many Illinois soybean fields.

Molecular detection of Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines in soybean roots and soil

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based method was developed to detect DNA of Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, the cause of soybean sudden death syndrome. Two pairs of primers, Fsg1/Fsg2 designed from the mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene, and FsgEF1/FsgEF2 designed from the translation elongation factor 1‐α gene, produced PCR products of 438 and 237 bp, respectively. Primer specificity was tested with DNA from 82 F. solani f. sp. glycines, 55 F. solani non‐SDS isolates, 43 isolates of 17 soybean fungal pathogens and the oomycete Phytophthora sojae, and soybean. The sensitivity of primer Fsg1/Fsg2 was 10 pg while that of FsgEF1/FsgEF2 was 1 ng when using F. solani f. sp. glycines total genomic DNA or down to 103 macroconidia g−1 soil. Nested PCR increased the sensitivity of the PCR assay 1000‐fold to 10 fg using primers Fsg1/Fsg2, and 1 pg using primers FsgEF1/FsgEF2. F. solani f. sp. glycines DNA was detected in field‐grown soybean roots and soil by PCR using either single pairs of primers or the combination of two pairs of primers. The occurrence of F. solani f. sp. glycines was determined using nested PCR for 47 soil samples collected from soybean fields in 20 counties of Illinois in 1999. F. solani f. sp. glycines was detected in soil samples from all five Illinois Agricultural Statistic Districts including 100, 89, 50, 92 and 50% of the samples from East, Central, North‐east and West Districts, respectively.

Using Landsat to Identify Thunderstorm Damage in Agricultural Regions

Abstract During 12 and 18 August 1999, severe thunderstorms produced damaging winds and hail that caused an estimated $50 million in damage to agriculture in west-central Illinois. Landsat-7 imagery was obtained to determine the arealextent of damage and produce a crop damage dollar estimate. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated for images taken “before” and “after” the severe thunderstorm events in order to examine the changes in NDVI, or vegetation vigor. A differenced image was also produced by subtracting the NDVI of the two images. Landsat-7 data was found to be useful for identifying the areal extent of severe thunderstorm damage in west-central Illinois. In comparing the detection of damage produced by high winds and hail, it was found that hail damage was considerably easier to identify. This is due to the fact that large hail typically destroys the crops while high winds blow over corn plants that can remain rooted and survive. Additionally, county estimates of dollar ...

Competition and Custom in Economic Contracts: A Case Study of Illinois Agriculture

Survey data suggest that cropsharing contracts exhibit a much higher degree of uniformity than is warranted by economic fundamentals. We propose a dynamic model of contract choice to explain this phenomenon. Landowners and tenants recontract periodically, taking into account expected returns as well as conformity with local practice. The resulting stochastic dynamical system is studied using techniques from statistical mechanics. The most likely states consist of patches where contractual terms are nearly uniform, separated by boundaries where the terms shift abruptly. These and other predictions of the model are borne out by survey data on agricultural contracts in Illinois. (JEL J43, C73)

USING SOIL PROPERTIES TO PREDICT WHEAT YIELDS ON ILLINOIS SOILS

Updated crop yield estimates for different soil types are required to meet the needs of farmers, land appraisers, and governmental agencies of most states within the United States. The objective of this study was to update wheat [Triticum aestivum L.] yield estimates for all soil types in the state of Illinois under the average management level used by all Illinois farmers in the 1990s. A crop yield soil properties (CYSP) model was developed from established 1970s wheat estimates and soil properties. Correlation and multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationships between 16 physical and chemical soil properties and wheat yields. Using step-wise multiple regression, a final CYSP model with six variables (% silt in A and E horizons, % organic matter in A and E horizons, cation exchange capacity, rooting depth, bulk density of the B horizon, and Na content) explained 78% of the variation in 1970s wheat yields of (R 2 = 0.78 [34 soils]). A 22-year yield trend was applied to the 1970s predicted and established wheat yields to estimate the 1990s yields under an average level of management used by all Illinois farmers. The 1990s wheat yields (model predicted plus trend) were compared with both established (Circular 1156) plus trend yields and with farmer-reported yields by Illinois Agricultural Statistics (IAS) Staff for 161 soils in nine test counties. Predicted 1990s test county wheat yields showed no statistical differences between the three data sources. The final 1990s wheat yield estimates for all Illinois soil types were the mean of the estimates from: (i) the established 1970s yields plus 22-year yield trend, (ii) the model predicted plus 22-year yield trend, and (iii) the 1990s farmer-reported yields. The proposed approach to updating wheat yields worked well in Illinois and should be useful in surrounding states and/or countries.

Lasalocid Supplementation of Dairy Cow Diets in Early Lactation11Supported by the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (Hatch 35-397) and a gift from Hoffmann-LaRoche, Inc., Nutley, NJ 07110.

<h2>Abstract</h2> A 36-cow study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lasalocid on feed intake, milk production and composition, and various blood metabolites in early lactation. Multiparous Holstein cows were assigned at parturition to a total mixed diet containing 33% corn silage, 17% chopped alfalfa hay, and 50% concentrate mix on a DM basis for 10 wk. An additional 2.3kg of alfalfa hay was fed during the first 7 d in milk (DIM). Diets were supplemented with 0, 180, or 360 mg/d of lasalocid in a completely randomized design. Covariant-adjusted mean (the covariate was mature equivalent milk production from the previous lactation) DMI; milk and fat-corrected milk (FCM) production; percentages of milk fat, protein, and solids-not-fat; milk somatic cell count; BW; body condition score; and concentrations of glucose, β-hydroxybutyrate, and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) in blood were unaffected by supplementation with lasalocid. A dose of 360 mg/d of lasalocid may not be enough to significantly affect high-producing cows consuming >20 kg/d of DM.