Top Inch Research Articles

Speedzone has Potential for Postemergence Goosegrass Control in Perennial Ryegrass and Creeping Bentgrass

Goosegrass (Eleusine indica [L.] Gaertn.) is a C4 summer annual distributed throughout the transition zone and can be problematic in sports fields and lawns, but more often is problematic in golf course greens and tees where preemergence (PRE) herbicides are rarely used because of frequent reseeding in-season. The postemergence (POST) herbicides monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), fenoxaprop-ethyl, or sulfentrazone are commonly used to control goosegrass on golf courses. However, MSMA has recently lost most of its labeled uses (EPA, 2013), while fenoxaprop-ethyl is restricted from use at mowing heights less than 0.25 inch (Anonymous, 2005) and sulfentrazone is restricted from use on golf course greens or tees (Anonymous, 2012). In July 2011, control of goosegrass was reported when Speedzone was applied to golf course tees to control summer annual broadleaves in Omaha, NE (J. Calentine, personal communication, 2011). This was further reported anecdotally at multiple sites in Nebraska later that summer. Therefore, we began our studies in 2012 with the objectives of confirming if Speedzone has potential for goosegrass control and if so, what application rates and intervals are most effective while still safe on cool-season turfgrasses. The experiment was conducted in 2012 and 2013 at the John Seaton Anderson Turf Research Facility near Mead, NE. In October of 2011, sand-based thinly cut sod of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) from a tee on a local goosegrass-infested golf course was moved to the experimental site, distributed evenly and tilled into the top inch of soil. Soil type on the experimental area was Tomek silty clay loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic Typic Argiudoll) with pH 6.9 and 2.7% organic matter. A perennial ryegrass blend was seeded at 3 lbs/1000 sq ft in April 2012 to establish a thin turf cover. Following establishment, the area was irrigated to prevent water stress, mowed at 0.625 inch, and not fertilized to minimize turf competition with goosegrass. Before goosegrass germination and initiating treatments, glyphosate was applied Published in Applied Turfgrass Science DOI 10.2134/ATS-2014-0025-BR © 2014 American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society of America 5585 Guilford Rd., Madison, WI 53711

Positive Correlation between Non-cardiac Gastric Cancer and Active Helicobacter pylori Infection

Purpose: The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) as a carcinogen in 1994, despite conflicting results at the time. Since then, colonization of the stomach with H. pylori has been increasingly accepted as an important cause of stomach cancer and of gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Infection with the bacteria is also associated with a reduced risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. We hypothesized that patients with non-cardiac gastric cancer will be likely to have active H. pylori infection when they are diagnosed for gastric cancer compared to patients with gastric cardia cancer. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed from January 1995 to December 2005 on patients who had an inpatient or outpatient upper endoscopic evaluation. Patient who did not have gastric cancer were excluded. Eligible patients were assigned to two groups: patient who has gastric cardia cancer (cancer of the top inch of stomach) and patient who has non-cardiac gastric cancer (cancer in of all other areas of stomach). Logistic regression analysis was performed using prevalence of active H. pylori infection (on gastric biopsy or pathology report) as predictor variable in both groups. Results: One hundred twenty-two patients were diagnosed with gastric tumors; 13 patients were excluded (nine B cell lymphoma patients, three GIST patients, one carcinoid patient), and 109 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma met inclusion criteria. Demographic and clinical data are shown in Table 1.TableConclusion: Patients with non-cardiac gastric cancer were more likely to have history of H. pylori infection and active H. pylori infection when they are diagnosed for gastric cancer compared to patients with gastric cardia cancer.

Fog Seal Treatment Effectiveness Analysis of Pavement Binders Using the t-Test Statistical Approach

In this study, sealed pavements were tested to assess the treatment impact on retarding binder aging or rejuvenating in situ binder. Asphalt rheology of extracted binders was used to compare between untreated and treated sections using a paired t-test analysis. A paired t-test statistical analysis of recovered binder stiffnesses showed that polymer-modified asphalt surface sealer (PASS) and COS-50™ treatments did not have a significant impact on binder stiffness. The only significant effect on the rheology of the in situ binder was by EB44 coal tar, which stiffened the binder, and this effect was primarily restricted to the top quarter inch or so of the pavement.

Field Aging of Unmodified Asphalt Binder in Three Texas Long-Term Performance Pavements

Binder hardening in pavements and its impact on pavement durability are becoming better understood. Binders oxidize, harden, and become more susceptible to fatigue and thermal cracking. Data are mounting that binder aging occurs to a significant degree well below the top inch of the pavement, contrary to common belief. Whereas recent data indicate that binders age at constant rates and to a significant depth in pavements, a need exists to obtain the detailed profile for understanding pavement aging as a function of air voids. The extent to which binder oxidation occurs throughout the pavement is an important issue and must be understood and quantified to understand pavement durability better and to design longer-lasting pavements. In this work, two layers in each of three pavements in three Texas districts were evaluated. Pavement measurements included recovered binder properties using a dynamic shear rheometer, size exclusion chromatography, changes in these properties over time due to oxidative aging in the pavement, and pavement total and accessible (interconnected) air voids. Many of the pavement cores were sawed into 0.5-in. layers with the binder and air void properties determined for each layer. These measurements provided an indication of binder aging in Texas pavements and suggest strongly that binders age even inches down into the pavement. It was observed that lower accessible air voids correlated with a lower rate of binder oxidation and hardening.

A Surprising New Medium for Specimen Preservation and Display

220 Who would have guessed that antibacterial hand sanitizers are a passably good arthropod preservative and display medium? I stumbled upon that unlikely use nearly two years ago when one of our company service technicians brought me a partially used bottle of instant hand sanitizer that a customer had given him when he inquired about pest specimens for identification. The bottle, which had been kept uncapped on the customer’s bathroom vanity, contained 14 pumace flies, Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, suspended in perfect condition within the top inch of the viscous transparent liquid contents. Apparently the pomice flies were attracted to the fragrance of the hand sanitizer and became entrapped, reminiscent of fossil insects in amber. I was impressed by the specimen display potential of this line of personal hygiene products, so in addition to monitoring the condition of the D. melanogaster specimens during the months to follow, I purchased three brands of instant hand sanitizer for comparison in a (nonstatistically significant) study of their efficacy as arthropod preservatives. As a structural pest management industry consultant and technical director, I considered how wonderful it would be to position perishable specimens in an inexpensive, readily available, clear, viscous medium for use in arthropod identification workshops and reference. Said medium would have most of the benefits of plastic resin mounts with none of the shortcomings. Was it too good to be true? Were there hidden disappointments? Traditional preservative fluids (Borrer et al. 1989), as every taxonomist and collection curator knows, include:

Control of Chinch Bugs on Field Corn with Soil Insecticides in Northeast Louisiana, 1986

Abstract Pioneer 3320 was planted 14 Mar, on loessial silt loam (Gigger-Gilbert complex) soil in Franklin parish. The test was arranged in a randomized complete block with 2 replications. Plots were 12 rows (38 inches wide) by the length of the field (approximately 3 acre plots). Soil insecticides were applied at planting with a John Deere 7100 series planter, equipped with granular applicators. Banded treatments were applied on a 6 inch band behind the closing wheel and scratched into the top half inch of soil by use of special planter rakes. Plant stand data were collected on 4, 10, 18 and 23 Apr and 8 May to measure effects on early season crop development. Six 2-meter row sections were flagged in all plots in order to determine stand loss. Plant heights were measured by randomly sampling 40 plants from all plots on 8 May. Chinch bug control was measured by making random whole plant examinations and counting the adult chinch bugs found at base of stalks on 4, 10, 18 and 23 Apr and 1 and 8 May. Immatures were not counted, but the percentage of plants with immature chinch bugs was recorded on 1 and 8 May. Entire plots were mechanically harvested on 5 Aug and converted to Bu/acre at 15% moisture.

Determination of minor elements in soil profiles by neutron activation analysis

Soil samples are often used in an effort to place a suspect at a particular location, i. e., material from the suspect's shoes, clothes, car, etc. is compared with soil from the crime area. The trace element concentration in both samples has been used to establish identity; this has been obtained usually by use of neutron activation analysis. In rural areas and farms more than half a dozen different kinds of soil may be present, and each soil may consist of several horizons. Horizons in turn may be broken down into sub-horizons or transitional layers, depending upon the humus present and the amount of weathering. Thus it would appear that comparison of soil samples would require rather exhaustive knowledge of the terrain, depth, and history of the samples area since variations of the elements in the soil are affected by eluviation (washing out) or illuviation (washing in). Such variations are illustrated by showing the change of concentration of elements with soil depth. Even though most forensic applications require comparisons of only the top inch or two of soil, the samples must be classified as to depth and type of soil since man often change the soil profile (ploughing, construction, etc.), or nature does (rain, decay, etc.). We have collected a number of soil samples from a several square mile area in both the horizontal and vertical profile. These soils were dried, thoroughly mixed, and portions, irradiated for one minute (for short half-life induced activities), and one week (for long half-life activities) at a flux of ∼10 n·cm−2·sec−1. Standards were irradiated in the same manner as samples. A number of elements were determined non-destructively; chemical separation was performed to determine others. Our results indicate great variation (factors of two or more occur in the concentration of many trace elements in going from the surface to several inches below. Similar variations occur in the horizontal plane. These data ind ate that comparison of soil samples by use of trace element concentrations is subject to considerable uncertainty. If large variations can be found within a small sampling area, the statistical significance of apparent agreement between two samples appears highly questionable.

Measurement of the density of the top inch of asphalt paving by gamma radiation

An instrument was developed to measure, non-destructively, the density of the top 2.5 cm layer of an asphalt paving. The instrument is based on the principle of gamma ray backscattering, but differs from the usual instrument in that the depth of measurement is only 2.5 cm. This is achieved by using a low energy source, Am 241, with a source to detector distance of 5.5 cm, and a NaI (Tl) detector. The instrument was checked in the field against the method of coring, cutting and weighing, and the root-mean-square difference between the methods was found to be 0.02 g/cc, which is less than 1%.

Equipment for Incorporation of Herbicides

Evaluations were made of the α,α,α-trifluoro-2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-p-toluidine (trifluralin) distribution patterns produced by eight incorporating implements. The power rotary cultivator concentrated the trifluralin in the top inch when operating at a 4-inch depth, while the disk, operated at the same depth, concentrated the trifluralin at a point 2 to 3 inches below the surface. All the remaining implements resulted in more than 80% of the recovered trifluralin in the top inch, except for isolated treatments with the Richardson and Lilliston tools. Surface applications resulted in less trifluralin recovery than from any implement. The disk resulted in the highest recovery and was two to three times greater than the recovery from the surface application. The recovery from the Richardson, Lilliston, and Ro-Wheel was 1.5 to 2 times greater than the recovery from the Mix-A-Product, field cultivator, and spike harrow.

The Fate of Methoxychlor Applied by Helicopter for Smaller European Elm Bark Beetle Control12

Methoxychlor residues, applied by helicopter to control Scolytus multislriatus (Marsham) were determined by gas-liguid chromatography from foliage, twig crotches, and soil beneath American elm, Ulmus americana L. , trees. Substantial residues were detected in twig crotches and soil beneath trees 1 year after they received mistblower sprays. Four methoxychlor formulations, one at a reduced rate and another containing a drift control chemical, were evaluated. All sprays produced measurable bark residues after 130 days, but xylene-based formulations gave longer-lasting deposits. Decagin added to 12½% sprays confined sprays within a 50-ft swath under winds of 2–4 mph yet did not deter twig-crotch deposition. Sprays applied without Dacagin drifted excessively and failed to maintain adequate swath coverage with a wind of 3 mph. The presence of foliage adversely affected twigcrotch deposits, but foliar residues declined drastically after 130 days. Water samples from a stream adjacent to treated trees indicated that most residues were in the top inch, were diluted by stream flow, and were undetectable after 24 hours. Samples taken at 2-week intervals from spring through fall showed methoxychlor present in 1 part per trillion in water and 1 part per billion in silt.

Lateral Drag of Chemicals in Soil by a Plough and a Rotavator

INFORMATION was needed on the extent to which a plough and a rotavator would drag soil-applied chemicals if ploughing or rotavating was done at right-angles to band treatments. A green fluorescent insoluble powder, of particle sizes between 5 and 10µ, was used as a tracer. This method had previously given good results in tracing the distribution of insecticides in soils1. In this instance the tracer was thoroughly mixed with powdered talc (not fluorescent) to simulate an aldrin dust. Strips of bare soil, in good tilth, 6 ft. long and 1 ft. wide, were marked out; the talc containing the tracer was evenly spread over these surfaces and lightly mixed into the top inch to prevent blowing. Three random core samples were taken from each strip to the depth to which the implements were set. The plough was started into the ground well before the strip so that it passed over at normal working speed and then on to a distance of 30 ft. It circled and went over the strip again in the same direction, continuing until all the treated area had been turned in. A similar procedure took place on the second strip with the rotavator. Ploughing was 8 in. deep, rotavation 6 in.

Penetration of Fallout Fission Products into an Indiana Soil

Although most of the radioactive fallout reaching the earth stays in the leaf layer and the top inch of soil, some is carried further into the soil and can be detected to a depth of several inches. This report describes a gammaray spectrometric study of fallout activity as a function of depth of soil. Total gamma activity deposited from recent tests was found to be over 1.5 curies per square mile at a site in eastern Indiana during July, 1962.

Mineral nitrogen fluctuations in soils under improved pasture in Southern New South Wales

Soils under improved pasture on the Southern Tableland of New South Wales accumulated nitrate in substantial quantities during the summer and autumn. In this respect they behaved quite unlike the pasture soils which have been studied in most of the earlier literature, and they resembled cultivated fallow soils, which usually accumulate nitrate at the same time of the year. The nitrate was produced mainly in the top inch of soil; ammonium also accumulated under certain conditions. The precise sequence of climatic events, particularly the period of drying between consecutive wettings, was of primary importance in the nitrate accumulation. The nitrate produced during summer and early autumn disappeared from the topsoil after heavy rain in autumn and winter. The seasons could therefore be distinguished as a nitrogen-rich summer and autumn, a nitrogen-depleting winter, and a nitrogen-poor early spring, with an increasing supply of mineral nitrogen during late spring. No appreciable fluctuations in mineral nitrogen were found in soils resown directly from native pasture with less than 0.10% total nitrogen at 0-2 in.

Nitrate distribution in tropical soils

Many investigators in the tropics report high nitrate content in the topsoil during the drier part of the year (Schofield 9, Hardy 3, Meiklejohn6, Jones4). This phenomenon is not as yet understood, since soil temperatures are generally believed to be too high and soil water content too low during such periods for biological processes to take place. This has. been confirmed in laboratory studies by Meiklejohn 6 in which maximum temperatures for nitrification were lower than found in the field at the time and place of accumulation. According to Meiklejohn6, there is some circumstantial evidence from field experiments in Kawanda, Uganda, for support of the photo-chemical oxidation hypothesis, as suggested by Dhar et al.2. Viz (i) the greatest accumulation took place in bare fallow soil exposed to sunlight, (ii) nearly all nitrate was in the top inch of the soil, and (iii) maximum temperatures were regarded as being too high and soil water content too low for bacterial activity. This phenomenon of increase in nitrate content in the top soil during the dry season has been observed at the Katherine Research Station, Northern Territory, Australia, on bare fallow plots of Tippera clay loam. These plots are a part of an experiment in which certain aspects of the nitrogen cycle are being studied. The soil, derived from limestone, is a sandy clay loam overlying clay subsoils, with a pH of 6.5 in the topsoil (Stewart n). At 8 inches depth

BENEFIT OF LEYS—STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT OR NITROGEN RESERVES

Although it has been widely established that increased crop yields follow leys sown on arable land, the relative importance of the many causative factors which may be involved is obseure. An attempt has been made to evaluate the influence of 3‐ to 4‐year leys on the organic matter in an arable soil and to distinguish also the relative importance of the resultant change in moisture‐holding capacity, crumb stability and the nitrogen status of the soil as factors in the yield of winter wheat.An increase of about 4 tons per acre in total soil organic matter was recorded after 3 years under grazed swards. Moisture‐holding capacity increased by an amount equivalent to the evapo‐trans‐piration loss from a full plant cover on one summer day. An increase in crumb stability was largely confined to the top inch of soil, which is effectively buried when leys are ploughed.The influence of variation in soil nitrogen status and in crumb stability on the yield of winter wheat after leys was examined by multiple regression analysis of data obtained over a number of yean from field experiments. After allowing for the effect of variation in the nitrogen status of the soil, the influence of variation in crumb stability was insignificant Conversely variation in the nitrogen status of soils, sampled under leys before ploughing, was closely correlated (r =+0.93***) with wheat yield.

Fertilizer nitrogen in soil

The distribution of ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen in the soils of field trials was followed in two growing seasons. In these trials ammonium nitrate limestone and calcium nitrate were, at several rates, applied as surface dressing. It was found that not only the ammonium nitrogen but also the nitrate nitrogen applied to the surface of loam, silt, silt clay, and fine sand clay soils tended to remain in the top inch for a considerable period in the absence of heavy rainfalls or a longer wet period. The plants appeared rapidly to deplete the layers downwards from 1 inch, but even after six and eight weeks from the application of the fertilizers the ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen contents of the surface inch could be markedly higher in the treated plots than in the untreated ones. In the non-cropped soil, eight weeks after the application of the fertilizers, the mineral nitrogen content of the top inch corresponded to about 60 % of the nitrogen applied. On the basis of these results the working in or placement of nitrogen fertilizers seems to be profitable. Fixation of ammonium nitrogen in unexchangeable forms was observed in some of the trials. This, however, did not significantly impair the value of ammonium nitrate limestone as a nitrogen source in these trials.

Capillary Movement of Nitrate towards Tropical Soil Surfaces

As in many other parts of the tropics, accumulation of nitrate in the top inch of soil during the dry season has been observed at Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, on a red sandy clay loam. The accumulation could be caused by a complex of processes of a physico-chemical, photo-chemical, biological or physical nature. Experiments at Katherine have shown that capillary movement has been obscured, rather than overlooked, as the main cause.

SPRINKLER IRRIGATION AS A MEANS OF APPLYING SOIL INSECTICIDES FOR CONTROLLING THE TUBER FLEA BEETLE, EPITRIX TUBERIS (GENT.), IN THE INTERIOR OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Dieldrin emulsifiable concentrate, applied through sprinkler irrigation systems at the rate of 2 or 2.5 pounds of toxicant per acre and incorporated into the soil by disking or harrowing, effectively reduced tuber flea beetle damage in the interior of British Columbia. Similar treatments of aldrin emulsifiable concentrate applied at the rate of 4 pounds of toxicant per acre were much less effective. Colorimetric and bioassay analyses indicated that mechanical incorporation was necessary because no appreciable amount of toxicant penetrated below the top inch of soil even when a large amount of irrigation water was applied.

Field trials on the store dressing with rock phosphate

The possibility of improving the soil phosphorus status by a store dressing with rock phosphate has been studied in two field trials of five years standing. Hyperphosphate Reno was applied to the nurse crop of a red clover-timothy ley in amounts of 0, 1000 kg/ha, or 2000 kg/ha, respectively. The split-plot technique was used to study the response of the ley to an additional annual application of 200 kg/ha of superphosphate. The soil analyses distinctly proved that, in spite of a careful working in of the hyperphosphate with a spade harrow, the fertilizer had not penetrated deeper than to the layer from 1 to 3 inches, with a large part of it remaining in the top inch. The treatment with hyperphosphate had mostly increased the fraction of the calcium-bound phosphorus, and, to a very low degree, the aluminium-bound phosphorus. The effect of superphosphate could be detected only in the fractions of aluminium- and iron-bound phosphorus of the surface inch. Although the store dressing did not produce marked responses in the yields of either trial, the statistically significant negative interaction between the effect of it and of superphosphate may be taken to indicate that hyperphosphate was able to improve the phosphorus status of these soils to some degree. The analyses of the hay samples from one of the trials in the fifth experimental year showed that the store dressing, particularly with the higher amount of hyperphosphate was able to increase the phosphorus content of hay to a satisfactory level which was equal to that produced by the annual superphosphate dressing only. Their combined effect resulted in the production of hay dry matter containing more than 0.24 % of P. In one of the experiments the residual effect of the treatments on rye was studied. The response to superphosphate was highly significant, probably owing to the high demands of phosphorus by rye, connected with the overwintering conditions, and also to the fact that ploughing in of the ley had brought superphosphate phosphorus within the reach of the plant roots.

Effects of flood irrigation and plant growth on two riverine soils

Two soils which contained significant proportions of exchangeable sodium were frequently irrigated during summer with water of low electrolyte content. When all vegetation was removed the soils became very unstable in water. When the natural vegetation was left intact the stability and structure of the soils did not deteriorate despite frequent irrigation. When the amount of vegetation was increased by sowing Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana Kunth) and supplying nitrogen and phosphorus the stability of the soil increased. After 8 years' growth of Rhodes grass the top inch of soil contained 30–40 per cent. of water-stable aggregates greater than 1 mm in diameter, compared with a content of 10–20 per cent. in virgin soil. Thus, the protective effect of the organic matter added to the soil by plant growth more than compensated for aggregate disruption caused by flood wetting or by a reduction in electrolyte content of the soil solution.