Progress 05/01/12 to 04/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Agriculturists, agronomists, biologists, ecologists, economists, environmentalists, policy makers, soil scientists, and sustainable production specialists. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Four postdocs, two visiting sacientists, three graduate students, and several undergraduate students How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Yes, in the form of publications and conference presentations. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The inverse relationship between population growth and arable land on one hand, and biophyisochemically degraded soils and the demand for increasing crop yield and planetary sustainability on the other hand are global challenges that are difficult to balance. As part of developing integrated and scalable soil health management strategies across cropping system and climatic zones, the objectives in this phase of the project were to understand the relationship among: 1) soil groups and soil biology with nematode community structure (NCS) as primary indicator across climatic zones; 2) vegetation, land use and NCS in cropping systems; 3) soil amendments, nutrient use efficiency, and NCS in cropping systems; 4) nematode adaptation and parasitism in cropping systems; and 5) socioeconomic and demographic factors, NCS and soil health. A summary of accomplishments follows. Object 1: Our emphasis has been to integrate soil orders, the plates that hold the biophysichemical footprints which makes it easier to scale up across ecoregions. Different soil groups could have overlapping textures, but have different horizons. For example, the continent of Africa stands on 20 majors soil groups, and Michigan on six soil groups. Ferralsol, Lithosol, and Nitosol soil groups (orders) in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi, and Udalfs, Psamments and Saprists sub-orders in Michigan were investigated. Each of the tropical soil groups was distributed in different ecozones separated by about 30 to 300 km within each country. The Michigan soils were distributed within zones of 40.1 - 45.0oF (northern half) and 45.1 - 50.0oF (southern half) separated by about 300 miles. In all cases, georeferenced soil samples were collected once from natural (pristine forests and other vegetation) and disturbed (agricultural soils with altered biological functions and soil nutrients) landscapes in a statistically balanced design. Standard soil physiochemical properties and NCS, in all soils, and microbial community in the tropical soils were analyzed. Regardless of landscape, NCS and microbial communities varied by soil group and ecoregion within and across countries and within Michigan. In addition, an M. S. Thesis on Acrisols and Lixisols across agroecological zones in Ghana, and another one on Arenosols, Cambisols and Vertisols across growing seasons in Kenya supported the conclusions from the other soil groups. Overall, the data suggest that the soil groups may have to be treated differently within or across temperature zones when considering soil health management strategies. Objective 2: Our focus was to quantify how the impacts of vegetation and land use practices on soil biology relate to developing integrated soil health management strategies in agricultural and undisturbed landscapes in different soil groups across ecozones. The sets of studies conducted included compared disturbed/agricultural and non-disturbed landscapes in the different soil groups described above. They showed that the soil food web structure was generally depleted, NCS diversity and microbial community were lower in agricultural or no vegetation than in non-disturbed and pastoral tropical soils, suggesting that the soils are in degraded conditions. Another set of studies tested how cover (mustard and oilseed radish), rotation (maize and soybean) and sugar beet as main crop affect soil health in sandy clay loam and loam types, common soil types in the diverse Michigan agriculture system over two growing seasons. The soil food web structure showed that neither soil type has optimum conditions for agroecosystem, the sandy clay loam soil was more stressed than the loam soil. Across crops the results were not the same within or in both soil types, suggesting distinct properties requiring location-specific solutions. Objective 3: Cropping systems, tillage, and soil amendments are among the agronomic practices used to suppress harmful pests like the soybean cyst nematode (SCN) and diseases and increase beneficial organism, soil heath and crop yield and improve environmental conditions. However, variable outcomes continue to be a problem. How SCN adapts and reproduces to reach damaging levels when introduced into SCN- and soybean-virgin land and subjected to till and no-till, and either corn (C), SCN resistant soybean (R), or SCN susceptible soybean (S) monocrop, or RCRC and SCSC rotation cycles in sandy loam soil beyond 10 years shows that the nematode is barely at detectable levels and less so in C, R, and RCRC and no-till than in S and tilled conditions. This suggests that growers could minimize SCN threats through early detection, careful monitoring, and use of appropriate agronomic practices such as no-till and resistance management. Cover crops such as Brassicacae (oil seed radish and mustard), oats and legumes varieties in carrot and sugar beet production systems for managing harmful nematodes such as the root-lesion (RLN) and sugar beet cysts (SBCN) and improving soil health in different soil types and locations showed little effect on either SBCN or RLN and varying effects of beneficial nematodes. Another theme that we studied was how amending soil with animal- and plant-based compost affects harmful nematodes in sandy loam soils. Compost was applied to deliver the recommended (X), 1.5 times (1.5X) and double (2X) rates of urea for the soil type. Using a fresh market and processing carrot production system model as part of a Ph. D. Thesis, we demonstrated that abundance of harmful nematodes was decreased by compost compared with either a check or urea treatments in processing varieties. Overall, the variable effects of the tillage-rotation, cover crop and soil amendment use on soil health strongly point to location-specific application than a one-size-fits-all approach to get the best outcome. We have used a combination of the soil food web (SFWM) and fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) models to further refine the location-specific soil health management strategies. Objective 4: Understanding parasitic (genetic) variability in the northern root-knot nematode (NRKN, Meloidogyne hapla) and SCN, and nematode adaption are among the long term studies in our program. In the SCN adaptation study, we found that SCN population had positive correlations with total nematode abundance, total non-SCN harmful nematode abundance, free-living nematode abundance, and bacteria-feeding nematode abundance at 7 and 8 years after the study was initiated. This suggests that conditions favoring free-living nematodes can also favor SCN. Testing the fitness different populations of NRKN against Midwest adapted potato, celery, and carrot cultivars, and the effect of soil biophysiochemical conditions on NRKN populations provided a proof-of-concept for location-specific approaches to managing parasitic variability in production systems. These studies led to on-going studies to demonstrate the interaction of NRKN population in different soil types and ecoregions in Michigan and emerging fresh market carrot cultivars with resistance to NRKN. In our studies of tropical soils, we have observed the occurrence of the herbivore nematodes Amplimerlinius, Heterodera and Trophurus in Ghana, Paratrophurus in Kenya, and Trichodorus and Longidorus in Ferralsols only regardless of vegetation or landscape. It is not known whether or not such occurrences relate to specific nematode adaptation is yet to be determined. Objective 5: Investigations on how sociocultural factors contribute to degradation and development of soil health in Kenya and Ghana showed that different communities impact soil health in different ways. For example, biological degradation of the same soil groups was higher in an agricultural than in a pastoral community. This supports the overarching conclusions across objectives suggesting location-specific solutions as opposed to one-size-fits-all approach to soil health management.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Asiedu, O., C. K. Kwoseh, H. Melakeberhan, and T. Adjeigyapong.2017. Nematode distribution in cultivated and undisturbed soils of Guinea Savannah and Semi-deciduous Forest zones of Ghana. Geoscience Frontiers. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2017.07.010.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Grabau, Z.J., Z.T.Z. Maung, C. Noyes, D. Baas, B.P. Werling, D.C. Brainard, and H. Melakeberhan. 2017. Effects of cover crops on Pratylenchus penetrans and the nematode community in carrot production. Journal of Nematology. Journal of Nematology 49, 114-123.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Noyes, D.C., Z. Hayden, D. Baas, H. Melakeberhan, B. Werling and D.C. Brainard. 2017. Cover crop effects on nitrogen and weeds in MI processing carrots. 38th International Carrot Conference, CP-102, Bakersfield, CA, March (Oral). http://ucanr.edu/sites/test02082001/view_oral_presentation_abstracts/production/
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
LaPorte, Patricia, B. Sipes, H. Melakeberhan, C. Chan, A. Sanchez-Perez, and A. Sacbaja 2017. An interdisciplinary assessment of integrated nematode-soil health management for smallholder potato farming systems in western highlands of Guatemala. Society of Nematologists Annual Meeting proceedings, 83-84.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Target Audience:Agriculturists, biologists, agronomists, economists, ecologists, soil scientists, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Training undergrads and postdocs How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through scientific presentations and discussions. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Work on developing mechanisms of scaleable soil health on loation-specific and/or one-size-fits-all basis.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
There is an increasing emphasis on developing integrated and scalable soil health management strategies in the diverse Michigan agriculture system. In these systems, plant-parasitic nematodes are among the biotic and abiotic yield-limiting factors, and agricultural inputs (fertilizer, nematicides/pesticides and etc.) are applied up to four times per season to deal with yield limiting factors. Among other things, achieving an all-around integrated and scalable soil health management strategy requires an understanding of the agroecosystem complexes. For example, the agricultural landscape in Michigan encompasses six soil groups (orders) scattered mainly in two temperature zones, 40.1-45.0oF (northern half) and 45.1-50.0oF (southern half). Agricultural inputs are generally applied to address the yield-limiting factor(s) with little regard to soil group and/or temperature zones. However, both soil group and temperature affect biological and physiochemical processes that, in turn, influence soil health-driven ecosystem services. Scaling up soil health management within and across cropping systems, soil types (texture-based classification) and soil groups (orders), however, remains challenging. Thus, understanding whether or not the same soil groups have similar or different biological structure in different temperature zones is critical to developing scalable soil health management strategies. We compared a soil type and a soil group based information to assess the scalability issue. First, we tested over two growing seasons how cover (mustard and oilseed radish), rotation (maize and soybean) and sugar beet crops affect soil health in sandy clay loam and loam types. Neither soil type had optimum soil food web structure for agroecosystem and the sandy clay loam soil was more stressed than the loam soil. Across crops the results were not the same within or in both soil types, suggesting distinct interactions. The second study focused on exploring basis for scalability across Udalfs, Psamments and Saprists soil sub-orders (major agricultural soils with contrasting properties) within the 40.1-45.0oF and 45.1-50.0oF temperature zones. Soil samples were collected from natural (pristine forests and other vegetation) and disturbed (agricultural soils with altered biological functions and soil nutrients) landscapes in the northeast and southwest regions which are separated by about 300 miles. Within each landscape, 2-3 fields were selected and 5-10 geo-referenced samples per field were collected from 0-30 cm depth. Soil food web structure varied by temperature zone and/or soil group. Principal component analyses of the measured parameters showed distinct correlation patterns among soil groups, by soil group within a temperature zone, by depth of sampling and/or landscape. A combination of the studies strongly suggests moving to a location- or regional-specific than a one-size-fits-all approach in order to effectively address soil health management strategies.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Mennan, S., Z.T.Z. Maung, J. Gronseth, P.D. Reeb, A.L.M. Smucker, J. Qi, and H. Melakeberhan. 2016. Soil type, soil group and ecoregion based strategies for scalable soil health management in Michigan agriculture. 32nd Symposium of the European Society of Nematologists Meeting Program Abstracts. 111.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2016
Citation:
Mennan, S., J. Gronseth, P.D. Reeb, A.L.M. Smucker, A. Adelaja, J. Warbach, J. Qi, and H. Melakeberhan. 2016. What do soil property and nematode assemblage analyses suggest about integrated soil health management in Michigan agriculture? Joint Meeting of the Society of Nematologists and Organization of Tropical America Nematologists Program Abstracts. 140
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Agriculturists, biologists, agronomists, economists, ecologists, soil scientists, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A postdoc and a Ph. D. student were trained. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Through scientific presentations at conferences whose abstracts are published and publications listed herein. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?On-going are studies to understand the efficiency of agronomic practices on specificity of interactions related to nematode community and soil conditions in cropping systems.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our program focus has been on understanding plant-nematode-plant-nutrient interactions with the goal of developing soil health and nematode management strategies across cropping systems and ecological zones. Critical to achieving the long-term goal is developing models that assess soil conditions in response to treatment and integrated agro-biological, ecological and economic efficiency of the treatments in question. The nematode community analysis based soil food web (SFW) model uses nutrient cycling properties to assess soil conditions and the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) model separates integrated efficiency of soil amendment treatments in question. Both models describe the outcomes in quadrants ranging from worst to best case scenarios. We have bridged the two models by integrating weighted nematode guild functions into the FUE model. We tested the models by analyzing the effects of plant and animal waste compost applied at 135, 203 and 270 kg N per ha to a processing carrot (Daucus carota) cv 'Cupar' under field conditions in 2012-2014. Urea and non-amended check were included as controls. Nematodes were extracted from soil samples collected at planting and harvest, enumerated and assigned to colonizer-persister (c-p 1 to c-p 5) groups. We adopted the SFW model c-p value weightings for c-p 2 to c-p 5 nematodes and added weight for c-p 1 nematodes giving c-p value weighting of 0.2, 0.8, 1.8, 3.2 and 5 for c-p 1, 2, 3 4 c-p 5, respectively. Weighted nematode guild abundance was calculated by multiplying the number of c-p group abundances with their respective c-p group weight and combined to form one value. The results for soil organic matter (OM) and marketable carrot yield were then fitted to the FUE model and the data points appeared in the quadrant for best case scenario for integrated efficiency and agroecosystem suitability. This shows that soil conditions in response to treatment and efficiency of the treatments can be assessed simultaneously, thus enabling cross-disciplinary and integrated decision-making processes when managing soil health and nematodes. On-going are studies to understand the efficiency of agronomic practices on specificity of interactions related to nematode community and soil conditions in cropping systems.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Nair, M.G., Seenivasan, N., Liu, Y., Feick, R.M., Maung, Z.T.A. and Melakeberhan, H. 2015. Leaf constituents of Curcuma spp. suppress Meloidogyne hapla and increase bacterial-feeding nematodes. Nematology 17:353-361.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Habteweld, A., Brainard, D., Ngouajio, M., Kravchenko, A., Grewal, S. P. and Melakeberhan, H. 2015. Integrating the concepts of fertilizer use efficiency and nematode-based soil food web models for broader use in soils health management. 54th Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Program Abstracts. 52.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Habteweld, A., Brainard, D., Ngouajio, M., Kravchenko, A., Grewal, S. P. and Melakeberhan, H. 2015. Impact of compost amendments on soil food web, soil physicochemical properties and carrot yield. 54th Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Program Abstracts. 103.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Maung, Z.T.A., Yildiz, S, Kimenju, W. Kwoseh, C, Saka, V. and Melakeberhan, H. 2015. Soil health in three African soil groups revealed by nematode community analysis. 54th Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Program Abstracts. 63.
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Agriculturists, biologists, agronomists, economists, ecologists, soil scientists, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Graduate training How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Professional meetings What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Continue what we have been doing to advance the science
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
While the impact of terrestrial ecosystem degradation (TED) on sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) food security and loss of biodiversity is well known, the solutions primarily center on fixing soil physiochemical deficiencies through pH and fertilizer management. When there are structural deficits of organic carbon (%C) and nitrogen (%N), both dependent on biological processes to maintain healthy levels, there is a need to integrate soil biology into soil degradation management strategies. This requires quantifying the biological community structure and function that drives the soil food web, the nutrient cycling platform. As part of building a data base for developing scalable models across soil groups (orders) (the plates up on which different cultures stump their ecosystem change footprints), we investigated nematode and microbial communities in Ferralsol, Lithosol, and Nitosol soil groups under subsistence agriculture in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. Extensive analysis of soil samples from disturbed (agricultural or grazing) and undisturbed (pristine forest or natural vegetation) landscapes in two regions separated by about 30 km (Ghana) to 300 km (Kenya and Malawi) north-south direction were conducted. Preliminary results showed: i) lower biodiversity in disturbed than in natural landscapes across soil groups and countries; ii) abundance of trophic groups varied by landscape and soil group while frequency of occurrence varied by soil group; iii) similar nutrient mineralization pathways and depleted soil food web across landscapes, suggesting natural fragileness of the soils; and iv) microbial and nematode communities distinctly separating by soil groups and countries, suggesting that the soil groups have different biological structures. On-going are similar TED analyses is in Michigan soil groups across temperature zones.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Melakeberhan, H. 2014. Increasing student participation to ensure the future of nematology in raising the standard of life in developing countries struggling with ecosystem degradations. Journal of Nematology 46: 205.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Melakeberhan, H., Schmidt. T., Maung, Z.T.A. Teal, T., Yildiz, S., Kimenju, J.W., Kwoseh, C. and Saka, V. 2014. Quantifying biological basis of soil health degradation in selected sub-Saharan Africa soil groups. Journal of Nematology 46: 205.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Thuo, A.K., Kimenju, J.W., Kariuki, G.M., Karuku, G.N., Wendot, P.K. and Melakeberhan, H. 2014. Seasonal variations of nematode assemblages and diversity in Virtisols, Cambisols and Arenosols soil groups in Kenya. Journal of Nematology 46: 247.
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Progress 01/01/13 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Agriculturists, biologists, agronomists, economists, ecologists, soil scientists, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training postdoctoral research associate and graduate student foused on soil health studies. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? At conferences as published in the proceedings What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? On-going are analyses to determine the relationships among organismal communities, ecological disturbances and soil food web systems that will lead to designing soil amendment strategies to fix observed degradations.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We continue to use a combination of biological (nematode community) and physiochemical analyses to understand and to characterize changes in ecosystem services and the soil food web as functions of tillage and cropping systems in Michigan and anthropogenic factors driving land use practices across Ferralsol, Lithosol, and Nitosol soil groups (orders) in rural Ghana, Kenya and Malawi (sub-Saharan Africa climates). An on-going investigation on the effects of agronomic practices (tillage, rotation and germplasm) on soybean cyst nematode’s (SCN, Heterodera glycines) establishment and reproduction when introduced to SCN-virgin land revealed no-till suppresses SCN and SCN did not reached damage threshold levels in over six years after introduction. Thus, providing agro-biologically based timeline information that is critical for SCN and tillage management. Regardless of soil group or landscape, the types of nutritional and physiochemical degradations observed at below-normal and/or present at trace-levels included: soil pH in Ghana and Malawi, organic matter (%C), and organic nitrogen (%N) and available nitrogen (nitrate plus ammonium), in Kenya and Malawi, and P, K, Ca, Mg and CEC in Ghana. On the other hand, the types of biological degradations included: lower nematode and microbial community diversity in disturbed than in natural landscapes, disturbed ecological and soil fertility indices, and diminished soil food web structure. The relationships between soil community profile (as affected by stress or disturbance = Structure Index) and function (as measured by the turnover of opportunistic bacteriovore and fungivore nematodes = Enrichment Index) across soil groups and landscapes indicate that the soil food web status is too depleted to meet agroecosystem demands. A combination of the nutritional and biological degradations suggests that the structural and buffering capacity deficits are unlikely to be fixed without building up soil organic matter. The study shows that these soils are indeed very fragile, a significant step forward in our understanding of what types of treatments may be needed, where and at what levels to remedy identified soil problems that will eventually lead to formulating integrated and transformative policies across sectors (economic, social and health). On-going are analyses to determine the relationships among organismal communities, ecological disturbances and soil food web systems that will lead to designing soil amendment strategies to fix observed degradations.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Maung, Z. T. Z., Yildiz, S., Teal, T.. Gronseth, J., Kwoseh, C., Adjeigyapong, T., Saka, V., Lowole, M., Karuku, G.N., Wachira, P.M., Kimenju, J.W., Qi, J., Schmidt, T., and Melakeberhan, H. 2013. Abundance and frequency of nematodes in Ferralsol, Lithosol and Nitosol soil groups in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. 52nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Meeting, Knoxville, Tennessee
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Maung, Z. T. Z., Yildiz, S., Teal, T.. Gronseth, J., Kwoseh, C., Adjeigyapong, T., Saka, V., Lowole, M., Karuku, G.N., Wachira, P.M., Kimenju, J.W., Qi, J., Schmidt, T. and Melakeberhan, H. 2013. Nematode community analyses to assess the food web structure and ecological disturbances in Ferralsol, Lithosol and Nitosol soil groups in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. 52nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Meeting, Knoxville, Tennessee.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Melakeberhan, H., Maung, Z. T. Z., Yildiz, S., Teal, T.. Gronseth, J., Kwoseh, C., Adjeigyapong, T., Saka, V., Lowole, M., Karuku, G.N., Wachira, P.M., Kimenju, J.W., Qi, J., and Schmidt, T. 2013. Types of biological and nutritional degradations in Ferralsol, Lithosol, and Nitosol soild groups in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. 52nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Meeting, Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Progress 01/01/12 to 12/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Balancing the increasingly intensive land to meet food and fiber production and improving soil ecosystem services for sustained productivity are global challenges. As our program moves from managing herbivore nematodes to managing all nematodes as part of a soil ecosystem, we have been focusing on nematode community analyses to understand ecosystem services and the soil food web across soils groups (orders) and landscapes along with anthropogenic factors driving land use practices in temperate and in sub-Saharan African (SSA) climates. In the temperate climate, Michigan is among the states with glacial soil deposits that fall in a category of multiple levels of degradations, and is dominated by the northward infusion of intensive production of multi-purpose crops such as corn and soybean. The result is often conflicting agronomic, ecological, economic, and biological outcomes associated with changing land use. We investigated natural (pristine forests and native succession vegetation) along with disturbed landscapes associated with agricultural soils having altered biological functions and soil nutrients on selected Udalfs, Psamments and Saprists soil sub-orders within northeast (NE) and southwest (SW) temperature zones of 40.1 - 45.0 F and 45.1 - 50.0 F, respectively. The NE and SW locations were about 300 miles apart between the latitudes of 42o and 45o. The disturbed and natural landscapes within the soil groups were identified using Google Earth and digitized state soil maps. Within a landscape, two to three fields were selected, and 5-10 geo-referenced samples per field collected from 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm depths. Soil properties, nematode assemblage, and bio-control activities were analyzed by soil group. Temperature, landscape and sampling depth and appropriate interactions were also tested. Soil moisture, soil organic matter (SOM), and natural bio-control activity in the top 30 cm revealed no difference between NE and SW locations. However, soil moisture and SOM were higher in disturbed areas than in natural areas. No entomopathogenic nematodes were detected in any of these locations, but total and entomopathogenic fungi-based potential bio-control activities were higher in natural areas than in disturbed areas. Bacteriovore and fungivore nematodes appear to vary by soil group; whereas, herbivore and predacious nematode groups varied by temperature and soil groups. In SSA, degrading soil health is a major challenge to reducing poverty. Without addressing soil degradations, vital ecosystem services are unlikely to return to nor remain at levels that can sustain viable human populations. Using nematode assemblage and total microbial analyses as major soil ecosystem change indicators, an investigation was conducted to establish baseline information on biological structure and function of Ferralsols, Lithosols and Nitosols in different regions and production practices of Ghana, Malawi and Kenya. Preliminary analyses indicate that microbial and organismal community structures vary by soil group, landscape and region, suggesting that one-size-fits-all approaches to managing soil-driven problems need to be reconsidered. PARTICIPANTS: Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Economics, Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, Department of Geography, Department of Microbial and Molecular Genetics, Land Policy Institute, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, New Partnership for African Development, Ohio State University, and Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey, University of Nairobi, Kenya, University Malawi, Malawi. TARGET AUDIENCES: Agriculturists, biologists, agronomists, economists, ecologists, soil scientists, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Building a foundation up on which agronomically, biologically, economically, and environmentally sound and integrated soil health management strategies could be practiced across disturbed and natural landscapes to improve ecosystem health and reduce poverty.
Publications
- Mennan S., van Ravansway, J., Cheng, Z., Bal, H.K., Grewal, P.S., Smucker, A.J.M., Adelaja, A., Warbach, J., Qi, J., and Melakeberhan, H. (2012). Comparative analyses of nematode community and ecosystem services in agricultural and natural ecosystems of selected Michigan soil groups. 51st Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Meeting, Savannah, Georgia. Senol Y., Teal, T., Mkandawire, R., van Ravansway, J., Thuo, A., Kwoseh, C., Adjei-Gyapong, T., Saka, V., Lowole, M., Karuku, G.N., Wachira, P.M., Gathaara, V.N, Kimenju, J.W., Qi, J., Schmidt, T., and Melakeberhan, H. (2012). Collaborative efforts towards understanding the structures and functions of selected soil groups in rural Ghana,Malawi and Kenya. 51st Annual Meeting of the Society of Nematologists Meeting, Savannah, Georgia.
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Building on progresses made on understating of host-nematode-soil-nutrient interactions and development of the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) model's ability to assess agronomic, economic, ecological, environmental, and nematode management efficiency of soil amendments, we have taken significant steps towards the goal of managing all nematodes as part of a soil ecosystem. New and on-going are projects that incorporate analysis of nematode assemblage as indicator of soil health in perennial production systems, comparing soil groups (orders) in agricultural and natural (undisturbed) landscapes across temperature zones, and in annual production systems by imposing cover crops (vegetables) and tillage and rotation systems (corn and soybean). Preliminary analyses indicate: i) unbalanced distribution of the virus-vectoring dagger nematode (Xiphinema spp.) in relation to other nematodes within perennial rhizosphere and ii) nematode communities appear to be different in the same soils at different temperatures. PARTICIPANTS: Crop and Soil Sciences, Plant Pathology, Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Land Policy Institute, Ohio State University, and Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. TARGET AUDIENCES: Agriculturists, biologists, agronomists, economists, ecologists, soil scientists, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Building a foundation up on which agronomically, biologically, economically, and environmentally sound and integrated soil health management strategies could be practiced across disturbed and natural ecosystems.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Efficient use of soil amendment, which requires bridging key gaps in assessing integrated agro-biological, ecological, economical, and environmental efficiency of soil manipulation practices in time and space across ecosystems, is likely to remain an integral part of managing biotic and/or abiotic yield limiting factors. Using the effects of nutrient amendment on SCN population density and normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI, indicator of physiological activities) of a soybean cultivar CX 252, the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) model's ability to assess agronomic, economic, ecological, environmental, and nematode (pest) management efficiency of soil amendments under field conditions was validated. Analyses of variance showed no statistical difference between nutrient-amended and non-amended treatments, leading to a conclusion that nutrient amendment does not work. Subjecting the same data set to the FUE model, four clusters of responses were observed: a) increase of SCN and NDVI 62% of the times (best case), b) no simultaneous increase of SCN and NDVI, c) decrease of SCN and NDVI (22%), and d) increase of SCN and decrease NDVI (18%, worst case). The FUE's ability to identify separate responses and overlapping interactions makes designing integrated and potentially sustainable solutions possible. PARTICIPANTS: Departments of Crops and Soil Science and Entomology TARGET AUDIENCES: Crop protection consultants, precision yield-limiting management specialists, agronomists, ecologists, soil scientists, fertilizer industry, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Describes critical analyses models to determining nematode induced crop yield loss and builds a foundation upon which agronomically, biologically, economically, and environmentally sound and integrated nematode suppressing and yield increasing practices can be managed.
Publications
- Melakeberhan, H. 2010. Assessing cross-disciplinary efficiency of soil amendments for agrobiologically, economically, and ecologically integrated soil health management. Journal of Nematology, 42: 73-77.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Maintaining soil's biological, physiochemical, nutritional, and structural health is necessary to formulate the foundation for food security and global ecosystem sustainability. However, soil degradations in natural, managed, and disturbed ecosystems present mitigation and/or adaptation challenges and will require integrated approaches to solve. These include identifying soil biological conditions and nutrient cycling processes in rehabilitating soil degradations and maintaining healthy ecosystems. While there is a substantial body of interdisciplinary science on understanding function and structure of soil ecosystems, key gaps in assessing integrated agrobiological, ecological, economical, and environmental efficiency of soil manipulation practices in time and space across ecosystems must be bridged. In the process, disciplinary boundaries' rigidities remain a major challenge. Against this background, modifying and expanding the fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) model continues to be a major program effort. The FUE separates nutrient deficiency and toxicity from nematode parasitism as well as suitability of treatments designed to achieve desired biological and physiochemical soil health conditions for assessing agronomic, economic, ecological, environmental, and nematode (pest) management efficiency of soil amendments (organic or synthetic). Among other things, we have made significant progress in three areas: i) Integrating nematode community structure's (NCS) as indicator and nutrient cycling traits into the model, a critical step towards linking agriculture and ecology; ii) Managing all nematodes (herbivores and non-herbivores) as part of a soil ecosystem, laying the ground work for developing integrated soil biological adjustment markers in a given ecosystem, and iii) Cross disciplinary awareness and education. In addition to local and regional stakeholders, preliminary results have been presented to the scientific community at three invited international conferences and symposia. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: The audiences to benefit from this project include field crops, crop protection consultants, precision yield-limiting management specialists, agronomists, ecologists, soil scientists, fertilizer industry, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Describes critical models to determining nematode induced crop yield loss and builds a foundation upon which agronomically, biologically, economically, and environmentally sound and integrated nematode suppressing and yield increasing practices can be managed.
Publications
- Melakeberhan, H. 2009a. Cross-disciplinary efficiency assessment of soil amendments. Proceeding of the Joint Meeting of the Society of Nematologists and Soil Ecology Society. 146. Melakeberhan, H. 2009b. Fertilizer use efficiency model for managing nematodes and plant, soil and environmental health. SSSA, S 4. Melakeberhan, H. 2009c. Perspectives for nematology education in the 21 Century: Lessons from the past to make the future better. Proceeding of the Joint Meeting of the Brazilian Society of Nematologists and Society of Tropical American Nematologists.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Site-specific (precision) management (SSM) has potential for application in managing nematodes and soil conditions in environmentally meaningful ways. Successful application of SSM, however, may be dependent on how agronomically, biologically, and ecologically integrated the plan in question is. Otherwise, SSM risks falling into the Tried but did not last category, and nematode and other biotic and abiotic factors induced crop losses will continue. With this background, we have described the following three interrelated points: First, case studies of spatiotemporal analysis of soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines) infestations, soil conditions and crop yield in managed ecosystems. Among the critical factors to an accurate and sustained application of SSM are understanding i) the temporal structure and ii) the spatial structure of the attribute in question, and iii) establishing cause-and-effect relationships in the prevailing conditions. New approaches to temporal structure analysis when balancing the purpose of SSM application and nematode biology (as it relates to life stages), population density in soil and root tissue (to determine threshold), and damage functions (physiological stress of the plant during the growing season) are outlined. Second, application of the concept of fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) to identify soil conditions when managing soil fertility. Defined as increase in host productivity and/or decrease in plant-parasitic nematode population density in response to a given fertilizer treatment, the FUE model recognizes variable responses and identifies four categories of interactions necessary for integrated management decision-making options that account for agronomic, economic, ecological and environmental and pest management issues. Third, approaches to changing soil conditions in agro-biologically integrated ways. By incorporating nematode community structure (an excellent indicator of soil bio-ecological changes), soil nutrient amendments and crop yield, we have described a modification of the FUE model to identify and monitor changes in soil conditions, thereby creating the necessary bridges to disciplinary and cross-disciplinary gaps and interactions.Results have been disseminated to stakeholders and the scientific community at regional, national and international conferences and symposia. PARTICIPANTS: Felicitas Avendano, a postdoctoral fellow at Iowa State University (former Ph. D. student here), now an assistant professor at Grand View University, Des Moines, IA, and Julie Nicol of CIMMYT, Turkey, were contributors. TARGET AUDIENCES: The audiences to benefit from this project include field crops (soybean industry primary), crop protection consultants, precision yield-limiting management specialists, agronomists, soil scientists, fertilizer industry, agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments, and policy makers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Describes critical models to determining nematode induced crop yield loss and builds a foundation upon which agronomically, biologically, economically, and environmentally sound and integrated nematode suppressing and yield increasing practices can be managed.
Publications
- Melakeberhan, H. 2008. Nutrient use efficiency and precision management of nematodes: Concepts and possibilities. Nematologia Brasileira, 32:1-12. Melakeberhan, H. 2008. Roles for nematology in understanding renewable energy needs and balancing food and socio-economic interests. 5th International Congress of Nematology, Brisbane Australia, Program Abstracts (P 117). Melakeberhan, H., and Avendano, M. F. 2008. Spatiotemporal consideration of soil conditions and site-specific management of nematodes. Precision Agriculture, 9:341-354. Melakeberhan, H., and Nicol, J. 2008. Understanding challenges to creating bridges with developing regions. 5th International Congress of Nematology, Brisbane, Australia, Program Abstracts (P 103).
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) continues to spread in soils receiving many forms of soil nutrient amendments, including small amounts of N although applied with no particular reference to SCN and or other stress inducing factors. As part of developing alternative management strategies through spatiotemporal understanding of soil, nematode and nutrient interactions, the effect of starter N application on yield of SCN resistant (Jack) and two susceptible (CX 252 and Kenwood 94) soybean cultivars under high and low SCN and other soil abiotic stresses was studied over two seasons. A new concept of daily nematode population density (DNPD), which is the sum of nematode population densities in unit of soil and root at each sampling time divided by the number of days from the first to the last sampling time, was utilized to estimate the physiological impact of SCN over a growing season. Fertilizer was at 112.09 kg per ha of 6 15 40 (N P K) containing
urea (N), or 0 15 40 (N P K) (no N) or a no fertilizer check (0). Yield was higher under low compared to high stress during both years, with Jack producing the highest yield and Kenwood 94 the lowest. While not statistically significant, N tended to decrease nodulation and increase yield under low stress in all cultivars. Nodulation was correlated positively with yield and negatively with DNPD, suggesting potential problems for N supply under nematode infestation. The susceptible cultivars accumulated significantly more leaf Ca and Mg than Jack, which was more pronounced in the presence of high rather than low stress, confirming known responses to stress. At high stress, only CX 252 showed a yield increase in response to N treatment, suggesting possible physiological adaptation mechanisms. The need for future research that account for the relationships amongst DNPD, frequency of sampling, and host response to better understand confounding factors and to conclusively prove or disprove
any benefits from supplementary N under SCN infestation have been documented.
PARTICIPANTS: Several under graduate students participated in the execution and data collection of the studies.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The audiences to benefit from this project include soybean industry (primary), crop protection consultants, precision yield-limiting management specialists, agronomists, soil scientists, fertilizer industry, and agencies interested in ecologically and biologically sustainable production environments.
PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None.
Impacts
Builds a critical foundation upon which agronomically, biologically, economically, and environmentally sound and integrated nematode suppression and yield increase can be managed.
Publications
- Melakeberhan, H. 2007. Nutrient use efficiency and precision management of nematode-Concepts and possibilities. 27th Congress of the Brazilian Society of Nematologists Program Abstracts (P 34). Melakeberhan, H. 2007. Spatio temporal analysis of soil conditions and site specific management of nematodes. 2nd Conference on Precision Crop Protection, University of Bonn, Germany (P 81).
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Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06
Outputs
The soybean cyst nematode (Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) is among the economically significant and widely distributed nematodes in US farming systems with high degree of soil and production practice heterogeneity. Often such soils receive either organic and/or inorganic forms of amendments to improve productivity, with significant implications on soil nutrient dynamics, which, in turn, can affect pest management and agronomic practices. For example, increasing soil nutrition can cause a plant to perform better under nematode (and other pest) stress compared to low nutrient conditions. In order to best use soil nutrients and regardless of how they are added to the soil, however, it is important to understand nutrient use efficiency (NUE). Defined as the amount of yield per unit of nutrient element (e.g. N, P, K), NUE is often used to identify agronomic and ecological adaptation traits. Where no nutrient elemental analysis is available, fertilizer use efficiency (FUE)
will suffice. FUE is defined as increase in host productivity and/or decrease in nematode population density in response to a given fertilizer treatment. The terms NUE or FUE however may have slightly different meaning to an agronomist, who looks at plant productivity (eg. growth or photosynthesis), and to a nematologist, who includes nematode population dynamics. A new model that distinguishes multiple categories of FUE and that bridges many disciplinary gaps has been developed. For example, when fertilizer is applied, plant productivity (Y-axis) may or may not increase, and with or without correlation to nematode population density (X-axis). By expressing the data on the same scale (as percent of control) and plotting the relationships of X and Y, it is possible to distinguish FUE categories of efficient for: (A) host and nematode, (B) host, (C) nematode, and (D) neither. If the interactions fall in Category A, best case FUE scenario, fertilizer application can be a stand-alone
management strategy. If the interactions result in Categories B and C, complimentary nematode suppressing and host productivity improving tactics, respectively, would have to be added. If the interactions result in Category D, fertilizer application has no economic benefit-only environmental problems.
Impacts
Building on quantifying variables that confound local and regional nematode management decision-making processes, the new approaches to identifying FUE for host productivity in the presence of nematodes provide data that are key to developing future cultivars and nematode management practices in economically and ecologically sound ways.
Publications
- Donald, P.A., Pierson, P.E., St. Martin, S.K., Sellers, P.R., Noel, G.R., MacGuidwin, A.E., Faghihi, J., Ferris, V.R., Grau, C.R., Jardine, D.J., Melakeberhan, H., Niblack, T.L., Stienstra, W.C., Tylka, G.L., Wheeler, T.A., and Wysong, D.S. 2006. Yield of soybean cyst nematode-resistant and susceptible cultivars in infested and noninfested soil in the North Central USA. Journal of Nematology, 38:76-82. Melakeberhan, H. 2006. Fertiliser use efficiency of soybean cultivars infected with Meloidogyne incognita and Pratylenchus penetrans. Nematology, 8:129-137. Melakeberhan, H. 2006. Nutrient management strategies under nematode infestation. XXVIII European Society of Nematologists Symposium, 49. Melakeberhan, H. 2006. Nematological and agronomic approaches to nutrient use efficiency: Bridging the gaps. Journal of Nematology, 38:282-283.
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Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05
Outputs
Distributed throughout soybean production regions of the USA, the soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines Ichinohe) continues to be a major yield limiting pest. To assess the impact on yield of planting SCN resistant and susceptible soybean cultivars in SCN infested or uninfested fields on soybean yield, research sites were established in 1994 and 1995 in 63 fields that were either SCN-infested or uninfested in 10 states in the north central USA. Eight SCN resistant and eight SCN-susceptible public soybean cultivars representing maturity groups (MG) I to IV were planted at each site. Overall, soybean yields ranged from 658 to 3840 kg per ha. SCN resistant cultivars yielded more than susceptible cultivars in SCN-infested sites but not at uninfested sites. Highly significant interactions were measured among initial nematode population, cultivar, and location. Owing to the significance of location, no region-wide predictive equations could be developed for yield
loss based on initial nematode population densities in the soil. Yield loss due to SCN was confounded by other stress factors which included temperature and moisture extremes. In an effort to offset SCN and other stress induced yield differences, an SCN resistant (Jack) and two susceptible (CX 252 and Kenwood 94) soybean cultivars MG III were planted in high and low stress field plots treated with either none (control) or standard fertilizer rates with and without nitrogen in 1998 and 1999. Preplant soil nutrient and soil pH analysis showed no difference among plots. Generally N, P, and K were higher in leaves from the low stress than from the high stress area, but the reverse was true for Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe and Al, suggesting soil driven nutrient uptake imbalance. Jack accumulated less Fe and Al than either CX 252 or Kenwood 94, indicating differences in nutrient metabolism and in dealing with soil driven stresses among the cultivars. Nutrient treatment had no significant effect on
nematode population dynamics measured monthly throughout the growing season. Seed yield was higher in the low stress compared with the high stress condition. While not statistically significant and decreased nodulation, application of nitrogen increased yield compared with the controls or fertilizer without nitrogen. These results suggest that supplementary nitrogen may be necessary to compensate for SCN induced damage, but significant challenges remain in separating and quantifying confounding factors.
Impacts
Quantifies variables that confound local and regional SCN management decision making, thereby providing basis for developing biologically and ecologically integrated management practices.
Publications
- Donald, P.A., Pierson, P.E., St. Martin, S.K., Sellers, P.R., Noel, G.R., MacGuidwin, A.E., Faghihi, J., Ferris, V.R., Grau, C.R., Jardine, D.J., Melakeberhan, H., Niblack, T.L., Stienstra, W.C., Tylka, G.L., Wheeler, T.A., and Wysong, D.S. 2005. Soybean Cyst Nematode-Resistant and Susceptible Cultivar Yield in Infested Soil in North Central USA. Journal of Nematology, 37:366-367. Melakeberhan, H. 2005. The relationships among soil conditions, fertilizer, Heterodera glycines population density, and soybean yield. Journal of Nematology, 37:383.
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Following our earlier studies on the physiological basis of host-nematode-nutrient interactions, we have been assessing how an understanding of biological interactions may be used for site-specific management of nematodes. In the first study, the spatio-temporal relationships between soybean cyst nematode (SCN) developmental stages in root and soil and soil texture were examined in two Michigan fields. Cyst population density was positively correlated with sand, and negatively correlated with clay and silt proportion within the percentage ranges of 45 to 80 sand, 8 to 23 clay, and 8 to 43 silt, respectively, in one field but not in the other. Coarser soils supported higher SCN population density than finer soils delineating areas of high or low population density within the field. The effect of soil texture was weaker on the third and fourth larval stages and immature females, and not significant on infective larvae in the host roots. It is not clear from this work
whether the effect of soil texture on the number of eggs per cyst was on fecundity (egg production) or on hatching. The stability in the relationship between SCN spatial population dynamics and soil properties indicates the potential for delineation of management zones to reduce the economic loss due to SCN in infested fields. In the second study, the spatial relationships among SCN population density, soil fertility, soil texture and soybean yield were examined. Soil samples collected following a geostatistical sampling design were analyzed for SCN, soil texture and soil fertility. Soybean yield was recorded with a commercial yield monitoring system mounted on the combine connected to a GPS receiver. Correlation and geostatistical analyses were applied to study spatial relations among SCN, soil texture, pH, P, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations, and yield. The spatial distribution of SCN was correlated with soil pH and soil texture consistently over time. High SCN population density and
high soil pH were spatially correlated up to a range of 60 to 70 m in Field A and 120 to 130 m in Field B. SCN was negatively correlated with Ca concentration up to a range of 110 m in Field B, the correlation was weaker in Field A. Soil texture, soil pH and Ca concentration had strong spatial correlation with yield, and a large degree of cross-correlation was observed between yield and these variables in Field B. Thus, providing the basis for future work on delineating nutrient management zones for SCN infested sites. In fields where soil properties and SCN densities appear spatially structured, and where there is a history of yield spatial variability due to the combined effect of SCN and unfavorable soil conditions, management zone delineation could be an appropriate strategy to overcome yield losses.
Impacts
Provides basis for developing biologically and ecologically integrated site specific nematode management strategies. Anticipated economic benefits will be significant.
Publications
- Avendano, F., Pierce, F.J., and Melakeberhan, H. 2004. The relationship between Heterodera glycines seasonal population dynamics and soil texture. Nematology, 6:511-526. Avendano, F., Pierce, F.J., and Melakeberhan, H. 2004. Spatial analysis of soybean yield in relation to soil texture, soil fertility and soybean cyst nematode. Nematology, 6:527-546. Avendano, F., Pierce, F.J., Schabenberger, O., and Melakeberhan, H. 2004. The spatial distribution of soybean cyst nematode in relation to soil texture and soil map unit. Agronomy Journal, 96:181-194. Melakeberhan, H. 2004. Physiological interaction between nematodes and their host plants. Pages 771-794 in: Chen, Z.X., Chen, S. Y., and Dickson, D. W. eds. Nematology, Advances and Perspectives. Volume II: Nematode Morphology, Physiology, and Ecology. Frontiers of Science and Technology for the 21st Century Series. CABI International and Tsinghua University Press, China.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Evidence suggests that variation in soil texture may be a key variable to explain the variability of soybean cyst nematode (SCN), Heterodera glycines Ichinohe, population density within infected fields and be important to the delineation of SCN management zones. The purpose of this work was to assess the spatial structure of soil texture in two fields of known SCN population density and its relationship to published soil survey maps; and to quantify the relationship between sand, silt, and clay with SCN population density variability across fields and over time. Cysts were extracted by elutriation from single-core soil samples collected in a geostatistical sampling design. Soil texture analysis was performed for a subset of samples from each field using a modified hydrometer method. Classical and geostatistical analyses were employed to characterize and map soil texture for each field and analyze the effect of sand, silt, and clay on SCN population. Cyst population
density was consistently higher in loamy sand than in sandy clay loam. The proportions of sand, clay, and silt in the soil were spatially structured and affected SCN population density strongly and consistently over time. The number of eggs per cysts was not related to soil type or texture. This study demonstrates the value of soil survey maps as indicators of where SCN can be expected in an infected field and how the addition of site-specific texture data can improve the spatial prediction of SCN. In addition to providing the basis for future experimentation to define soil texture tolerance limits for SCN, this study lays out foundations for new and integrated approaches to site-specific management of SCN.
Impacts
Environmental restriction of chemical management, depleted soil conditions, and limited sources of resistance are among the reasons that plant-parasitic nematodes continue to be a problem in agriculture. This project continues to build the necessary data-base for developing site-specific management of nematodes through understanding nematode spatio-temporal dynamics and the prevailing environmental conditions. Anticipated economic benefits will be significant.
Publications
- Avendano, F., Pierce, F.J., Schabenberger, O., and Melakeberhan H. 2003. The spatial distribution of soybean cyst nematode in relation to soil texture and soil map unit. Agronomy Journal, 95:936-948.
- Avendano, F., and Melakeberhan H. 2003. Spatio-temporal analysis of Heterodera glycines, soybean cyst nematode, and soil fertility. Journal of Nematology, 35: In press.
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Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
Plant-parasitic nematodes are among the yield-limiting biotic factors through disrupting normal host physiology, which may alleviated by manipulating soil nutrient and related plat-health optimizing practices. The increasing ecological awareness and precision agriculture (PA) technologies provide more and better opportunities for managing nematodes and other yield-limiting factors. PA is providing an information revolution utilizing global positioning (GPS) and geographic information (GIS) systems and remote sensing (RS). These technologies enable for better decision making in the management of crop yield-limiting biotic and abiotic factors and their interactions on a site-specific (SSM) basis in a wide range of production systems. Characterizing the nature of the problem(s) and public education are among the challenges that scientists, producers and industry face when adapting PA technologies. In order to apply SSM, spatio-temporal characteristics of the problem(s)
need to be determined and variations within a field demonstrated. Spatio-temporal characteristics of a given pathogen or pest problem may be known, but it may not be the only or primary cause of the problem. Hence, the exact cause-and-effect relationships need to be established by incorporating GIS, GPS and RS generated data as well as possible interactions. Exploiting the potential of PA technologies in sustainable ways depends on whether or not we first ask "Are we doing the right thing?" (strategic) as opposed to "Are we doing it right ?" (tactical).
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Cottrell, N., Grafius, E., and Melakeberhan, H. 2002. Control of Colorado potato beetle with the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis marelatus. Nematology, 4:191.
- Melakeberhan, H. 2002. Embracing the Emerging Precision Agriculture Technologies for Site-specific Management of Yield-limiting factors. Journal of Nematology, 34: 185-188.
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Progress 01/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
This study was conducted as part of a program dealing with the relationships among biotic and abiotic yield-limiting factors and plant stress physiology. The effects of soil pH (3.9 to 7.0) on soil and plant nutrient imbalance and mortality of standard (Mazzard and Maheleb) and new (GI-148-1 and GI148-8) rootstocks were determined under controlled conditions. Seedling mortality and soil Ca in all rootstocks and soil K and leaf Ca, K, Al and Mn contents in all rootstocks but GI148-8) were higher at below optimum than at optimum soil pH. The nutrient imbalance suggests that the adaptation of these rootstocks to biotic and abiotic factors need to be considered.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Cottrell, N., Grafius, E., and Melakeberhan, H. 2001. Potential management of Colorado potato beetle with the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis marelatus. Journal of Nematology, 33: in press.
- Melakeberhan, H. 2001. Embracing the emerging precision agriculture technologies-symposium introduction. Journal of Nematology, 33: in press.
- Melakeberhan, H., Jones, A. L., and Bird, G.W. 2001. Soil pH affects nutrition balance of cherry rootstocks. HortScience, 36: 916-917.
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Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycines), a serious pest of soybeans, has been found in 27 counties in Michigan. Phytophthora sojae, a serious and opportunistic fungal pathogen of soybeans, has also been found in many of the fields. This study was conducted to assess the incidence of P. sojae in 12 selected soybean cultivars grown under low (fumigated) and high (non-fumigated) SCN conditions and nutrient stress. A total of 70 soil and root and stem samples (same plant) from each nematicide treatment were analyzed for SCN population densities and P. sojae. The incidence of P. sojae was highly correlated with SCN population densities in the untreated plots; whereas, both organisms were low in the treated plots and poorly correlated. Leaf N and K were significantly higher in nematicide treated plots while the reverse was true for Ca, Al, and Fe. Leaf P and Mg contents were similar in both nematicide treatments. The results suggest that SCN and nutrient stress may
increase the incidence of P. sojae. Hence, management recommendations need to consider biotic and abiotic factors.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Cottrell, N., Grafius, E., and Melakeberhan, H. 2000. The effects of soil moisture and soil type on the survival and pathogenicity of Heterorhabditis marelatus. Journal of Nematology, 32: in press.
- Kaitany, R., Melakeberhan, H., Bird, G. W., and Safir, G. 2000. Association of Phytophthora sojae with Heterodera glycines and nutrient stress. Nematropica, 30: 193-199
- Melakeberhan, H., Jones, A.L., and Bird, G.W. 2000. Effects of soil pH and Pratylenchus penetrans on the pathogenesis of Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and Mazzard seedling mortality. Canadian Journal of Plant Pathology, 22: 131-137.
- Stein, C., Masten, A., S., Melakeberhan, H., and Yokoyama, M. 2000. Effect of ozonated and unozonated swine manure and urine on hatching and survival of Heterodera glycines. Journal of Nematology, 32: in press.
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Progress 01/01/99 to 12/31/99
Outputs
Three decision-criteria, relative bean yield, Heterodera glycines (soybean cyst nematode) population density and an index of tolerance were used for identification of Maturity Group I - III Glycines max (soybean) cultivars with tolerance to soybean cyst nematode (SCN). The identification protocol included two greenhouse and two field assessments. The evaluation was initiated with 50 soybean cultivars, including two with known resistance to SCN. Results from the greenhouse assessments indicated that 37 of the cultivars were susceptible to SCN. Jack, a public cultivar resistant to SCN and the 11 cultivars with high relative bean yields, high relative SCN population density and a high tolerance index were selected for evaluation under SCN-infested and nematicide-treated field conditions. Following two growing seasons of field evaluation, CX 252, a Maturity Group II cultivar from Dekalb, was the only cultivar that met the three decision criteria. Soybean leaf
concentrations of N, P, K, Mg, Ca, Al, or Fe were similar among all cultivars in nematicide treated plots, while N, P, Mg, Al, and Fe concentrations differed among cultivars in the untreated plots. The SCN resistant cultivar, Jack, had the highest concentrations of N, P, K and the lowest concentrations of Mg, Ca, Al, and Fe followed by CX 252. Thus, indicating that both Jack and CX 252 may have traits that allow them to tolerate stress such as host nutrient imbalance.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Donald, P., Noel, G. R., Melakeberhan, H., Ndeme, A. Tylka, G. L., Chen, S., Riggs, R. D., Niblack, T., Herschman, D., Faghihi, J., MacGuidwin, A., Welacky, T., and Anderson, T. 1999. Effects of new soybean production practices on soybean cyst nematode and associated yield losses. First National Soybean Cyst Nematode Conference, Orlando, Fl, USA. Page 15.
- Donald, P., Noel, G. R., Melakeberhan, H., Ndeme, A. Tylka, G. L., Chen, S., Riggs, R. D., Niblack, T., Herschman, D., Faghihi, J., MacGuidwin, A., Welacky, T., and Anderson, T. 1999. Ten state evaluation of selected new agronomic practices on soybean cyst nematode. Journal of Nematology, 31: in press.
- Melakeberhan, H. 1999a. Is there a potential for nutrient-based Heterodera glycines management in soybeans. VI World Soybean Research Conference, Chicago, IL, USA. Pages 613-614.
- Melakeberhan, H. 1999b. Effect of nutrient source on the physiological mechanisms of Heterodera glycines and soybean genotype interactions. Nematology 1: 113-120.
- Melakeberhan, H., Bird, G. W. 1999. Greenhouse and field screening procedures for Heterodera glycines tolerance. Journal of Nematology 31: in press.
- Melakeberhan, H., Dey, J. 1999. Effect of Heterodera glycines on Meloidogyne incognita and Pratylenchus penetrans infection. Journal of Nematology 31: in press.
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Progress 01/01/98 to 12/31/98
Outputs
The effect of Heterodera glycines on H. glycines-resistant 'Bryan', susceptible-tolerant 'G88-20092', and susceptible-intolerant 'Tracy M' soybean cultivars grown in Hoagland solution (HS), HS without nitrogen (HS-N), or water treatments was studied for 25/26 days under greenhouse conditions (26 to 30 C). Few of the 15 000 eggs per 800 cc of soil infected Bryan while G88-20092 and Tracy M were severely infected, and photosynthesized and grew less in water and HS-N. Although less than the controls, photosynthetic rate in HS treatments was more than in Water or HS-N. Nodulation was less in H. glycines than in the controls, and in HS than in water and HS-N treatments. However, more nitrogen was present in soil from HS than from HS-N or water treatments. Generally, cysts developed slower and had fewer eggs in HS followed by HS-N than in the water treatments. The results support the hypothesis that nematode infected plants do better under balanced nutrition than under
nutrient deficient conditions. It is postulated that the slowed-down nematode development and/or diminished reproductive potential might be host-mediated.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Melakeberhan, H. 1998. Pathogenicity of Pratylenchus penetrans, Heterodera glycines, and Meloidogyne incognita on soybean genotypes. Journal of Nematology 30:93-98.
- Melakeberhan, H. 1998. Effects of temperature and nitrogen source on tomato genotypes response to Meloidogyne incognita. Fundamental and Applied Nematology 21: 25-32.
- Ehrlich, S.M., Smith, T.C. and Melakeberhan, H. 1998. Effect of nutrient solution and pH on embryogenesis of Meloidogyne incognita. Journal of Nematology 30: In press.
- Melakeberhan, H. 1998. Influence of mineral nutrition on the development of Heterodera glycines and plant-nutrient dynamics. Nematologica 47: In press.
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Progress 01/01/97 to 12/31/97
Outputs
A hypothesis that plants grown under optimal or above optimal nutrient conditions are affected less by nematode infection than those grown under suboptimal nutrient conditions was tested on cherry and soybeans. Four Prunus avium rootstocks (Mazzard, Mahaleb, GI148-1, and GI148-8) infected with 0 (control) or 1,500 Pratylenchus penetrans per g fresh root weight over 3 months showed that optimum nutrient regime resulted in greater plant growth, soil and leaf concentrations of most macro, and fewer P. penetrans than under the nutrient deficient regime. Heterodera glycines resistant (Bryan), susceptible-tolerant (G88-20092), and susceptible-intolerant (Tracy M) soybean cultivars infected with 0 (check), 6,000 H. glycines, Meloidogyne incognita, and P. penetrans per 800 cc soil separately was investigated under greenhouse conditions (25 C) over 5 weeks showed that daily fertilized resulted in in bigger plants and fewer H. glycines and M. incognita from twice-weekly
fertilized treatments. Both studies seem to indicate that healthy-plant based nutrient recommendations may not be adequate under nematode infested conditions.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- MELAKEBERHAN, H. 1997a. Effect of temperature and nitrogen source on tomato genotypes response to Meloidogyne incognita. Fundamental and Applied Nematology, 20: In Press.
- MELAKEBERHAN, H. 1997b. Plant, nematode and nutrient relations: an overview. Japanese Journal of Nematology, 27: 30-41.
- MELAKEBERHAN, H., G. W. BIRD, AND R. GORE. 1997. Impact of nutrients on Pratylenchus penetrans infection of Prunus avium rootstocks. Journal of Nematology, 29: 381-388.
- BIRD, G. W. AND H. MELAKEBERHAN H. 1997. Role of plant parasitic nematodes and other factors in Michigan sweet cherry production Journal of Nematology, 29: In Press (abstr.).
- MELAKEBERHAN, H., A. L. JONES, AND G. W. BIRD. 1997. Implications of low soil pH on the sustainability of sweet cherry trees. Proceedings of IV International Symposium on Plant-Soil Interactions at Low pH. In press (abstr.).
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Progress 01/01/96 to 12/30/96
Outputs
The fundamental question was do root-lesion (Pp), soybean cyst (Hg) and root-knot (Mi) nematodes affect the growth and physiology of Hg-resistant (Bryan), -tolerant (G88-20092) and -susceptible (Tracy M) soybean cultivars in similar ways. Growth and shoot N of Tracy M by Hg and Mi and G88-20092 by Mi were affected at 750 eggs / 100 cm 3 soil at 45 days. Combined inocula resulted in fewer infection compared with separate inocula, and Hg had the fewest numbers. Whether or not this is due to competition or host-mediated factors is being investigated. Photosynthesis of Tracy M and G88-20092 was affected by Mi and Hg at 1,875/100 cm 3 soil in 30 days. Although effects varied by cultivar, nematodes, parameter and duration of infection, the answer to the question has to be yes if nematodes reach a damage threshold level. The mission-oriented question was can the effect of nematodes be alleviated. Increasing balanced nutrient supply increased plant growth, nutrient uptake,
generally fewer nematodes, and physiological efficiency of nematode infected plants than increasing select nutrients. However, nodulation was decreased. While nodulation was increased by removing N from the solution and more so in the absence than in the presence of nematodes, the levels of N from nodulation were less than from the solution. The mechanisms by which nutrients affect nematode development and infective behavior are on-going.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- MELAKEBERHAN. 1996. Effect of nutrition on Glycine max response to nematode infection. Phytopathology, 83:46.
- MELAKEBERHAN, H. 1997. Damage threshold of Pratylenchus penetrans, Heterodera glycines, and Meloidogyne incognita on soybean genotypes. Journal of Nematology,29: In press.
- MELAKEBERHAN, H. 1997. Role of plant nutrition on alleviating nematode parasitism. XIII International Colloquium on Plant Nutrition Proceedings (Japan): Accepted.
- MELAKEBERHAN, H., KELLY, M.E., OMER, M. 1997. Implications of soil nutrient manipulation on nematode management. Journal of Nematology, 29: In press.
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