Equipment for strip-till planting is under development in wheat-fallow
rotations in the Columbia Basin of Oregon. This involves the
absence of tillage during the fallow season. At planting time, the
strip-till planter creates a narrow band into which the wheat seed is
placed. The area between the rows is undisturbed...
Epigenetic mechanisms are important for control of plant development, and may play a particularly important role in trees given their long life cycles and distinctive and stable tissue types. To help understand the role of epigenetics in tree development, we produced transgenic poplars with reduced activity of the DDM1 genes,...
Forest species classifications are becoming increasingly automated as advances are made in machine learning. The algorithms used to identify tree species range from simple decision trees to intricate neural networks, and often excel in accurately delineating tree species. However, complex algorithms can have high input costs, including the cost of...
Five simulated precipitation patterns characteristic of the Columbia
Basin and Plateau region and six fertilization rates were evaluated
for their effect on percent crude protein, percent in vitro dry matter
digestibility, fiber content, and yield of wheat aftermath on a commercial
farm in north central Oregon.
The higher moisture regimes...
Daily cyclical changes of light are brought on by the axial rotation of the Earth while seasonal changes in light are caused by Earth’s tilt as it revolves around the sun. Major life history traits, such as development, which are tied to metabolic processes, have a strong link to the...
In this dissertation, my research work on excited state dynamics of small organic molecules in solutions is presented. Using femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy (FSRS) as the main experimental tool, the excited state hydrogen-bonding dynamics (ESHBD) of Coumarin 102, a common laser dye molecule, in ethanol solution is examined with <150...
The fermentation of honey-based musts has been a feature of civilization for millennia. Typically comprised of 75-90% (w/w) simple (i.e. fermentable) sugars, the glucose and fructose present are readily fermented by either pitched or adventitious micro-organisms. Nevertheless, despite its venerable heritage, honey-based fermentations are prone to inconsistency, and it is...
In response to the increasing pace and scale of wildfire and forest health challenges, the Intertribal Timber Council (ITC) proposed the creation of “Anchor Forests,” where a tribe would convene surrounding landowners to collaboratively manage the entire landscape, across property boundaries. This emergent concept has sparked conversation but has not...
Wine is particularly vulnerable to infection by Brettanomyces bruxellensis during or shortly after malolactic fermentation (MLF). While different methods and techniques enable winemakers to prevent wine spoilage due to this organism, no single intervention is universally sufficient. Moreover application of sulfur dioxide, the most commonly used of these methods, is...