Robert R. Tripepi

Composting and Evaluating a Pulp and Paper Sludge for Use as a Soil Amendment/Mulch

Composting could be used in the pulp and paper industry to treat primary sludges as an alternative to landfilling. The objective of this project was to compost and evaluate a pulp and paper sludge for use as a soil amendment/mulch. Primary sludge, tailings, wood ash (0, 5 or 10 percent by volume), and paunch (cattle stomach contents and tissue) from a slaughterhouse were composted in a 91 m windrow that was turned one to two times per week. The pile moisture content and temperature were controlled at 50 percent and 57–63°C during 14 weeks of composting. The compost was then cured for 4 weeks for a total treatment time of 18 weeks. Sludge dry mass decreased by approximately 50 percent, pH increased slightly to 8.2 to 8.5, and carbon-nitrogen ratio decreased from 270:1 to 14–67:1 after composting and curing. Electrical conductivity of all final composts was over 4 dS/m. Shoot biomass of tomato plants grown in a compost-amended medium (50 percent compost, 25 percent sand, 25 percent perlite by volume) improv...

Wood Ash as an Amendment in Municipal Sludge And Yard Waste Composting Processes

Wood ash from a wood-fired, electrical generating plant was examined as a potential amendment in municipal biosolids and yard waste composting applications. The rate of composting and the final compost quality (chemical, physical, and plant growth characteristics) were examined. Yard waste (leaves, grass, and wood chips) and a municipal biosolids-chip mixture were either not amended or amended with wood ash at eight percent or five percent by weight, respectively, and then composted outdoors in insulated, 1700L, aerated reactors. Yard waste piles heated rapidly to 60°C within six to seven days, whereas biosolid piles heated more slowly to a maximum of 52 to 57°C within nine to 11 days. Ash had little, if any, effect on the time-temperature response. In general, ash-amended compost had higher pi I, plant nutrient, and salt contents. Tomato plants (Lycopersicum esculentum) produced 100 percent more shoot biomass in biosolids than in yard waste compost media. Poor plant growth in the yard waste compost was l...

Cytokinins, donor plants and time in culture affect shoot regenerative capacity of American elm leaves

Cytokinins, donor plants and their time in vitro as well as basal media were investigated for their influence on shoot regenerative capacity of American elm (Ulmus americana L.) leaves. Leaves excised from six 2-year-old seedlings formed adventitious shoots when placed on Driver and Kuniyuki Walnut (DKW) medium supplemented with 7.5, 15 or 22.5 μM of benzyladenine (BA) or thidiazuron (TDZ). Thidiazuron induced significantly higher regeneration percentages on elm leaves than BA, regardless of concentration used. Donor plant also affected the efficiency of shoot regeneration, with certain seedlings having 1.5 to 7 times more explants forming shoots as compared to other seedlings tested. By subculture 15, the average number of shoots per regenerating explant increased at least 3-fold for leaves on media with BA or TDZ for the one donor plant that survived continued subculturing. Leaf explants from donor plants with the highest regenerative capacity had a higher percentage of shoot formation on DKW than MS medium. Explants from productive donor plants should be placed on DKW medium supplemented with TDZ to improve shoot regeneration efficiency from American elm leaves.

Use of Raw and Composted Paper Sludge as a Soil Additive or Mulch for Cottonwood Plants

Pulp and paper sludge is a by-product of paper production and may be suitable in agricultural applications as a soil amendment or mulch. The objective of this study was to evaluate raw and composted pulp and paper sludge as soil additives or mulches for cottonwood plants. Primary sludge, a combination of by-products from bleached kraft and neutral sulfite semichemical paper, was mixed with tailings, slaughterhouse paunch, and 10 percent wood ash (by volume), and used raw or composted and cured in the field for 39 weeks. Cuttings of two cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh) clones were planted in a field soil (Quincy loamy fine sand) that was mixed (incorporated) or mulched (placed on top the soil) with raw or composted sludge mixtures at application rates of 0,45,90, 135 and 180 Mg/ha. The plants were grown in a plastic house for nine weeks. Electrical conductivity (EC), cation exchange capacity (CEC), soluble Cl and extractable Na in soil amended with 180 Mg/ha of compost were 37, 22, 197 and 13...

Use of grafting to prevent Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) damage to new world Meliaceae species.

The susceptible species Cedrela odorata and Swietenia macrophylla to attack by Hypsipyla grandella (Zeller) larvae were grafted onto the resistant species Khaya senegalensis and Toona ciliata. Six-month-old grafted plants were then compared to their reciprocal grafts and to both intact (non-grafted) and autografted plants for damage due to H. grandella larvae and for their effects on larval performance. Two experiments were conducted: one in which the apical bud of the main plant shoot was inoculated with H. grandella eggs, and the other in which the bud was inoculated with third instars. Damage in each experiment was assessed by the number of frass piles, number and length of tunnels, number of damaged leaves, and damage to the apical bud. Larval performance was evaluated in terms of time to reach pupation and pupal weight and length. In both experiments, plant damage differed significantly among treatments (P < 0.03). Resistant rootstocks conferred resistance to susceptible scions. In both experiments, grafting by itself, regardless of the rootstock and scion combination, also reduced damage caused by H. grandella larvae. Scions of autografted susceptible species had similar resistance to susceptible scions grafted on resistant rootstocks. Few larvae reached pupation, and their pupal weight and length were similar.

Rapid adventitious shoot regeneration from leaf explants of European birch

The goal of this research was to develop a rapid and efficient system for regenerating shoots from leaf explants of European birch, Betula pendula Roth. Single-node stem explants were established in culture, and microshoots were subcultured every 4 weeks through 12 subcultures. Leaves from glasshouse plants or subcultured shoots were excised from stems, cut into approximately 35-mm2 pieces, and placed on Woody Plant Medium (WPM) containing different combinations of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (0, 3, 6 or 9 μM) and benzyladenine (BA) (0, 7.5, 15 or 22.5 μM) in a 4×4 factorial design. The percentage of leaf pieces forming shoots and the number of shoots regenerated per explant were recorded after 4 weeks. Only media containing BA without NAA stimulated shoot formation on leaf explants. Fifteen micromolar BA induced the most shoots to form on leaf explants compared to 30, 45 or 60 μM of this cytokinin. In addition, shoot regeneration was enhanced up to four-fold between the first and eleventh subculture. Over 90% of the leaf explants regenerated shoots with an average of 18 buds formed per explant for the eleventh subculture. Almost twice as many explants formed shoots if their adaxial side was in contact with the medium rather than oriented away from it. The ability to regenerate shoots from leaves varied among plants, regardless of stock plant age. This reliable shoot regeneration system can be used for rapid shoot proliferation and potentially for genetic engineering of European birch.

A factor analysis of the product and service attributes offered by western nursery stock suppliers

Survey data from 311 garden centers, landscapers, and combined garden center|landscaping firms in selected western US trade centers were factor analyzed. Six first-order factors of product and service attributes were identified: plant selection, product information, supplier services and knowledge, advertising and promotion, plant quality, and ordering services. These six first-order factors were collapsed into three second-order factors: buyer-oriented services, buyer perception of supplier reputation, and sales support. These classifications of plant supplier attributes can be incorporated by the astute supplier into a successful business strategy.

Tree Growth, Yield, Fruit Quality, and Mineral Partitioning in 'Pacific Gala' Apple as Affected by Rootstocks and Irrigation Methods

ABSTRACT The objectives of this project were to study the influence of rootstocks and two irrigation systems on tree growth, fruit yield, quality at harvest, and mineral partitioning in ‘Pacific Gala’ apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh.). The rootstocks used in this study were B.9, RN-29, Supporter 4 and G.30. The irrigation regimes were drip and sprinkler. ‘Pacific Gala’ on Supporter 4 rootstocks had 47% more developing spurs than those on RN-29 and B.9 rootstocks. Trees on Supporter 4 had 12% more total limb length than those on other rootstocks. ‘Pacific Gala’ on B.9 had 8% more shoot leaf N than those on Supporter 4 and G.30 rootstocks, and 6% more spur leaf N than those on Supporter 4 rootstocks. Trees on B.9 rootstock had 29% lower spur leaf K than those on other rootstocks. Sodium, Al, Fe, Cu, and Zn in spur leaves of ‘Pacific Gala’ were unaffected by rootstocks. The total limb length and number of developing spurs were similar for trees watered with either irrigation system. Trees receiving sprinkler irrigation had 7% more P, 6% more K and Ca in shoot leaves and 17% more leaf P, 10% more K, 5% more Ca in spur leaves. Trees receiving sprinkler irrigation had 8% more fruit color than trees receiving drip irrigation. ‘Pacific Gala’ trees receiving drip irrigation used 38% less water as compared to trees receiving sprinkler irrigation. Considering growth and quality attributes, B.9 and RN-29 were found to be desirable rootstocks for ‘Pacific Gala’ under the conditions tested. Overall, trees receiving drip irrigation produced high yield and quality fruit, while using significantly less water than those under a sprinkler system.

Micropropagation of Lewisia cotyledon using Axillary Buds from Flower Peduncles

Lewisia cotyledon (S. Wats.) B.L. Robins. (Portulacaceae), a perennial native to the mountainous areas of the western US, was micropropagated using the lower axillary buds from flower peduncles. Successful establishment in tissue culture was genotype dependent. Driver Kuniyuki Walnut medium (DKW) supplemented with 3.5 µM 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BA) appeared to be a better basal medium for increasing and maintaining in vitro rosettes than either Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) or Woody Plant medium (WPM) supplemented with the same BA concentration, but this response was genotype dependent. Placing rosettes on MS medium supplemented with 9.8 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) for 12 wk resulted in 100% rooting with an average of 16 roots per rosette. Rooted rosettes were successfully transferred to ex vitro culture and were phenotypically normal. Micropropagation of lewisia will enable growers to produce large numbers of plants rapidly for the home landscape.

Amended and composted log yard fines as a growth medium for crimson clover and red top grass

Abstract Log yard residues (LYR) a bark and soil waste material produced during log handling, could find use as a growth medium for plants. In this study, log yard fines (LYF), a screened fraction of the LYR (<1.3 cm), were either not amended or amended with a N‐S fertilizer mixture (LYF + F) or with cow manure (LYF + M) and then composted outdoors in insulated, aerated tanks for 18–22 weeks. The resulting substrates were then evaluated as growth media for ‘Chief crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) and ‘Streaker’ red top (Agrostis alba L.). Plants were fertilized (0 or 78 kg N/ha) and grown in a growth chamber. Temperatures in the LYF and LYF + F piles were similar to ambient conditions over the 5–6 month treatment period, whereas the manure‐amended pile reached a maximum of 34°C after two weeks and then cooled to ambient after two additional weeks. The final C/N ratio of the nonamended LYF was 85 as compared to 36 for LYF + M and 44 for LYF + F. Clover and red top grew best (height and biomass) in L...