AGRICULTURE, RANGE MANAGEMENT
increased rates of applied potassium. In 1977, after three
years of alfalfa cultivation, exchangeable potassium had only
been reduced 38% of the initial levels in the plots receiving no
potassium fertilizer. The alfalfa crop removed sufficient
quantities of potassium to completely deplete the exchangeable
potassium in one year; however, soil levels of exchangeable
potassium did not reflect this depletion. Analysis of the sup-
plying power of the soil in August, 1977, following three years
of alfalfa cultivation, indicated that the soil receiving no potas-
sium fertilizer contained levels of potassium which would be
insufficient for continued optimum growth of alfalfa. The soil
potassium supplying power was large enough to maintain an
alfalfa crop producing approximately 7870 kg dry matter/ha.
Increased rates of applied potassium had no effect on canopy
development in 1976 and 1977. Potassium accumulation was
increased with increased rates of applied potassium, but leaf
and stem potassium decreased after 14 days of regrowth. Po-
tassium was apparently taken up during the first two weeks of
regrowth and redistributed during the remainder of the re-
growth period. Photosynthesis, dark respiration, photorespira-
tion, chlorophyll content and ribulose 1,5-biphosphate car-
boxylase activity were not affected by increased rates of applied
potassium.
In the greenhouse, photosynthesis, photorespiration and
leaf potassium were significantly reduced by a mild and severe
potassium deficiency. Dark respiration was significantly in-
creased by severe potassium deficiency. Leaf resistance to
carbon dioxide diffusion was significantly increased by severe
potassium deficiency and mesophyll resistance to carbon diox-
ide diffusion was significantly increased by both mild and se-
vere deficiency. Photosystem I and II activity and chlorophyll
content were not affected by mild or severe potassium de-
ficiency. Ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxylase apparent ac-
tivity was significantly decreased by severe potassium de-
ficiency. The increased mesophyll resistance was due to a
decrease in carbon dioxide fixation by ribulose 1,5-biphos-
phate carboxylase.
In the laboratory, it was determined that ribulose 1,5-
biphosphate carboxylase synthesis and not activity was re-
duced in potassium deficient leaves. Incorporation of ' 4C-
leucine was stimulated by potassium in potassium deficient
leaves. Potassium stimulated carboxylase synthesis was
suppressed by actinomycin D and cycloheximide, indicating
that it involved DNA dependent RNA synthesis and subsequent
protein synthesis. Light was shown to be required for synthe-
sis. Decreased synthesis of ribulose 1,5-biphosphate carboxyl-
ase should result in a decrease in photosynthesis and photo-
respiration as was observed.
PROTEOLYTIC ENZYME ACTIVITIES IN CORN (ZEA
MAYS L.) LEAVES DURING WATER DEFICIT AND
SENESCENCE Order No. 7821052
SOONG, Tai-Sen Thomas, Ph.D. University of Illinois at
Urbana—Champaign, 1978. 91pp.
The relationship between proteolytic hydrolysis of leaf pro-
tein and the accumulation of N by corn kernels was investi-
gated under field conditions in 1975-1976. The 6 inbreds and
8 hybrids tested included current commercial inbreds and
Illinois high and low protein selections. Endopeptidase activi-
ties (pH 5.4 and 7.5 with casein) were measured in the mid-
segment of the ear leaf at biweekly intervals from pollination
to maturity. Accumulation of stover and stover N prior to
grain development and yields of grain, grain N, stover and
stover N at maturity were measured.
The grain N was transferred mainly from the vegetation,
as the loss of N from the vegetation during kernel development
was significantly correlated with the total amount of grain N
yield. Endopeptidases (pH 7.5 and 5.4) were significantly cor-
3081-B
related (r = +.61 in 1975 and r = +.79 in 1976) with percent
grain N at maturity. A positive correlation (r = +.60) between
endopeptidase (pH 7.5) and total grain N was only observed for
the hybrids or vegetatively vigorous inbreds.
In another study, the changes of exo- and endopeptidase ac-
tivities, protein, amino acids and chlorophyll in detached leaves
incubated for 48 hr in a dark, humid 30 C environment were
compared with comparable samples assayed at time of harvest.
When senescing leaves (harvested from corn plants in the vege-
tative stage) were incubated in the dark, protein and chloro-
phyll contents decreased, amino acids accumulated amino- and
carboxypeptidase activities remained high and unchanged and
endopeptidase activities were low and did not change. When
senescing leaves (harvested from corn plants during grain fill)
were incubated in the dark, protein and chlorophyll contents
decreased, amino acids increased, and endopeptidase activities
increased markedly, especially at pH 7.5. These data show
that proteolytic enzymes in detached and darkened senescing
leaves are different (in amounts and kinds) from the proteolytic
enzymes in naturally senescing leaves. Thus artificial (dark)
senescence cannot be used as a technique for screening of corn
seedlings for their genetic potential to produce endopeptidases.
Proteolytic enzymes in water deficit induced senescing
leaves were also studied. In well-watered control plants, only
minor changes were observed. When water was withheld, the
loss (rate and sequence) of protein, amino- and carboxypep-
tidase activities from leaf 2, 3, and 4 (from bottom) was re-
lated to the loss of water from the tissue. In contrast, endo-
peptidase activities (pH 5.4 and 7.5 with casein) increased
during the initial phase of water deficit and then decreased
when two-thirds of leaf protein was lost. A pigment with an
absorption maximum of 495,m increased in all water-deficit
leaves. Because the assay for this pigment is rapid and sim-
ple, its usefulness as a corollary measurement in drought
studies of corn is suggested. A technique was developed to
study the sequential changes of ribonuclease and protease ac-
tivities under controlled moderate water deficit (plants were
rapidly desiccated for 1 h prior to transfer to a humid cham-
ber). The endopeptidase activities (pH 5.4, with casein and
pH 3.8, with hemoglobin) increased after 9 hr incubation in a
humid chamber and ribonuclease activities are initiated by
water deficit and these increases are associated with an ob-
served protein loss in water deficit leaves.
AGRICULTURE, RANGE MANAGEMENT
RANGELAND REFLECTANCE CHARACTERISTICS MEA—
SURED BY AIRCRAFT AND SPACECRAFT SENSORS
Order No. 7900962
DEERING, Donald Wayne, Ph.D. Texas A&M University, 1978.
338pp. Chairman: Dr. Robert H. Haas
Rangeland vegetation and soil measurements were related
to composite rangeland reflectance measurements from Land-
sat multispectral scanners (MSS) and color infrared aerial
photographs. Ground data and remote sensor measurements
were acquired on six sample dates in three growing seasons
from a rangeland study site in north central Texas. The po-
tential for using a normalized infrared/red difference param-
eter for measuring rangeland vegetation or for monitoring
vegetation conditions from satellite or aircraft was indicated.
In assessing the relationships between scene components and
composite scene reflectance, a sun angle related shadow influ-
ence, which generally has been ignored, was identified as being
important. Results of this study also strongly suggest that
quantitative assessment of vegetation conditions by remote
sensing must account for weather related influences on re-
flectance.
Individual Landsat MSS band values were strongly affected
3082-B AGRONOMY
by factors influencing scene brightness, including the amount
of shadow in the scene. A normalized red/infrared difference
parameter, ND6 ((Band 6 — Band 5) ÷ (Band 6 + 5)), was effec-
tive in adjusting for much of the variation in scene brightness.
The ND6 parameter was more sensitive to variations in the
functioning green biomass components of the scene than were
individual spectral bands or the other vegetation indices eval-
uated. All of the vegetation indices that employed Band 6 were
more closely related to the green plant component of the scene
than those using Band 7.
Shadow effects had a greater influence on reflectance mea-
surements taken from color infrared aerial photography than
from Landsat. For three scales of photography, measured re-
flectance differences were shown to be due to differences in
sun angle at the times of photography. A normalized infrared/
red difference parameter, IR-R ((infrared reflectance — red
reflectance) ÷ overall film exposure-derived reflectance), ad-
justed for some of the shadow effects and effectively adjusted
for most of the film exposure and processing differences be-
tween dates. The IR-R parameter response was almost iden-
tical to that of the Landsat ND6 parameter.
The relationships between reflectance and biomass or re-
flectance and plant moisture content (kg/ha) were better for
moderately high sun elevations (i.e., greater than approxi-
mately 55°) than for lower sun angles. Therefore, remote
sensor data to be used in quantitative assessment of rangeland
vegetation conditions, or used in multistage comparisons, must
be acquired at moderately high sun elevations.
Multiple regression models, involving five ground variables,
were evaluated to test the hypothesis that rangeland scene re-
flectance is a function of vegetation and soil components of the
scene. More than 80% of the ND6 or IR-R variation could be
accounted for by the five ground variables used. Plant mois-
ture content (kg/ha), green plant cover, and soil moisture had
the greatest influence on scene reflectance. It was shown that
a prediction model for monitoring the vegetation on both the
Deep Upland and Rolling Hill range sites would have to be a
curvilinear model.
The influences of the various scene components on reflec-
tance were found to vary with growing conditions. Three
weather variables were associated with changes in temporal
reflectance differences and were successfully used in a re-
flectance model to adjust for growing condition differences.
The selected weather variables included: 1) total precipitation
during the 9 days preceding Landsat overpass, 2) minimum
air temperature on the day of the overpass, and 3) average
maximum air temperature during the 3 days preceding the
overpass. When green biomass data were adjusted for weather
influences on reflectance, the model accounted for approxi-
mately 90% of the ND6 and IR-R variations.
Results of the study provide guidelines for acquiring re-
mote sensor data to be used in quantitative vegetation surveys.
The results are particularly important for applications involv-
ing automated data interpretation.
AGRONOMY
THE INFLUENCE OF GRAZING INTENSITY ON THE PER—
FORMANCE OF TROPICAL GRASSES Order No. 7900029
ADJEI, Martin Bani, Ph.D. The University of Florida, 1978.
184pp. Chairman: Coleman Y. Ward
Grazing trials were conducted at the University of Florida
Agricultural Research Center, Ona, Florida, in 1976 and 1977
to study the effects of three stocking rates (SR) (7.5, low; 10,
medium; and 15, high; cattle/ha) and the associated grazing
pressures on yield, quality, forage utilization, stubble carbo-
hydrate reserves and cattle performance of three African star-
grasses; namely, 'UF-5' and 'McCaleb' (Cynodon aethiopicus
Clayton and Harland) and ‘UF-4' (Cynodon nlemfuensis Van-
deryst). Additionally, the medium stocking rate was imposed
on `Transvala' digitgrass (Digitaria decumbens Stent.) and
'Pensacola' bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum flugge).
All pastures received one uniform application of 0-44-88
kg/ha (N-P205-K20) and a total of 220 kg/ha N in three split
applications, annually.
The two-year seasonal forage production averaged over all
stargrasses were 17.0 metric tons/ha at the low, 18.3 at the
medium, and 20.1 at the high SR. The lower yield with decreas-
ing SR was attributed to the existence of a greater metabolic
sink in the standing residue under lenient grazing pressure.
Net dry matter production was estimated at 15 and 10 metric
tons/ha on digitgrass and bahiagrass, respectively, at the me-
dium SR.
In vitro organic matter digestion (IVOMD) of stargrass for--
age on offer ranged between 44 and 54%, exhibiting a positive
linear response to increasing SR. The IVOMD of digitgrass
(51%) was very similar to that of OF-5 stargrass but superior
to OF-4, and McCaleb stargrasses and bahiagrass. There was
no difference in crude protein content among the five entries of
tropical grasses which averaged 9.9%.
Utilization of seasonal dry matter yield by cattle varied
from 75 to 95% and was directly related to SR. However, in-
take at the high SR (7.6 kg DM/cattle/day) was lower than those
at the lenient grazing pressures (9.3 and 10.2 at the medium
and low SR, respectively). Forage dry matter consumed an-
nually at the medium SR averaged 16.7 metric tons/ha for the
stargrasses as compared with 14.9 on digitgrass and 9.9 on
bahiagrass.
Total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) reserves in grass
stubble and roots exhibited a marked quadratic response to
grazing. A regrowth (rest period) of 28 days was sufficient
to replenish the depleted TNC on all treatments except digit-
grass in the fall season. The concentration of TNC reserves
was much higher in the roots than in the stubble of stargrass.
However, TNC was greater in the stubble than in the roots of
digitgrass, and higher in the rhizomes than roots of bahiagrass.
The minimum TNC levels in both the roots (6.8 to 7.5% on DM
basis) and the stubble (4 to 5%) of stargrasses were observed
at the high SR. Bahiagrass rhizomes contained the highest
level of TNC (23%).
Cattle average daily gains (ADG) from 0.18 to 0.56 kg/day
on stargrasses were an inverse linear function of stocking rate,
a linear function of available forage or residue (metric tons/ha)
and a nonlinear function of grazing pressure (kg DM/100 kg
BW/day). The minimum grazing pressure required to obtain
maximum ADG on stargrass ranged from 6 to 7 kg available
DM/100 kg BW/day or the accumulation of 2 to 4 kg residue/
100 kg BW/day based on varietal differences. Beef gains per
hectare averaged over 2 years on stargrass were 470 kg/ha
at the high SR, 617 at the medium, and 576 at the low.
Although there was no statistical difference in ADG on star-
grass (0.35 kg/day) compared with digitgrass (0.28 kg/day) or
bahiagrass (0.22 kg/day), these rates of gain created signifi-
cant differences in total beef gain/ha in 1976, which varied
from 580 kg/ha on stargrass, 461 on digitgrass to 369 on bahia-
grass, all measured at the medium SR.
EVALUATION OF CULTIVARS AND CULTURAL PRAC—
TICES OF SEVERAL CROPS FOR TROPICAL MUL—
TIPLE CROPPING Order No. 7900030
AKHANDA, Md. Abdul Muttalib, Ph.D. The University of Flor-
ida, 1978. 176pp. Chairman: Victor E. Green, Jr.
Appropriate crop cultivars, row widths, plant populations
and time of planting are essential aspects in developing suc-
cessful multiple cropping systems. Investigations were