BACKGROUND While advantages of biofuel have been widely reported, studies also highlight the challenges in large scale production of biofuel. Cost of ethanol and process energy use in cellulosic ethanol plants are dependent on technologies used for conversion of feedstock. Process modeling can aid in identifying techno-economic bottlenecks in a production process. A comprehensive techno-economi...

Plant-based remediation is a relatively new, efficient, and environmentally friendly technology, which can be promising for removing many contaminants like hydrocarbon pollutants. The main objectives of the current study were to investigate the effect of petroleum hydrocarbons with high initial concentration (about 3.5% by weight) on growth characteristics of maize (Zea mays L.), and tall fescu...

We determined if sequence of ingestion affected use of endophyte-infected tall fescue (TF) when cattle also grazed birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) or alfalfa (ALF). Based on chemical characteristics of TF (alkaloids), BFT (tannins), and ALF (saponins), we hypothesized that cattle first allowed to graze ALF or BFT would subsequently spend more time grazing TF than cattle that first grazed TF followed by...

ABSTRACT The role of chitinase production by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain C3 in biological control of leaf spot on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea), caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana, was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The filtrate of a broth culture of C3, with chitin as the carbon source, was separated into fractions. A high molecular-weight fraction (>8 kDa) was chitinolytic and mo...

Roughstalk bluegrass (Poa trivialis) is a weed in cool season grass seed production fields in Oregon. Populations of this weed are often greater in fields prone to waterlogging. A greenhouse study was conducted to investigate the morphological and physiological differences between recently established roughstalk bluegrass and tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) plants in response to simulated wat...

Maintaining high-quality athletic field playing surfaces without the use of synthetic pesticides is challenging. Little research available regarding best overseeding strategies for non-irrigated, pesticide-free, cool-season fields. The objectives this study were to determine effects turfgrass species, cultivar, seeding rate, and seasons on color, dark green color index (DGCI), cover, weeds, ove...

To prevent the 7 to 11 million metric tons of waste foundry sand (WFS) produced annually in the USA from entering landfills, current research is focused on the reuse of WFSs as soil amendments. The effects of different WFS-containing amendments on turfgrass growth and nutrient content were tested by planting perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Hol...

Fine fescues (Festuca spp.) and tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) are low-input turfgrass species that perform well under less water, pesticides, fertilizers when compared to commonly cultivated in the Midwestern US. There numerous benefits increasing use of turfgrasses: lowering resource usage, reducing maintenance costs, improving landscape aesthetic, contributing residents’ health gener...