Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Integrating livestock into small-scale vegetable farming systems(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2021) Benson-Feagler, Trestin Thea; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Megan Van Emon; D.L. Regan, M.L. Van Emon and C.J. Yeoman were co-authors of the article, 'Effects of integrating livestock into small-scale vegetable farming systems' submitted to the journal 'Sustainable agriculture research' which is contained within this thesis.Since World War II, modern agriculture systems have shifted to low-diversity monoculture crops, specializing in a singular species and generally separating those crops from livestock. Such systems require high inputs including fertilizers, herbicides and tillage, all of which may reduce ecological potential of farmland. Small-scale farms are becoming more popular due to recent interest in local eating and sustainability. To improve their environmental sustainability, some small-scale farms have incorporated livestock back into cropping systems. Soil health measurements can be valuable in understanding the impacts livestock have on small- scale farming systems as soil is the growth medium for vegetation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate nutrient cycling, microbial communities and compaction in response to grazed versus un-grazed vegetable cropping systems and use this information to understand the interaction between soil biology, nutrient cycling and livestock when integrated in a variety of vegetable production systems. Soil and biomass samples were collected over three years (2017- 2020) before and after sheep grazing occurred on three farm locations in the Northern Great Plains. Soil samples were analyzed for soil microbial diversity, bulk density and soil nutrients. While I found no consistent differences in soil nutrients, bulk density or soil microbial diversity, my results indicate that integrating livestock into small-scale vegetable farming systems did not negatively impact soil quality. Results from this study may help demonstrate to farmers and livestock operators the importance of an integrated approach, for those that already practice this approach there is affirmation that integration is feasible and purposeful and also become the starting point for further research into a little studied topic.Item Extending cool season production of vegetables in the high tunnel: balancing heat and light(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2019) Baumbauer, David Alan; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Mac Burgess; Macdonald H. Burgess was a co-author of the article, 'The Montana high tunnel growers survey - identifying grower practices and concerns' submitted to the journal 'HortTechnology' which is contained within this thesis.; Macdonald H. Burgess was a co-author of the article, 'Row cover influences light transmisson, air and soil temperatures in the high tunnel during Spring and Fall' submitted to the journal 'Journal of agricultural and forest meteorology' which is contained within this thesis.; Macdonald H. Burgess was a co-author of the article, 'Season, sowing date, and row cover influence the production of cool season vegetables in the moveable high tunnel' submitted to the journal 'Canadian journal of plant science' which is contained within this thesis.; Colleen B. Schmidt and Macdonald H. Burgess were co-authors of the article, 'The influence of low daily light integral on the growth of baby kale, lettuce and spinach' submitted to the journal 'HortScience' which is contained within this thesis.Montana high tunnel growers face challenges associated with being at a northern latitude and high elevation. The wide seasonal fluctuation in photosynthetically active radiation coupled with wide diurnal temperature swings produces a dynamic growing environment within the high tunnel. This dissertation is comprised of four studies investigating the management of light and temperature and their influences on high tunnel grown crops. Chapter one is an introduction to high tunnels and production strategies. Chapter two discusses the results of the Montana High Tunnel Growers Survey, in which respondents reported that managing the high tunnel environment was their number one challenge. Two thirds of respondents produced crops during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, a period of time when the climatic conditions are especially dynamic. Chapter three presents the findings on the influences various types of season extension have on light and temperature levels and the impacts they have on the accumulation of growing degree hours, soil degree hours, and daily light integral. While each layer retains heat, moderating the effect of low night air temperatures, it comes at the cost of lower light energy at the crop level. Heat retention performance of high tunnel plus row cover improves as outside air temperature decreases, maintaining crop level air temperature at -3°C despite an outside air temperature of -22°C. Chapter four presents the results of seeding date and row cover effects on the yield and days to harvest of six cool season crops. Row cover within the high tunnel only improved crop yields when outside air temperatures were well below the historical average. The early seeding date in the fall resulted in higher yields and fewer days to harvest, indicating that the two weeks difference between August 15th and August 30th has a large impact on production. Chapter five reports on the influence of low daily light integral has on the production of kale, lettuce, and spinach. While all three responded to increasing light, lettuce had the largest response with a 200% increase in dry weight when the daily light integral increased from 8 to 14 mol m -2 d -1.Item Assessing a food safety training program incorporating active learning in vegetable production using Kirkpatrick's four level model(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2016) Gavin, Kyle Arthur; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Carl IgoGilliss reported that "contaminated food consumed in the United States causes an estimated 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations, and 3,000 deaths annually" (2011, p. 749). The risk of contaminated food reaching consumers can be reduced by the use of food safety training programs. As the number of vegetable consumers increases and the consumers' concern for quality food grows, there is a need to improve food handler training programs. The over-arching question guiding this research was: What enhancements can be made to the vegetable producer's food safety training program to ensure improvement in the safe practices/behaviors and increases in food safety knowledge of vegetable production employees? The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of active learning teaching strategies on the Growers Express food safety training program among vegetable packing employees using Kirkpatrick's four level model of training evaluation. A mixed-method time series design was used. Sixty-one subjects from one vegetable packaging facility participated in the evaluation. The subjects were split into two groups where they completed a food safety knowledge pre-test, participated in either an active learning or traditional training series (depending on group), and submitted a training reaction survey. The active learning training group showed significant improvement in their test scores on three of the test sections. The traditionally trained group only improved significantly on one test section and their scores decreased on one test section. All participants reacted positively to the training program, but the active learning group agreed or strongly agreed to the statements more often on the training reaction survey. Based on the results of this study, it was determined that the addition of active learning methods positively influenced the subjects' reactions to the training program, increased test scores on the food safety knowledge exam, enhanced the subjects' on job behaviors and actions, and improved the overall effectiveness of the program.Item A study of the chemical composition of certain vegetables grown under different conditions of soil moisture(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 1935) Myers, Jack E.Item A study of the time-temperature relationships in the cookery of vegetables(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 1933) Torgerson, Alda Constance