Browsing by Author "Cabot, Perry, committee member"
Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
Results Per Page
Sort Options
Item Open Access Agricultural manufacturing location decisions in Colorado: implications for rural economic development policy(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Sheridan, Claire, author; Jablonski, Becca, advisor; Weiler, Stephan, committee member; Bonanno, Alessandro, committee member; Cabot, Perry, committee memberMany rural areas face unique challenges that put them at a competitive disadvantage relative to urban areas. State and Federal policies in the U.S. promote opportunities for value-added agriculture (manufacturing) as a means to create and retain wealth in rural places. In order to inform policies that might attract agricultural manufacturing firms to rural locations, this research explores agricultural firm location decisions using a case study of Colorado. First, this research creates a unique dataset of agricultural manufacturing firms in the State of Colorado and uses these data to assess if the traditional factors associated with neoclassical firm location theory (such as wages, tax rates and population) are correlated with agricultural manufacturing firm locations. Second, we conduct in-depth interviews with selected food manufacturing firms located in Colorado's heterogonous Western Slope. Results suggest a behavioral framework (where assets other than profit increase welfare) may better explain how agricultural manufacturing firms choose to locate in rural places. We recommend bottom-up policies that allow communities to promote entrepreneurship and take advantage of location-based comparative advantages as a means to attract agricultural manufacturing firms to rural Colorado.Item Open Access Agronomic responses of grass and alfalfa hayfields to no and partial season irrigation as part of a Western Slope water bank(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2015) Jones, Lyndsay P., author; Brummer, Joe, advisor; Cabot, Perry, committee member; Davis, Jessica, committee memberProlonged drought and increasing demand for water resources has caused growing concern over Colorado's ability to fulfill legal water obligations as identified in the Colorado River Compact. A Western Slope Water Bank, which would entail agricultural water users entering into short-term leases and temporarily withholding or reducing irrigation, could be a partial solution to free up water to fulfill these obligations. Grass and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hayfields may be ideal for inclusion in a water bank as they are the primary users of agricultural water in this region and may have a greater ability to withstand water stress in comparison to other crops. This study was conducted to determine effects of withholding irrigation for a full season from high elevation grass hayfields and implementing partial season irrigation on lower elevation alfalfa hayfields on forage yield, nutritional quality, and associated recovery period to confirm if this approach is worth pursuing. In Year 1, five established grass hayfields on the Colorado Western Slope were split into side-by-side plots, one of which was irrigated according to the manager’s normal practices as the control while the other was subjected to total cessation of irrigation. Both plots were irrigated in Year 2. In Year 1, average dry matter yields in non-irrigated plots were reduced to 39% (2497 kg ha-1) of the control (6377 kg ha-1). Neutral detergent fiber (aNDF) concentration in non-irrigated plots was 5% lower while crude protein (CP) content was 30% greater than the control. In-vitro true digestibility (IVTD) was unaffected by irrigation treatment. Yields of non-irrigated plots did not fully recover when returned to irrigation in Year 2 producing 49% (3623 kg ha-1) of the control (7442 kg ha-1). When returned to irrigation, aNDF concentrations were still reduced by 8% and CP contents were similar to that of the control. In the single site sampled after returning to full irrigation for 2 years, yields had fully recovered. It is probable that participation by producers in a water bank would be largely influenced by compensation for reduced yields the season of withholding irrigation as well as the following year when irrigation is returned to grass hayfields. Three established alfalfa fields were subjected to irrigation treatments including irrigation according to the manager’s normal practices (control), irrigation stopped after the 1st cutting (SA1), and irrigation stopped after the 2nd cutting (SA2) for 2 consecutive years. Averaged over both years, SA2 plots maintained production similar to the control in the 1st and 2nd cutting while SA1 plots were reduced to 61% (2089 kg ha-1) of the control (3430 kg ha-1) by the 2nd cutting. By the 3rd cutting, SA2 and SA1 yields decreased to 53% (1804 kg ha-1) and 30% (1013 kg ha-1) of the control, respectively. On a total season basis, both plots receiving partial season irrigation were reduced with SA2 plots producing 72% (7880 kg ha-1) and SA1 plots producing 33% (3650 kg ha-1) of the control (11040 kg ha-1). aNDF concentrations were greatest in the control at 34.6% and lowest in SA1 plots at 28.2%. By the 2nd cutting, SA1 plots had the highest IVTD (80%), and by the 3rd cutting, SA2 and SA1 plots were equally greater (80%) than the control (75%). Effects on CP content were inconsistent. These results suggest that reduced irrigation may improve forage quality slightly, but will significantly reduce yields. When irrigation is returned the following year, forages may have increased quality due to reduced fiber content, but grass yields will likely not fully recover while alfalfa yields may recover depending on length and severity of reduced irrigation. Due to its ability to recover, using partial season irrigation similar to that of the SA2 treatment on alfalfa hayfields may be the most practical approach to make water available to a Western Slope water bank.Item Open Access How universities participate in agricultural extension: a comparative study of two Chinese agricultural universities(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2022) Shan, Yan, author; Taylor, Peter Leigh, advisor; Swanson, Louis, committee member; Carolan, Michael, committee member; Cabot, Perry, committee member; Opsal, Tara, committee memberUniversity-based agriculture extension is a system set up to help local farmers access the newest agricultural technology and techniques developed by universities, which is comparatively different from the traditional government-led approach. US is currently the only country in the world which has based this service within the university, yet many other developing countries have started to incorporate universities into their agricultural extension system in order to improve the effectiveness of the agricultural extension services. However, little literature pays attention to how the universities adopt this practice and how this adoption influences the organizational capacity of universities. This study tries to fill this gap by exploring how two Chinese agricultural universities adopted two different ways to build platforms for conducting agricultural extension, how these newly built platforms impact agricultural extension activities, and what the future for these new platforms looks like in terms of institutionalization. This dissertation draws on relevant literature of organization theory and rural sociology to frame the innovation process happening in these two agricultural universities. The research questions which this dissertation tries to answer are: 1) How did the university incorporate this new function into their daily practices; 2) What kind of organizational changes did they experience? Is there a better way to do this? 3) How might this new practice in the university influence the previously existing agricultural extension system? To explore these questions, I conducted a comparative case study that included: 1) semi-structured in-depth interviews with key informants; 2) direct field notes from the local sites of universities; 3) secondary documents including collaboration contracts, university handouts, news reports, official websites etc. There are several major findings from this dissertation research. First, the two universities both made within-organizational change and outside-organizational change. They had similar within-organizational change which is clearly required by the national policy to build a new institute for extension within the university. But the New Institute faced different issues of legitimacy in the two universities. With regard to outside organizational change, the two universities built different kinds of platform to conduct agricultural extension activities, one established physical land with all kinds of facilities and the other one is project oriented. Different platforms bring the two universities both unique advantages and distinct challenges. Second, with these organizational changes, the new practice of agriculture extension transformed their previous singular, sporadic individual activities of agriculture extension by upscaling the extension team and funding for the activities. Third, though via different platforms, the two universities face similar challenges of institutionalizing university-based extension. With the platform with physical land comes with the issue of development differentiation and the platform based on projects lacking a stable safeguard mechanism. Fourth, the decision of how to build platforms is not a standalone issue but is related to the history, current economic and political conditions of each of the universities. This dissertation contributes to theory by illuminating the process of how university organizations change or innovate to fulfill the new role of university-based agricultural extension. Based on the findings from this study, I argue that universities need support from local governments or local agribusiness to fulfill this new role of agricultural extension, otherwise the advantages of university in agriculture extension cannot be realized. There is no certain path universities need to follow to complete this task and it depends on the local situation and the social contexts of each university. Lastly, this dissertation contributes to methodology with its comparative in-depth case study of institutional innovation in Chinese universities. What's more, this study also proposes some practical suggestions for universities to consider when creating their own agricultural extension platforms and partnerships with local governments and local agribusiness to promote agricultural extension. This study also shows the need for further study related to the future development of these newly built university-based agricultural extension and the organizational capacity of universities to become involved in agricultural extension across different locations and social contexts.Item Open Access Intercropping alfalfa with select grass species for increased yield and quality under deficit irrigation(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2023) Doyle, Hunter, author; Brummer, Joe, advisor; Cabot, Perry, committee member; Ippolito, Jim, committee memberDrought and water scarcity have plagued the Western US for decades. As these issues become more prevalent, we must explore possibilities to utilize available water more efficiently. The objective of this study was to: Evaluate the ability of mixed and stripped intercropping alfalfa with grasses to increase yield and quality of the forage produced under deficit irrigation. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the most common forage grown in the West and is known for its high-water use. Intercropping alfalfa with perennial grasses can potentially improve water use efficiency. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata), meadow brome (Bromus biebersteinii), and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) were mixed on the same bed or strip intercropped on alternating beds with alfalfa under 100% and 60% ET irrigation regimes using subsurface drip irrigation. Three cuts occurred in 2021 and 2022, with deficit irrigation starting after cut one. Yield, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD), and relative feed value (RFV) were analyzed in this study. During year one, irrigation did not have a significant impact on yield due to high precipitation and the fact that alfalfa performs well under deficit irrigation. Quality was not affected by irrigation treatments throughout both years of this study. Planting treatments significantly impacted yield and all quality parameters throughout this study. In 2021, mixed intercropping treatments averaged 14,210 kg ha-1, stripped treatments averaged 12,285 kg ha-1, and alfalfa averaged 13,406 kg ha-1; significant differences were not present. All mixed treatments, tall fescue stripped, and meadow brome stripped yields were similar to alfalfa in 2021. In 2021, quality was generally only reduced in mixed intercropping treatments compared to alfalfa in the first cutting. The inclusion of grasses with alfalfa reduced crude protein content and increased neutral detergent fiber content during cutting one, overall reducing quality. In cuttings two and three, mixed intercropping did not generally reduce quality. Stripped treatments also reduced quality in cutting one but did not have a large effect on quality in subsequent cuttings. Relative feed value, a common parameter used among producers, was similar among all treatments for all cuttings in 2021. In 2022, deficit irrigation had a significant impact on yield in cuttings two and three. Yields due to deficit irrigation were reduced by 22% and 35% in cuttings two and three, respectively. Total yearly yields were reduced by 12.5% between irrigation treatments. Total yields in mixed intercropping treatments were significantly higher than the alfalfa monoculture, especially the tall fescue and orchardgrass. Meadow brome generally had a higher yield than alfalfa, though not always significant. Mixed treatments averaged 13,308 kg ha-1 and stripped treatments averaged 9,488 kg ha-1 compared to alfalfa at 10,758 kg ha-1. Similar to 2021, quality was only reduced in intercropping treatments during the first cutting. Crude protein and RFV decreased while NDF and ADF increased in intercropping treatments compared to alfalfa alone, resulting in reduced quality. In subsequent cuttings, quality was generally similar among intercropping treatments and alfalfa alone. Mixed intercropping demonstrated to be more productive throughout both years of this study compared to stripped intercropping. Advantages from intercropping were reduced in stripped treatments due to independent cultivation and limited species interactions. Grass species did not have as large of an effect on yield and quality compared to intercropping method. Tall fescue typically performed the best of the grasses, yet all grasses in mixed intercropping performed well compared to alfalfa. Mixed intercropping grass with alfalfa can lead to increased yields with minimal effects on forage quality compared to alfalfa alone. As severe drought continues in areas across the Western US, mixed intercropping could be an option for maintaining or improving yields while producing similar forage quality compared to alfalfa alone under deficit irrigation.Item Open Access Technical and economic evaluation of triglyceride gasoline blends as an alternative fuel for diesel engines(Colorado State University. Libraries, 2018) Lakshminarayanan, Arunachalam, author; Olsen, Daniel, advisor; Marchese, Anthony, committee member; Sampath, Walajabad, committee member; Cabot, Perry, committee memberDeveloping viable and sustainable alternative fuels is critical in addressing future energy needs. Existing fossil fuels, being limited in nature, are depleting, contribute to climate change, health effects and their markets are volatile resulting in price fluctuations. Liquid fuels comprise a significant portion (about 40%) of a nation's total energy demand and production. Transportation sector being a key contributor national growth and security consumes almost 24% of the liquid fuel, while farming consumes about 15% to 17% of the liquid fuels. Bio diesel and bio ethanol are the two most widely used alternative, renewable fuels available. This work presents the technical and economics of using Triglyceride gasoline blends (TGBs) in a diesel engine. Canola straight vegetable oil (SVO) is highly viscous and has poor flow ability in cold weather. Consequently, it cannot be used in diesel engines without modification to the fuel system. Blending regular unleaded gasoline (10% by volume) to unrefined canola oil results in the specific gravity of the blend being similar to that of diesel. This enables it to be used in off road diesel engines in cold weather without modifications to the fuel system. A series of studies were performed to examine the viability of using TGBs to fuel diesel engines. Engine experiments were conducted on a 4.5L, turbocharged, intercooled Tier-III diesel engine. Lower heating value, higher mass based fuel consumption and slightly higher thermal efficiencies were recorded using TGB10 compared to diesel. The cylinder pressure traces and location of 50% mass fraction burnt for TGB10 and diesel were similar in most load points of the ISO 8178 8-mode test cycle. The average peak pressure of TGB10 was within ±4.5% to that of diesel. The combustion duration of TGB10 was about 12% to 15% shorter than diesel. Increased weighted NOX emissions (+9.8%), slightly lower weighted PM emissions (-5.5%), significantly lower weighted CO emission (-51.7%) and higher metal content (various orders of magnitude) were observed when using TGB10 as fuel in comparison to diesel. Additional engine experiments included varying the gasoline percentage in the TGB, evaluating combustion statistics, engine ECU parameters like start of injection, turbocharger speed and emissions analysis. Overall for blends containing up to 25% gasoline, most of the combustion parameters were identical to 100% triglyceride. As the gasoline content increased up to 55%, the combustion parameters were similar to diesel. For blends containing gasoline greater than 60% the combustion parameters were significantly different than diesel. A durability study (250 hours) on three fuels – (i) off road diesel, (ii) canola based bio diesel, and (iii) canola based TGB10 was conducted on a single-cylinder, naturally aspirated Yanmar diesel engine operating at constant load. Oil samples, injector spray patterns and carbon buildup from the injector and cylinder surfaces for the three fuels were analyzed and compared. Biodiesel had a cleansing effect on the injector tip. TGB10 left behind thick sludge on piston crown while diesel fuel had the least impact on lubricating oil quality. Finally, an economic business case model was analyzed for a complete lifecycle for TGB10. The model includes growing the canola crop, setting up a crushing facility to extract unrefined canola oil to converting it to TGB10 and the cost of ownership for a farm tractor over four different lifespans. The results show that though the cost of producing TGB10 can be lower than diesel, the cost of ownership can significantly vary on the lifespan of engine and its components. Expensive diesel prices and higher engine lifespans are the key to making TGB10 economically viable.