Publications by authors named "Russ Gesch"

Winter oilseed cash cover crops are gaining popularity in integrated weed management programs for suppressing weeds. A study was conducted at two field sites (Fargo, North Dakota, and Morris, Minnesota) to determine the freezing tolerance and weed-suppressing traits of winter canola/rapeseed ( L.) and winter camelina [ (L.

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Article Synopsis
  • Relay-cropping of winter camelina and pennycress with soybean may offer economic and environmental benefits in the Upper Midwest, yet their impact on nutrient runoff is unclear.
  • Studies assessed surface runoff and nutrient loads during three crop phases over two years comparing cover crops with no-till and chisel-till treatments.
  • Results showed higher nutrient runoff during the winter cover phase due to snowmelt, but pennycress significantly reduced total suspended solids (TSS) during intercrop phases, indicating some cover crops can help manage nutrient loads despite potential increases during soybean growth.
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The nature of the vegetative to reproductive transition in the shoot apical meristem of summer annual cultivar CO46 and winter annual cultivar Joelle was confirmed by treating seedlings with or without 8 weeks of vernalization. True to their life cycle classification, Joelle required a vernalization treatment to induce bolting and flowering, whereas CO46 did not. In this study, whole genome sequence, RNAseq, and resequencing of PCR-amplified transcripts for a key floral repressor were used to better understand factors involved in the flowering habit of summer and winter biotypes at the molecular level.

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Article Synopsis
  • Winter cover crops like winter camelina and pennycress may help reduce nutrient leaching in the Upper Midwest by improving soil health and nutrient retention.
  • Research measured nitrogen in plant biomass and soil, showing that winter rye and forage radish sequestered significant nitrogen in the fall, while oilseed cover crops outperformed in spring nitrogen uptake before soybean planting.
  • Overall, these cash cover crops not only provide economic benefits for farmers but also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing nutrient loss from the soil.
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Echium (Echium plantagineum L.) is an alternative oilseed crop in summer-wet temperate regions that provides floral resources to pollinators. Its seed oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as stearidonic acid, which is desired highly by the cosmetic industry.

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