College of Agriculture & Natural Resources

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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

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Author: search.filters.author.Fiorellino, Nicole

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    What do the numbers really mean? Interpreting variety trial results
    (University of Maryland Extension, 2020) Kness, Andrew; Fiorellino, Nicole
    Variety trials are conducted across the US by land-grant institutions to evaluate the performance of commercial seed varieties of many crops, such as corn, soybean, wheat, etc. Farmers and other agriculture professionals use this data to help them choose the best seed varieties for their farming operation. Statistics presented in variety trial reports may be unfamiliar to some stakeholders, which can lead to incorrect conclusions. This fact sheet explains the statistics used in variety trials and how to properly apply the statistics to interpret the data.
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    Evaluation of accuracy and sensitivity of the University of Maryland Phosphorus Management Tool and investigation of subsurface phosphorus dynamics in the Maryland Coastal Plains region
    (2015) Fiorellino, Nicole; McGrath, Joshua M; Environmental Science and Technology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Phosphorus (P) loss from agricultural fields to surface water represents a major environmental challenge in agricultural nutrient management. To reduce P loading, areas where both P source and transport conditions are present must be identified and appropriate management practices implemented to reduce the source or break transport connectivity. The Maryland P Site Index (MD-PSI) was modified from a multiplicative structure to a component structure and renamed University of Maryland Phosphorus Management Tool (UM-PMT). In the UM-PMT, each component is the product of source, transport, and management factors specific to a P loss pathway. Our objectives were to evaluate the UM-PMT for accuracy, investigate soil conditions in ditch-drained agricultural systems, compare different methods for degree of P saturation (DPS) calculation, and compare numerical and categorical final scores of the multiple versions of the Maryland P loss risk indices. Agronomic soil samples were collected from fields across Maryland, and analyzed for P, aluminum (Al), and iron (Fe) concentration using multiple extractions, soil texture was determined, and degree of P saturation (DPS) was calculated using five methods. Deep soil samples were collected and analyzed similarly from three sites on Maryland's eastern shore. A poor relationship was identified between UM-PMT and modeled P loss data (R2=0.09), but the relationship improved with modifications to UM-PMT calculation (R2=0.97), which resulted in UM-PMT Version 2 (UM-PMT v.2). Soil Fe concentration was responsible for a large proportion of DPS at one sample location on the Eastern Shore, demonstrated through poor correlation between two methods for DPS calculation, including and excluding Fe concentration. Numerical differences existed between different methods for DPS calculation and these translated to differences in UM-PMT final score, particularly in the Lower Shore region. The UM-PMT v.2 categorized more fields as HIGH risk than MD-PSI but less than UM-PMT. Neither version of the UM-PMT was very sensitive to management factor input variables. Evaluation of tools like the UM-PMT for accuracy, sensitivity, and magnitude of change is necessary to understand potential economic and environmental impacts of implementing new indices as nutrient management tools.
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    CHARACTERIZING THE USE OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND MEASUREMENTS OF PASTURE AND SOIL QUALITY ON MARYLAND HORSE FARMS
    (2010) Fiorellino, Nicole; Burk, Amy O.; Animal Sciences; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Agricultural operations, including horse farms, have the potential to negatively affect the environment when managed improperly. The use of best management practices (BMPs) by horse farm operators are important for reducing their farms' environmental impact. Through the use of a mailed survey and field assessment, the use of BMPs on Maryland horse farms was characterized. In general, some BMPs were being used, especially restricting horses from surface water and maintaining vegetative cover. However, BMPs such as correct manure storage and rotational grazing had low adoption rates. A major finding was that soil erosion was a serious problem for most farms and topography, use of compacted materials, and maintenance of vegetative cover can predict occurrence of soil erosion. Results from these studies can aid in the development of future educational events designed to educate horse farm operators about adopting BMPs and preventing pollution of surface water.