CRC AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lewis, Roben A. (Roben Alan) CRC dictionary of agricultural sciences I Roben A. Lewis. p. em. ISBN 0-8493-2327-4 (alk. paper) I. Agriculture-Dictionaries. I. CRC Press. II. Title. S411 .L39 2001 630'.3-dc21 2001052483 This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reprinted material is quoted with permission, and sources are indicated. A wide variety of references are listed. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and the publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or for the consequences of their use. Neither this book nor any part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, microfilming, and recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. The consent of CRC Press LLC does not extend to copying for general distribution, for promotion, for creating new works, or for resale. Specific permission must be obtained in writing from CRC Press LLC for such copying. Direct all inquiries to CRC Press LLC, 2000 N.W. Corporate Blvd., Boca Raton, Florida 33431. 'Ihldemark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation, without intent to infringe. Visit the CRC Press Web site at www.crcpress.com © 2002 by CRC Press LLC No claim to original U.S. Government works International Standard Book Number 0-8493-2327-4 Library of Congress Card Number 2001052483 CRC DICTIONARY OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Robert A. Lewis CRC PRESS Boca Raton London New York Washington, D.C. About The Author Robert A. Lewis, Ph.D., is the author or editor of numerous scientific papers and books written in English and German. Contributions include basic research in physiology, endocrinology, and animal behavior; applied research on air pollution and toxic chemicals; and chemical, biological, and environmental monitoring and specimen banking as applied to human health and environmental effects. In addition to a long record of basic and applied research, the author has made contributions to contemporary society through outstanding national and international achievements as an inventor and as an academic and government administrator in both the U.S. and Germany. He developed and coordinated several programs of research that were national or international in scope, and he has served as an administrator of governmental organizations and national programs in the U.S. Although an American, he has also served as an academic administrator, director of a research institute, and leader of national programs of research in the Federal Republic of Germany. Dr. Lewis led a team that selected the National Environmental Research and Assessment Parks of the Federal Republic of Germany and later developed sampling designs and protocols for chemical and biological monitoring and specimen banking to be conducted on a continuing basis. The author has made a number of technological innovations including invention and codesign of the Zonal Air Pollution System (ZAPS), a research tool that is able to continuously deliver and monitor the direct and indirect effects of gaseous pollutants on agricultural crops and other eco- systems throughout entire growing seasons. Since introduction, this pioneer system (in its. original form or with design modifications) has been used in various programs in the U.S., Canada, and Europe to assess the impacts of sulfur dioxide, ozone, and carbon dioxide on various crops including, for example, grasses, broccoli, clover, cotton, tobacco, peas, soybeans, wheat, and even trees. It has also been employed in the National Crop Loss Assessment Program sponsored by the EPA. Other technological innovations include the design, construction, and application of an air quality monitoring and micrometeorological network in Montana to help assess the effects of air pollution on the range resources of the state. The author also successfully standardized and applied remote sensing to the assessment of chronic pollution effects on ponderosa pine forests and grasslands in the northcentral Great Plains. Among many other contributions to agriculture, Dr. Lewis served as a rapporteur at the White House Conference on Technology for a Sustainable Future; The President's Task Force on Water Quality; the American-German Specimen Banking Program; and the Health, Safety and Environ- mental Task Force for the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Dr. Lewis holds degrees from Ohio State University, Rutgers University, and the University of Washington. His biography appears in various editions of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in Science and Technology, and various other biographic sources. A 1080. sodium fluoroacetate. aa. amino acid. a. lower case symbol for the Greek letter AA. amino acid. alpha, q.v. AAA. Agricultural Adjustment Act. a-, an-. prefixes meaning 1: on, in, at. 2: negation of the quality expressed by the AAF. N-2-fluorenylacetarnide. root; without, lacking, not. 2-AAF. N-2-fluorenylacetamide. a posteriori. pertaining to a manner or sys- tem of reasoning whereby one attempts to AAL. ambient air level. determine cause from knowledge of the effect or outcome. q. a priori. AAPFCO. Association of American Plant Food Control Officials. a priori. pertaining to a manner or system of reasoning whereby one infers an effect or ab. antibody. outcome from a notion or theory regard- ing cause. Cf a posteriori. Ab. antibody. A. 1: absorbance. 2: ampere. ab-. a prefix indicating from, away from, off, derived from. Ar. relative atomic mass. ABA. abscisic acid. A. upper case symbol for the Gr. letter alpha, q.v. abacterial. lacking or free from bacteria. A.S.A. acetylsalicylic acid. abalone. common name for mollusks of the genus Haliotis. A-frame. 1: a wooden or metal frame that resembles a capital A. Such structures abamectin (ABM; averrnectin B ). an 1 typically support or hold in position heavy avermectin, q. v. loads. 2: a structure such as a house with steeply angled sides that meet at the top abate. 1: to diminish, subside, or decrease, forming the shape of the letter A. as in the case of environmental pollution or the symptoms of an illness or disease. A-scale sound level (A-weighted sound le- 2a: to halt, cease, be arrested. 2b: to vel). a measurement of sound that ap- bring about a decrease. 2c: to arrest or proximates the sensitivity of the human cause to cease. ear. It is used to note the intensity or annoyance of sounds. Abate. temephos. A-weighted sound level. A-scale sound abatement. 1: decrease, curtailment, reduc- leveL tion, subsidence, attenuation, cessation, or abattoir 2 Abies termination of a condition or the intensity abdomino-. See abdomin- of a process (e.g., symptoms of illness, astorm, environmental pollution). the pro- Aberdeen Angus (angus; black angus; dod- cess, methods, or means used to abate a die). Ia: an early-maturing breed of ro- condition or process. 3: decrease in se- bust, usually black, hornless beef cattle verity of pain or the severity of a disease that originated in Aberdeen and Angus or its symptoms. 4: wrongful entry onto counties, Scotland. lb: an animal of this land. Sa: reduction of a bequest due to a breed. deficiency of assets. 5b: voiding or re- duction of a will or similar instrument. aberrant. la: abnormal; anomalous, devi- noise abatement. the reduction of noise ant; unusual. lb: deviating significantly in areas of human activity and habitation from that which is deemed typical or nor- to levels that are not disruptive or harmful mal. 2a: of or pertaining to an abnormali- by technological or regulatory means. pol- ty or anomaly. 2b: pertaining to an ab- lution abatement. the reduction or elimi- normal subject or process or to an ab- nation of pollution by the use of techno- normal property of such (e.g., aberrant logical or legal measures, or both. smoke behavior). 3: said of a: an ectopic ana- abatement. the application of pollution tomic structure (i.e., one that is not in the abatement measures to the reduction or usual or expected site) or b: a structure elimination of smoke in the environment. (such as a duct or nerve) that does not follow a typical course. abattoir. slaughterhouse. aberration. la: an abnormality or anomaly; abaxial. 1: away from, facing away from, irregularity, deviation, divergence. lb: or furthest from the axis. 2a: pertaining oddity, peculiarity; eccentricity. lc: an to the surface of a leaf or other lateral exception to that which is the normal or organ that is developmentally furthest expected situation or condition. 2a: abnor- from the apex of the axis (stem or stalk) mal growth or development. 2b: the result that bears it. 2b: the lower surface of a of abnormal growth or development. chro- leaf or other lateral organ. Cf. adaxial. mosome aberration. any irregularity or abnormality in the number of chromo- abdomen. See belly, venter. somes or the structure of a chromosome. abdomin-, abdomino-. prefixes that denote abience. 1: avoidance or the tendency to a relationship to the abdomen. avoid or withdraw from the source of a stimulus. abdominal. of or pertaining to the abdomen. abient. of or pertaining to abience. Cf. abdominal cavity. that part of the body adient. cavity (coelom) of vertebrate animals in which the digestive organs are suspended. Abies (fir). a large genus of North Temper- In most vertebrates, the abdominal cavity ate Zone coniferous evergreen trees (Fa- is continuous with the thoracic (chest) mily Pinaceae). All are conical in aspect, cavity. In mammals, however, the abdo- bearing upright cones, fiat leaves, and men is separated from the thoracic cavity smooth circular leaf scars, which distin- by a muscular diaphragm and is bordered guish them from. spruce (Picea). The caudally by the pelvis. branches are stiff and the foliage is aro- matic. A. balsamea (balsam fir; Canada abdominal dropsy. ascites. balsam; eastern fir). an evergreen; the only fir tree (Family Pinaceae) native to abietene 3 Abney level northeastern North America where it oc- abiotrophic. of or pertaining to abiotrophy. curs mostly in coniferous forests, often inpure stands. The foliage, as browse, is abiotrophy. a loss of vigor or deterioration important to deer and moose in winter. It of an organism in the absence of apparent is used in the manufacture of many wood- injury. Specific cells and tissues are usu- en products and as Christmas trees. A. ally affected. lasiocarpa (alpine fir; Arizona fir; mountain balsam; Rocky Mountain fir). abirritant. able to soothe or relieve irrita- an ornamental, pyramid-shaped tree of tion; an abirritant preparation. See abirri- western North America. tation. abietene. a volatile oil distilled from the abirritation. la: weakness. lb: absence of resin or balsam of the Pinus sabiniana tone or strength. 2: decreased responsive- and used in varnishes and lacquers. ness to stimuli. Cf. asthenia; atony. abiological. not biological; not concerned ablactate. to wean. with, involving, or produced by living or- ganisms. ablactation. the weaning of a child or other mammal. abiosis. la: the absence of life. lb: incom- patibility with lite. 2: nonviability. 3: ablate. 1: to remove surgically or to deplete abiotrophy. or disperse (e.g., by erosion, melting, va- porization). 2: to be ablated; to undergo abiotic. la: nonliving, devoid of life. lb: ablation. not biological in origin. lc: pertaining to or characterized by the absence of living ablation. la: surgical removal of all or part organisms or their products; not including of an organ. lb: removal of harmful ma- living organisms. 2: of or pertaining to terials from the body by mechanical non-living components of the environment means. 2: erosion of rock surfaces, snow, (e.g., soil, groundwater, climate). 3a: or glacial ice by running or falling water, incompatible or antagonistic to lire. 3b: melting, sublimation or evaporation, or disposed to prevent, inhibit, or destroy calving (breaking off) by running or lite; incompatible with life. falling water. 3: all environmental pro- cesses whereby ice or snow erodes or dis- abiotic disease (physiogenic disease). A sipates. disease, such as a mineral deficiency, that is not caused by a living organism or pro- abluent. l: cleansing or purifying. 2: a duct of a living organism. cleansing or purifying agent such as a detergent. abiotic environment. la: the nonliving environment. lb: the nonliving compo- ablution. a cleansing or washing; bath, nents, collectively, of an ecosystem; the bathing. spectrum of physical and chemical factors in any system that do not arise from bio- ABM. abamectin. See avermectin. logical activity. 2: that part of the en- vironment, in reference to an individual Abney level. a hand-held level used to de- organism, taxon, or living system, that termine elevations and angles of slope in consists of nonbiological factors. Cf. bi- percent or degrees. otic environment, abiotic, factor (abiotic).