Find Background Information
Plant Fact Sheets:
- PLANTS DatabaseThis database was created by the USDA and is a great source for basic fact sheets of many plant varieties.
Hint: Use scientific names here. Ex: For crimson clover, search "Trifolium incarnatum". - Midwest Cover Crops CouncilThis website provides wide variety of resources covering commercial crop growth, including background sources for several types of clover.
Scholarly Background Information:
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new windowWith over 400 full text reference books available and fully searchable, this is an excellent resource for background information and possible lab ideas.
Hint: This is a great resource for background info on Rhizobia/Rhizobium and nitrogen fixation.
- ScienceDirect TopicsA subsection of the ScienceDirect database, ScienceDirect Topics collects high-quality reference texts in the natural and physical sciences.
Hint: This is a good resource for background information about rhizobia and nitrogen fixation.
Databases
- Library Central This link opens in a new windowLibrary Central combines SAU's book catalog and most of our databases into one unified searching interface. Use Library Central if you're looking to find a wide variety of sources with a minimum amount of searching. The sheer volume of results can be overwhelming, however, so use lots of search filters!
- JSTOR This link opens in a new windowFull-text academic journals in the fields of economics, history, political science, sociology, Latin American and Middle Eastern studies, etc.
- ScienceDirect This link opens in a new windowThis science/social science database contains Elsevier's Physical Sciences & Social & Behavioral Sciences journal packages. Provides access to 3,700 full-text scholarly journals with coverage in the sciences and social sciences.
Search Tips
Keyword Suggestions
- Brainstorm 2-3 synonyms or similar terms for each component of your research question; try out scientific and common names.
- Use quotation marks to search for an exact phrase. Ex: “white clover”
- Look for alternate/better keywords in titles and abstracts as you search, and try different combinations of keywords.
Database Search Tips:
- Use Advanced Search forms to structure your search.
- Search at least two different databases.
- Use Boolean operators to narrow or expand your search. (Learn more about Boolean operators)
- “White clover” AND rhizobia
- Rhizobia OR rhizobium OR rhizobial
- Look at the bibliographies of useful articles–you can often find other relevant articles.
APA Citation
- Reference examples - APA 7thCitation examples tailored to the types of sources used in BIOL 200L classes.
- APA Reference GuideMore than 100 reference examples and their corresponding in-text citations are presented in the Publication Manual. Examples of the most common kinds of works that writers cite are provided on this page for your ease of use. Note that print and electronic works have the same foundation; look for the type of work (e.g., journal article, webpage) to determine the format to follow.
- Recommended Citation Generator: BibGuruA reasonably reliable citation generator. It is important to ALWAYS CHECK GENERATED CITATIONS.
Need Something We Don't Have?
Even if we don't have immediate access to an article, we can get it for you! Fill out an Interlibrary Loan request to get articles and books from other libraries.