​Our research and extension outreach at the University of Delaware involves improving agronomic yields in an economically efficient and environmentally sustainable way. That includes basic soil fertility work, methods in precision agriculture, and dealing with saltwater intrusion and soil salinization.
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Delmarva Saltwater Intrusion
Precision Agriculture​
Education Background:
Work Background:
  • ​University of Delaware, Department of Plant and Soil Science, 2017 - Present
  • University of Maryland Extension, Princess Anne, MD, 2014 - 2017
  • Post Doc, USDA-ARS, Florence, SC, 2009- 2013
  • Post Doc, Forestry Dept, University of Kentucky, 2008-2009
  • Research Associate, Virginia Tech, Cropping Systems Lab, 2002-2004
  • Dairy Farmhand, 1995 - 1999
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Learn more about our work in precision agriculture.
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Learn more about saltwater intrusion on the Delmarva Peninsula.
Recent SWI Publications: Evaluating routine agronomic soil tests for coastal soil salinity detection in the Mid-Atlantic
  • Mehlich-3 extractable Na and ammonium acetate extractable Na had a strong positive relationship with saturated paste extractable Na.
  • Mehlich-3 extractable Na has potential to identify and classify the salinity on the Delmarva Peninsula.     
  • DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.70075
Application of routine Mehlich-3 and EC ratio tests for salinity and sodicity management in Delmarva coastal croplands
  • The objective of this study was to establish the utility of converting routine Mehlich-3–extractable sodium (M3-Na) results directly into standard SP equivalents.
The unit for electrical conductivity (EC) is dS m−1 (mmhos cm−1). Mehlich-3–extractable sodium (M3-Na) is expressed in cmolc kg−1(meq 100 g−1), AA-extractable Na in cmolc kg−1 (meq 100 g−1), and saturated paste (SP)–extractable Na in cmolc L−1 (10 meq L−1).
Recent Precision Agriculture Publication: Assessing relationships of cover crop biomass and nitrogen content to multispectral imagery
  • Drone-derived NDVI, along with GDD, were strong predictors of biomass.
  • As an individual variable, normalized difference red edge index was useful for predicting biomass, total N, and C:N.
  • The digital surface model could predict N and C:N as an interaction with cover crop types.
         
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Recent Agronomy Publications: Planting Date Effects on Soybean Yield and Foliar Nutrient Concentrations across the Mid-Atlantic Region.
  • Soybean yield in the Mid-Atlantic was mostly unaffected by planting date between mid-April and late May.
  • Nutrient concentrations in the upper trifoliate were lower for potassium, calcium, sulfur, and iron with later planting dates.
  • Nutrient concentrations for nitrogen, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and boron did not change with planting date.
  • Aluminum uptake was higher with earlier planting dates and had a negative impact on yield during the earliest planting timing.
         

Cover crop species and termination timing impact on soybean production in the Mid-Atlantic United States
While cover crop adoption in the United States has increased, limited research exists on the impact of cover crop mixtures on soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) production.
https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70302

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