Research and Extension Projects
Drones, Sensors, and Precision Agriculture
Assessing relationships of cover crop biomass and nitrogen content to multispectral imagery
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Drone Imagery Provides Valuable Insight on In-Season Cover Crop Growth
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/crso.20342 |
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Sensor-based measurements of NDVI in small grain and corn fields by tractor, drone, and satellite platforms.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773126X23000667 |
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Monitoring winter wheat growth at different heights using aerial imagery.
https://acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/agj2.20539 |
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Post-harvest drone flights to measure weed growth and yield associations
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Precision Soil Sampling and Variable Rate Applications
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Conference Posters and Presentations
Can Leaf Area Index Measurement Improve Sensor-Based Nitrogen Recommendations and Plant Biomass Predictions in Corn? 2022 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 6-9, 2022.
Monitoring Cover Crop Biomass and Starter Nitrogen Effects on Corn Using in Season UAV Imagery. 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 9-13, 2020
Adding Drone Scouting to Delaware Variety Trials. 2019 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 10-13, 2019
Detecting Wheat Planting Heights at Multiple Heights Using Drone Imagery. 2019 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 10-13, 2019
Can Leaf Area Index Measurement Improve Sensor-Based Nitrogen Recommendations and Plant Biomass Predictions in Corn? 2022 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 6-9, 2022.
Monitoring Cover Crop Biomass and Starter Nitrogen Effects on Corn Using in Season UAV Imagery. 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 9-13, 2020
Adding Drone Scouting to Delaware Variety Trials. 2019 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 10-13, 2019
Detecting Wheat Planting Heights at Multiple Heights Using Drone Imagery. 2019 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting | November 10-13, 2019
Sustainable Soil Fertility on Coastal Landscapes
Examining Factors in Potassium Availability: Cation uptake under irrigated and rainfed conditions sponsored by the Delaware Soybean Board:
2023 Soybean Research Network Article Critical Nutrient Levels: Sponsored by the Maryland Grain Producers we have sampled sampled soil and tissue for yield and nutrient contents across DE and MD:
2018 Tissue Sampling Report Micronutrient Starter: Read our research report on starter Zn, Mn, and B for corn:
2018 Starter Report Cover Crops and Nitrogen: We have several ongoing projects examining how nitrogen cycling is effected by cover crops and termination timing.
2022 Cover Crop Termination Research 2021 Drone Estimations of Cover Crop N Soybean Fertility: Sponsored by the Delaware Soybean Board, we are performing statewide tissue analyses and on farm research projects for macro and micronutrients.
All other extension research reports can be found on our Extension Publications page.
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Salt Water Intrusion on Agroecosystems
Sponsored by USDA-NIFA, NFWF, and the Harry Hughes Agroecology Center.
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Along the East Coast, rising waters are encroaching on agricultural production, limiting the survival of grain crops. Working with Dr. Kate Tully at the University of Maryland, we are looking into rotations with more salt tolerant species as well as potential salt tolerant grasses for conservation.
The Spread and Cost of Saltwater Intrusion in the Mid-Atlantic, US (led by Dr. Pinki Mondal): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-023-01186-6 Extension OutputWeekly Crop Update:
Dealing with Salt Affected Soils Delaware Agronomy Blog: Fall Salt Remediation Mid Atlantic Women in Agriculture Webinars: Soils and Salts: From Fertilizer to Tidewater Soils and Salts (SWI Series) Download PDF Salt Measurements and Soil Classifications (SWI Series) Download PDF |
Mapping and Alleviating Saline Soils Using Apparent Electrical Conductivity
We are using apparent electrical conductivity to map salinity and compare to drone images of crop production along Delmarva. This work is sponsored by USDA-NIFA 2022-68008-36647.
Denitrification and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Coastal Plain Landscapes
At the Florence, SC ARS we studied riparian (stream) as well as depressional wetlands to observe their effects on nitrogen. In wet, oxygen depleted environments, nitrogen can be reduced to di-nitrogen gas (denitrification) and emitted safely into the atmosphere. But if this reaction doesn't go to completion, nitrous oxide may be produced. Nitrous oxide is known to be a greenhouse gas, so environmental cycling in wetlands is important. |
For manuscripts on Carolina Bays or Sugarcane plots, click on the images below:
Carbon Sequestration in the Appalachian Mountains
For my masters project at Virgina Tech we sampled soils by slope and aspect above 4000 feet working with Dr. John Galbraith and Dr. Lee Daniels. This elevation had been overlooked in terms of carbon sequestration, since it is not very accessible. |
Reclamation of Drastically Disturbed Lands
At the University of Kentucky most of my research dealt with surface mining in the Appalachian Mountains. For my Ph.D. project we (Dr. A.D. Karathanasis) observed transport of metals within reclaimed soils.
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My first post-doctoral position was with the Dr. Chris Barton in Kentucky's Forestry Department studying formation of disturbed soils in recently reclaimed mine-lands. There were four rock spoil types to observe forest reclamation and soil genesis from the very start.
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Biochar, Carbon Sequestration, and Soil Fertility
Currently, there are a lot of questions about where our future energy needs will be supplied from. Organic materials, like animal manures or plant tissues, are one option. When these materials undergo pyrolysis, which is burning under an oxygen free atmosphere, we can harvest the energy from this reaction. We also have a leftover charcoal like product that is called biochar.
We are currently studying biochar's options as a soil amendment. It could be important for carbon sequestration as well as soil fertility. I have also been involved in observations of the fertilizer ability of biochars.
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Soils, the Microbiome, and Geospecific Disease
Across the southeastern USA, there is a region nicknamed the "stroke belt", due to the high rates of stroke mortality. Within South Carolina, it was observed that some of the highest regions fell within the Middle Coastal Plain. So the question was asked, could environmental variables be involved in stroke mortality? More specifically, if you were born and grew up in SC and were likely to carry the risk with you, could it be microbial in nature? Could a soil organism promote or prevent strokes within humans, particularity as you pick up your microbiome at a young age? Each of us has our own microbial fingerprint, of which our surrounding environment has a strong impact.
For our study, we used the NRCS soils database (SSURGO), Arc-GIS, and stroke mortality rates to determine if there were any correlations with soil factors. A link to the published article is below.
For our study, we used the NRCS soils database (SSURGO), Arc-GIS, and stroke mortality rates to determine if there were any correlations with soil factors. A link to the published article is below.