Research
High Tunnel Soil Health for Specialty Crop Production (Specialty Crop Research Institute Grant)
This research seeks to build the scientific knowledge and producer decision tools needed to equip the specialty crop industry with the guidance required to sustain and remediate soil health in high tunnels. The current initiatives are to assess the state of the science, the robustness of our management and decision tools, and gain deeper understanding of how high tunnel soil health issues emerge on farms.
Crop Growth Modeling Study (Kentucky Division of Agriculture Grant)
This research is to develop crop growth models in a simple, excel-based decision tool to provide planting and harvest date guides based on local growing conditions. The research will be conducted on a network of farms in central Kentucky, including the UK Horticulture Research farm and leading leafy green producers in nearby counties. The data collected on these four farms, over two years of year-round production will generate data that will be used to create grower-friendly crop growth modeling decision tools for 10 leafy greens and other “salad bar” specialty crops. This project is the focus of Master’s student Chelsea Maupin’s research.
Sustainable Production of Bread Wheat
This project seeks to directly respond to local demands for improving bread wheat production in Kentucky. The research explores the effects of using bio-fertilizer in combination with variable nitrogen application rates and timing to evaluate bread wheat performance in conventional and organically managed systems. This project is the focus of PhD student Ammar Al Zubade’s research.
