Specialty crop production… sustainability, efficiency, and quality
We are a multistate, multidisciplinary research and extension group that addresses the broad range of water quantity, quality and plant production issues.
Our Principle Areas
The specialty crop production industry includes a wide range of ornamental plant producers, urban landscape and green infrastructure managers, and urban farmers. These production systems are dynamic and complex, often requiring intensive resource applications to achieve production fruition. We prioritize four principle areas to ensure the profitability and sustainability of the industry.
Quality of Irrigation Water Sources
Traditional water sources used in specialty crops include surface and groundwater, but their increasing regional scarcity due to severe droughts and competition by other priority uses are giving way to alternative sources like municipal reclaimed water and recycled agricultural tailwater from runoff.
Irrigation Management and Use Efficiency
Efficient use of water is key to reduce waste of this finite resource. Sound irrigation management practices are required to reduce both water inputs (volumes required to grow a crop) and outputs (drainage and runoff). This includes irrigation scheduling and delivery.
Runoff Management
Specialty crop producers across the US have begun to capture, treat and recycle tailwater and stormwater runoff from their facilities. However, recycled runoff can often contain agrichemical residues with phytotoxic effects.
Substrates and Soilless Culture
Soilless substrates are responsible for proper storage of water and mineral nutrients and support irrigation and fertilizer efficiency. However, traditional substrates are inefficient and can be engineered to increase production sustainability.
Research and Extension Missions
Our multistate and multidisciplinary research and extension group serves to assist the industry and stakeholders with practical and actionable solutions
Research
- Conduct multidisciplinary and industry-relevant research experiments
- Develop data-driven solutions that are practical for the industry
- Experiments that are a blend of field- and lab-based projects
Extension
- Translate research into adoptable grower-ready practices
- Develop and deliver educational programs and tools through hands-on training grower workshops
- Foster collaboration among researchers, extension specialists, and industry stakeholders