Carrots that were planted on and grew through a biobased fabric mulch.
Biomulch Innovations
Our research goal is to leverage the unique properties of a novel biobased fabric mulch to develop and study a system where crop seeds or clonal plants grow on and through the mulch.
Learn More
Bio-based mulches in cucumber.
Biomulch Degradation
Our research goal is to identify post-incorporation management strategies that accelerate biomulch degradation in soil, and to determine the microbial drivers of biomulch degradation and the eventual fate of biomulch residues in the soil environment.
Learn More
Fall-seeded cover crops
Cover Crops
We are conducting research to quantify the ecosystem services provided by individual cover crop species in monoculture and mixture, and develop new cover crop seed and seeding technologies to reduce labor during peak seasons and improve cover crop establishment.
Learn More
Composted animal manure
Organic Soil Amendments
Our research aim is to identify the multifunctional benefits of different organic amendments, and to explore application methods, rates, and intervals that will help us maximize these benefits in organic vegetable cropping systems.
Learn More
Abrasive weed management in kale.
Abrasive Weed Management
Air-propelled abrasive weed control, also called “weed blasting”, is the application of existing sand-blasting technology to physically abrade weed seedlings growing within crop rows. We are measuring vegetable crop growth and yield, disease incidence, weed suppression, and soil nitrogen mineralization in response to different abrasive grits and application rates.
Learn More
Urban farming experiment in Chicago.
Urban Agriculture
To address the critical challenges of urban agriculture, we are interested in: 1) developing low-cost soil remediation options that provide agronomic and environmental benefits; 2) identifying crops and cultivars best-suited to the elevated temperatures and atmospheric pollutant loads in cities; and 3) exploring opportunities for water reuse and conservation on urban farms.
Learn More
Tomato grafting
Tomato Grafting
This research aims to increase tomato yield and quality while reducing irrigation and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer use in Nebraska through the adoption of resource-efficient tomato rootstocks and carbon-based soil amendments.
Learn More
Cucurbits are susceptible to off-target injury from dicamba and 2,4-D herbicides.
Herbicide Drift
Herbicide drift has always been a primary challenge of growing specialty crops in Nebraska, but the issue has grown increasingly urgent due to the recent commercialization of dicamba-resistant soybean (Roundup Ready 2 Xtend).
Learn More