Soils, nutrient management, and herbicide resistance are just a few of the topics being presented during the Agronomy and Horticulture Spring 2018 Seminar Series starting January 26. Seminars begin at 3:30 pm in 150 Keim Hall, Nebraska East Campus. Refreshments served at 3 pm.

Join us in person or online at https://connect.unl.edu/FridaySeminarSeries

All speakers are from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln unless otherwise noted.If not provided below, short descriptions of seminars are provided at
http://agronomy.unl.edu/agronomy-and-horticulture-seminar-series
 
January 26:  Exploring Soil, Root and Rhizophere Microbiomes in Nebraska   with Daniel Schachtman, Professor, Agronomy and Horticulture. (Video not available for this seminar)

Changes in the root, soil and rhizosphere microbiomes due to abiotic stress and crop varieties may play important roles in drought tolerance and nitrogen use efficiency. In this talk the results of experiments completed in different parts of Nebraska with sorghum and corn will be described.

February 2: If trees could talk: The science of reading tree rings with Eric North, assistant professor of practice, natural resources

February 9: Conservation of pollinators in turfgrass ecosystems with Jonathan Larson, assistant extension educator, entomology

February 16: Soil organic matter as a proxy for soil health: Indicators and standards with Michelle Wander, professor, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois

This seminar will consider whether we have the data, knowledge and ability to use soil organic matter as an index of soil health and review the status of key indicators, inventories and assessment frameworks being used to relate management practices to changes in soil organic matter and associated soil function.

February 23: Agriculture in 2030: Chuck Rice perspective with Chuck Rice, University Distinguished Professor, Mary L. Vanier University Professorship, Agronomy, Kansas State University

Agriculture is set for a transformational change. Breakthroughs in sensors, root dynamics and the plant-soil microbiome will increase efficiency and resiliency. Cropping system designs will include efficiency and resiliency goals for the field and the landscape. Data and artificial intelligence will increase support for decision-making. The big question who will fund these advancements and are land-grant universities set to lead?

March 2: PPO herbicide resistance in weedy Amaranth species with Lowell Sandell, Field Market Development, Valent USA

PPO herbicide resistance in weedy Amaranth species is a less publicized, yet important topic in soybean weed control.  PPO herbicides are a foundational mode of action for residual weed control in soybeans, and widely used in postemergence tank mixtures.  This presentation provides an update on the status of PPO resistance in the Midwest and research on resistant Amaranth populations.

March 9: Utilizing crop canopy sensors and maize-N to manage nitrogen via fertigation in corn with Brian Krienke, assistant extension educator, Agronomy and Horticulture

The elevated levels of nitrate in Nebraska groundwater are considered to be a direct result of nitrogen management in corn production. Decades of research have attempted to develop methods that increase the use efficiency of applied nitrogen, while optimizing profit for growers. Krienke will discuss a new approach to nitrogen management that combines crop canopy sensors with and without the use of a crop model to aid in nitrogen management.  Research results have been promising.

March 16: Plant research at UNK: 26 years of collaboration, reinvention, and transcription factors with Paul Twigg, professor, biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney

A scientific journey adapting to changes in facilities, technology, funding, new organisms, and other challenges, but always ending up with good collaborators, students, and lots of transcription factors.

March 30: Leveraging plant diversity to manage soil water, carbon, and nitrogen in agricultural systems with Meagan Schipanski, assistant professor, Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University

Crop and non-crop plants provide carbon inputs that can fuel belowground communities, mediate soil processes, and influence resource use efficiency. Using examples from rhizosphere, on-farm, and landscape scale research, I will discuss potential benefits and limitations of leveraging crop and cover crop diversity to improve agricultural sustainability. 

April 6: Integrating writing skills and science literacy into the CASNR curriculum with Brian Waters, associate professor, Agronomy and Horticulture
 
April 13: Wanted: Systems professionals to meet agriculture’s future needs with Gary Hein, director, Doctor of Plant Health Program

April 20: Conserving, managing and restoring grassland diversity in Lincoln’s New Prairie Corridor  on Haines Branch with David Wedin, director, Nine-Mile Prairie and Agroforestry Research Farm, professor, natural resources

Since 2016, UNL faculty and students have been assessing plant and pollinator diversity in grasslands totaling thousands of acres in the Prairie Corridor project.  In this seminar the results from experiments on how diversity responds to management approaches will be presented.