Crop Physiology & Ecology
Crops in Kansas are often exposed to many environmental changes during crop growing season leading to decreases in biomass, grain yield and quality. Thus, crop production is always challenging to producers and researchers. The goal of the Crop Physiology and Ecology research program is to seek ways to help producers understand and overcome the risks associated with environmental stresses.
The main focus of our program is to conduct research that improves our understanding of how crop plants respond and adapt to changing environmental conditions. These conditions include abiotic factors such as water (drought), temperature (hot and cold temperatures), nutrient stress, biotic pest infestations as alterations in crop management strategies associated with genetic improvements and changes in cultural practices.
Objectives
- Develop best management practices for efficient use of resources for maximizing crop yield and minimizing environmental risk.
- Understand crop responses to abiotic (drought, temperature, nutrient and climate change factors) and biotic (disease, pests and weeds) stress and quantify their impact on yield and quality.
- Use and improve crop growth simulation models to identify yield gaps, evaluate crop management practices, and impact of environmental, nutrient and biotic stresses on crop production.
Research Focus
- Abiotic stress management in soybean
- Develop sustainable crop, soil and water management practices in West Africa
- Drought and heat tolerance in sorghum
- Heat tolerance in wheat
- Heavy metal uptake by plants
- Improve sorghum and millet productivity in the semi-arid regions
- Plant water uptake and stomatal resistance
- Simulating impacts of climate change and climate variability
- Transpiration efficiency dynamics
- Winter survival and yield of winter canola in the southern Great Plains