Specialty：Forages

Research

My overall goal is the improvement of economic and environmental sustainability through the use of alternative practices, specifically the integration of legumes or agricultural co-products, into agricultural systems.  Experiments are designed to evaluate alternatives which will improve the resource use efficiency of water, nutrients, and other management inputs while maintaining crop or livestock productivity.  Alternative practices include novel forages or crops, agronomic management, soil amendments, or tillage.

My primary focus is on warm-season legumes and their inclusion into warm-season based cropping systems and pastures for crop and livestock production and biofuels in the southern United States.  Co-products, including microalgae, macroalgae, and other bioenergy waste, have great potential as soil amendments and animal feeds which enhance resource use efficiency.  Improvement of sustainability and resource use efficiency are cross-cutting issues which are international in scope.

Support Staff and Students

Xiaoqing Shen