Division: Special Sessions

Title: Developing Research and Extension Skills of Students in Integrated Agronomic Systems

Lead Community Sponsor:
Cosponsor: C03 Crop Ecology, Management and Quality, C06 Forage and Grazinglands, SSSA Division: Soil and Water Management and Conservation
Community Cosponsor:
Format: Poster Topical Session
Keywords: Annual forage crops, Cover crops, Crop residue and Soil ecosystem

Session Description: Interest has grown in use of cover crops and annual forages in integrated agronomic systems to increase forage for grazing livestock and improve other ecosystem services.  Yet, much remains unknown about management of such systems and their impacts on corn/soybean yields, forage production, and soil and environmental quality. Thus, developing student skills in conducting research, communicating findings, and educating crop and livestock producers in this emerging area of agriculture is a priority.  This project supported by a grant from the USDA-NIFA Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln provided a unique opportunity for nine undergraduate students to work directly with research and extension faculty mentors knowledgeable on corn/soybean cropping systems, cover crop/crop residue management, pasture ecology, and soil management.  Research objectives were to: 1) measure effects of cover crops on corn and soybean growth and development; 2) evaluate success of annual forage crop establishment in integrated agronomic systems; and 3) measure impacts of conservation tillage systems and cover crops on key soil ecosystem services.  The intent of this symposium is to provide an opportunity for undergraduate students participating in this fellowship program to present their research at the annual meetings, interact with and develop networks with other students, government scientists, industry leaders, and faculty from other universities, and facilitate matriculation of students to graduate school in an agronomy, crop science, or soil science research area.