Research
PC: K. Sattanno
Current Projects
Cover Crops for Sustainable Southern Agroecosystems (S-1085)
Funded by USDA NIFA
The research will result in increased cover crop options for the southern region and improved knowledge about how, where, and when cover crops should be used in order to optimize benefits and minimize tradeoffs.
Explore Project
Enhancing the Sustainability of US Cropping Systems through Cover Crops and an Innovative Information and Technology Network (PSA)
Funded by USDA NIFA PSA-CAP
A nationwide team of dedicated research, extension and NGO personnel from 28 institutions will establish on-station and on-farm research networks, novel teaching curriculum, and extensive social-science based outreach. Our overall goal is to increase crop productivity, conserve natural resources, and reduce our agro-ecological footprint through increased and improved use of cover crops.
Explore Project
Evaluating the Dual-Purpose of Chickpea: A Cash and Cover Crop for Agricultural Production Systems in the Southeast
Funded by Southern SARE
Crop diversification and rotation increase environmental and economic sustainability. Chickpea may have potential as a food and cover crop in the off-production season for the main crop. This project investigates chickpea as a cash and cover crop for Southeast growing conditions.
Explore Project
Southern Cover Crops Council (SCCC)
Initially Funded by Southern SARE
The SCCC grew out of a planning project funded by a Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SSARE) Planning Grant.
Mission: to facilitate and enhance communication and collaboration among producers, extension, researchers, and other agricultural professionals, and transfer information and technology to promote the successful adoption and integration of cover crops into southern agriculture systems.
Explore Project
Specialty Pumpkin: Laying the Groundwork for an Emerging Crop and Lucrative Products
Funded by Southern SARE
Demand for specialty pumpkin in the U.S is increasing rapidly due to a growing population of ethnic immigrant communities and emerging lucrative markets. This project addresses grower, industry, and consumer needs and constraints for the emerging crop using a transdisciplinary approach.
Explore Project
Past Projects
Adapting and Expanding High Tunnel Organic Vegetable Production for the Southeast
Funded by USDA NIFA OREI
A panel of producers from the Southeast with organic high tunnel production experience identified and prioritized the critical research needs addressed in this project. These research needs were identified through semi-structured interviews and reviewed at a plenary meeting of project partners and stakeholders. The overall goal of this project is to develop a strategic plan for research and outreach that addresses the full range of needs identified by the producer panel.
Explore Project
Cover Crop Diversity through Evaluation and Increase from Breeder Stocks and Germplasm Repositories
Funded by Southern SARE
This project sought to select specific cover crop cultivars for a breeding program. The cultivars were selected from cover crop species that performed best in our previous years of cover crop research. Most of these cultivars were developed as cash crops rather than for use as a cover crop. The desired growth and flowering characteristics for use as cover crops differ from those of cash crops. Selecting for those characteristics was the primary objective of the project.
Explore Project
Enhancing Seed Production of Regionally Adapted Crops in the Southeastern Farmer Seed System
Funded by Southern SARE
This project addresses principal barriers to entry into seed production markets: 1) producing and maintaining high quality seeds in hot, humid environments and 2) decision-making factors that determine whether farmers are likely to adopt novel yet established practices and technologies. Our robust outreach component consisting of farmer managed on-farm trials and field days, educational sessions via the Southern Seed School platform, networking at farmer-based conferences, and accessible on-line learning tools will share results and practices throughout the southeastern region.
Explore Project
Extension and Outreach of Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) in the Southeast
Funded by USDA-ARS
Anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) is a chemical-free alternative to methyl bromide and other chemical soil fumigants used to control soil-borne pathogens and is allowed for use in organic production systems. The overall goal of this project is to characterize what happens in the soil during ASD and facilitate its use at a commercial scale.
Explore Project
Partnership to Explore Integrated Systems for Sustainable High Tunnel Organic Vegetable Production in the Southeast Region
Funded by USDA NIFA OREI
Farmer-driven organic high tunnel research in the Southeast lags behind research for cooler climates. The objective of the project is to develop high tunnel systems that address nutrient management, crop rotations, pest and disease management, and production economics to promote the growth and expansion of organic vegetable production in the Southeast.
Explore Project
Support to Agricultural Research and Development (SARD) Program in Haiti
Funded by USAID
The overall goal of this USAID-funded program is to help transform and modernize Haiti’s agriculture sector in a target region that is a main food production area in Haiti. Our project addresses immediate short-term needs through applied research and training activities. These activities build on a previous successful USAID-funded agricultural development project in Haiti (WINNER). The current project seeks to further refine the technologies and practices developed in WINNER and to extend these and other agricultural innovations to a larger number of producers, focusing on key interventions that have shown positive outcomes for agricultural productivity and food security. Over the intermediate term, many of our proposed activities and interventions are designed to create a stronger and more resilient agricultural sector.
Explore Project
Sustainable Organic Strawberry (SOS) Cropping Systems for the Southeast
Funded by USDA NIFA OREI
The long-term goal of the project is to expand organic strawberry production in the Southeast by developing organic strawberry cropping systems that are more environmentally and economically sustainable and resilient to weed, pest, and disease pressure.