Category: Agro-Ecology and Cropping Systems

Our study of crop modeling is deepening our understanding of the process of transpiration by linking stomatal conductance to canopy energy transfers for field crops. Additionally, we are identifying options for improving cropping system productivity by using the DSSAT-Cropping System Models under various scenarios of water/fertility management and crop rotations. This study is helping us…

In our studies on soil management, we have found that deficit irrigation in early growing stages for cotton can promote root growth and save 16% of irrigation water over five years without reducing cotton lint yield. In a long-term cropping system experiment, we found using strip-tillage resulted in an increase in cotton and corn crops.…

We obtained an initial success in detecting fine root biomass of winter wheat and energy cane using the ground penetrating radar (GPR) system attached with a 1600 MHz antenna. This progress provides hope for predicting crop fine root biomass remotely under field conditions. In collaboration with wheat breeders, we are developing methods for predicting leaf…

In the winter wheat varieties tested at the Uvalde center, the top two ‘picks’ were ‘TAM 305’ and ‘TAM 304’ out of 10 varieties evaluated. Two of the varieties: ‘TAM 112’ and ‘Fannin’ yielded the lowest, due to susceptibility to leaf rust infection. In relatively wet years, planting winter wheat under deficit irrigation or dry-land…