Research Programs

Research and extension programs at Blackland are led by a distinguished group of scientists who are assisted by a dedicated support staff. Current research areas emphasize:

Agricultural Economics

Dr. Wyatte Harman (Ph.D., Oklahoma State University) uses economic and biophysical computer models to investigate economic impacts and environmental issues related to management of water quality and animal wastes and to adoption of conservation tillage.

Agronomy and Crop Physiology

Dr. Tom Gerik (Ph.D., University of Nebraska-Lincoln) utilizes field studies and biophysical models to examine production constraints and maximize profitability of Texas cropping systems.

Cropping Systems Modeling

Dr. Jimmy Williams (Ph.D., Texas A&M University) develops and applies models to evaluate impacts of management practices on watersheds and impacts of on-farm management decisions on environmental quality.

Hydrologic Modeling

Dr. Wes Rosenthal (Ph.D., Texas A&M University) models nutrient loadings and flow of Texas rivers, simulates the impacts of various watershed management practices on water quality and quantity, and simulates global crop production and corresponding economic influence as affected by El-Nino/Southern Oscillation.

Dr. Raghavan Srinivasan (Ph.D., Purdue University), who also serves as the Director of the Spatial Sciences Laboratory at TAMU, models transport of pollutants to assess surface and ground water quality impacts, develops Internet-based tools using GIS and remotely sensed data, and integrates data into spatial information systems.

Integrated Information Management Laboratory (IIML)

Dr. Paul Dyke (Ph.D., Oregon State University) serves as the focal point for many of the national and international integrated applications of models and databases by laboratory scientists, and is applying techniques to automate soil delineation.

Water Quality Program

Dr. Dennis Hoffman (Ph.D., University of Nebraska) makes water quality measurements using automated and manual sampling techniques and provides technical assistance to reduce pesticides in run-off. In cooperation with the Texas Cooperative Extension personnel, he leads the TEX*A*Syst program developing educational materials to protect ground water.

CO-LOCATED AGENCIES

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, Region 6). One staff member from the Dallas office of the EPA, Marine & Wetlands Section, is co-located at BREC. He cooperates with TAES and ARS researchers on water quality issues, especially riparian restoration.

NRCS (National). Two staff members from NRCS National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., are co-located at Temple. They concentrate on natural resource and economic issues, evaluate soil erosion and resource conservation policies, and transfer technology and databases to NRCS. Co-location allows them to quickly implement ARS and TAES research to meet NRCS objectives.

NRCS (Texas). In 1992, several scientists and engineers from NRCS state headquarters were co-located at the laboratory. This group, termed the Water Resources Assessment Team (WRAT), interacts closely with ARS and TAES scientists to apply hydrologic simulation models, often in conjunction with GIS software and large databases, to solve water resource problems in Texas, and to provide researchers with feedback on model performance. Applications have been made for river authorities and water districts.

HIGHLIGHTED ACTIVITIES

Bell County Network for Education Technology (BellNET). BellNET is an electronic network that connects community colleges, independent school districts, and other entities (county government, hospitals, municipalities, etc.) with each other and with components of the TAMUS. BellNET is serving as a model for the manner in which TAES can interact with communities.

Conservation Effects Assessment Program (CEAP). TAES, ARS, and NRCS scientists at Temple are cooperating on a large national project (CEAP), whose objective is to quantify the environmental benefits (e.g. improved water and air quality) associated with USDA conservation programs (e.g. Environmental Quality Incentives Program and Conservation Reserve Program). Analytical tasks involve the use of weather, soils, crop management databases, and simulation models developed by Temple scientists.

Detailed Soil Mapping. We are developing algorithms to increase the density and level of information and to reposition mapping units on the 1:1 million digital soils database of the world. This work, cooperative with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) of the Department of Defense, involves the use of digital, high-resolution data from satellites; and information on landscapes, landforms, physiography, geology, and soils. We have developed maps for several countries.

Economic and Environmental Impacts of Land Management Practices. Several scientists in the laboratory are using computer simulation models to quantify the effects of land management practices on the environment. Studies have focused on the impact of intensive forestry operations on water quality, effects of brush removal on water yields, determination of best management practices for application of wastes from confined animal feeding operations, water quality impacts of variable rates of fertilizer applications in site specific farming, and carbon sequestration impacts of tillage and cropping practices.

Fort Hood Revegetation Project. In cooperation with the Texas Water Resources Institute, Blackland scientists are using field measurements and modeling techniques to develop best management practices for restoration of Fort Hood training areas and to develop a set of standard operating procedures.

Production-Risk Management. Blackland scientists are developing a user-friendly software tool (CroPMan) to help growers and agricultural practitioners minimize risk associated with crop production. The tool, which includes a sophisticated biophysical model, helps growers identify on-farm cultural practices that optimize productivity and maximize profitability within natural resource (soil water) and climatic constraints. This tool is being implemented in various regions of Texas to address issues associated with water, nutrients, and tillage.

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