Overview of current research projects at the center

Forages: Dr. Ali Missaoui

• Forage breeding plots – multiple breeding plots used for the varietal improvement of alfalfa, white clover, red clover, orchardgrass, tall fescue and others.
• Evaluation of Alfalfa Germplasm on Acidic and pH adjusted Soils.
• UGA tall fescue Germplasm Evaluation.
  
• Tall fescue selection for persistence in bermudagrass pasture.

Weed control, forage and cover crops: Dr. Nick Basinger

• Determining the effect of plant competition when forages are planted as a monoculture, mixtures, and monocultures on alternating planting rows. Also evaluating the accuracy of drone multispectral imaging and LIDAR on the forage yield and botanical composition of mixed-species plots.
  
• Quantifying, predicting, and modeling the effects of machinery traffic on alfalfa yield and forage quality. 
  
• Evaluating ecosystem services benefits of annual and perennial cover crops for GA cotton production.
• Determining the Sphere of Influence of Weeds in Bermudagrass using both grazed and un-grazed plots.
• Evaluation of Rate of New Herbicide ProClova on weed control and Clover injury.

Soybean: Dr. Zenglu Li

• Soybean Crossing Block – program maintains its annual soybean crossing block at the JPCREC. The crossing block is the foundation of the breeding program.

Cover crops: Dr. Miguel Cabrera

• Modeling Cover Crop Decomposition and Nitrogen Mineralization.

Beef cattle: Dr. Pedro Fontes

• Using Doppler ultrasonography and blood markers to improve reproductive efficiency through early pregnancy diagnosis and prediction of embryonic viability in beef cattle.

Sunflower: Dr. Jessica Barb

• Sunflower association mapping (SAM) population – The population is used for the identification of quantitative trait loci in sunflower.

Hemp: Dr. Tim Coolong

• Fiber hemp production – evaluation of hemp varieties used for fiber.

Cotton: Dr. Phillip Roberts

• On-farm cotton variety trial – a field size, replicated variety trial containing cotton varieties submitted by seed companies.