Research Projects
Our research projects are at the heart of our quest for innovation and discovery. Each project is a unique journey, driven by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a deep commitment to solving the complex challenges of our ag world.
Sustainable Wheat Production and Intensification
The objective of the project is to develop a knowledge graph to inform wheat sustainability. It involves understanding and quantifying the different domains of sustainability along the wheat value chain with the help of an integrated tool. The goal is to model a tool to monitor and promote sustainable wheat production and intensification.
Location: Across the U.S.
Funding agency: K-State Game-changing Research Initiative Program (GRIP)
Student involved: Aastha Gautam and Nicolas Giordano
Tillering Plasticity
The growth and development of tillers (additional stems that develop off of the main plant shoot) depend partially on the environment and/or the genotype. Tillers may confer adaptation to distinct production environments. The literature demonstrates a high correlation between the tillering potential (number of tillers developed per plant) and many yield components. However, its actual impact on grain yield is not clear. The ultimate goal is to quantify the tillering potential, stability, and plasticity of a range of winter wheat genotypes, and test whether this trait is related to grain yield. Subsequently, use the tillering trait to reduce seed costs, adjusting seed rate recommendations that farmers can use to improve the rentability and sustainability of their farms.
Locations: Belleville, Great Bend, Hays, Hutchinson, Hoisington, Leoti, and Phillipsburg – Kansas
Funding agency: Kansas Wheat Commission
Student involved: Luiz Pradella
Chloride Presence
Preliminary research data suggests that Kansas soils' chloride levels are relatively low, leading to chloride deficiency. Chloride plays a critical role in photosynthesis and activating various enzymes, thus impacting grain yields. Some wheat varieties do not show chloride deficiency symptoms, necessitating plant tissue analyses for identification. On the other hand, in other varieties, chloride deficiency symptoms may manifest as random chlorotic spots on leaves, resembling diseases such as tan spots, which can result in unnecessary fungicide applications. The ultimate goal is to identify and quantify chloride deficiency and its actual impact on the grain yield of various winter wheat genotypes across multiple Kansas soils. Subsequently, providing farm decision-makers with information on adjusting fertilizer recommendations which will enable them to enhance farm sustainability.
Locations: Ashland Bottoms, Belleville, Great Bend, Hays, Hoisington, Hutchinson, Leoti, Manhattan, McPherson, Phillipsburg, and Solomon – Kansas
Funding agency: K-State Game-changing Research Initiative Program (GRIP)
Student involved: Luiz Pradella
Wheat Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Farmer’s management decisions together with the geo-spatial specific climate and soil play an important role in the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of wheat production in Kansas. We use data from survey and experiments to bench mark the sustainability of Kansas wheat production, discover limiting factors to intensify production sustainably, and make recommendations to stakeholders. We also propose premium programs to policymakers to incentivize farmers to make sustainable decisions.
Location: Across Kansas
Funding agency: TBA
Student involved: Peng Chen
Reducing Winter Wheat Yield Gaps in the Republic of Georgia
The Republic of Georgia, located in the Caucus region between Southeastern Europe and Western Asia, consumes about 700 thousand tons of wheat per year. With ~50 thousand hectares planted and an average grain yield of 2.3 Mg/ha, Georgia produces around 113,000 tons of wheat annually. The remaining wheat demand is supplied by imports predominantly (~92%) from Russia, which generates high vulnerability and compromises national food security. The project’s goals are (a) to determine the current wheat yield gap in Georgia following the protocol of Global Yield Gap Atlas and (b) to identify the causes of yield gaps and interventions needed to narrow them via agricultural practices.
Location: Georgia (country)
Funding agency: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service
Student involved: Jorge Romero Soler
Alfalfa Water Use Efficiency (WUE)
Alfalfa is a perennial forage legume with high yield potential and nutritional value, demonstrating adaptability to a wide range of soil and climate conditions. However, alfalfa forage productivity can be significantly reduced under drought conditions. During water stress, its biological nitrogen fixation process falters, resulting in a critical nitrogen deficiency and a subsequent decrease in overall yield. This project aims to measure the alfalfa maximum water use efficiency per cut and quantify the degree of limitation arising from the interaction between nitrogen and phosphorus in different alfalfa varieties. Particularly crucial in drylands, this evaluation aims to optimize resource utilization for improved alfalfa production, refine cultivation practices, enhance recommendations, reduce costs, and increase the profitability and sustainability of farms.
Location: Hutchinson - KS
Funding agency: U.S. Alfalfa Farmer Research Initiative of the National Alfalfa & Forage Alliance
Student involved: Mariana de Oliveira Mota
Nitrogen vs. Wheat Variety
The Republic of Georgia, located in the Caucus region between Southeastern Europe and Western Asia, consumes about 700 thousand tons of wheat per year. With ~50 thousand hectares planted and an average grain yield of 2.3 Mg/ha, Georgia produces around 113,000 tons of wheat annually. The remaining wheat demand is supplied by imports predominantly (~92%) from Russia, which generates high vulnerability and compromises national food security. The project’s goals are (a) to determine the current wheat yield gap in Georgia following the protocol of Global Yield Gap Atlas and (b) to identify the causes of yield gaps and interventions needed to narrow them via agricultural practices.
Locations: Ashland Bottom, Belleville, Hays, Hoisington, McPherson, Manhattan and Phillipsburg – Kansas
Funding agency: Kansas Wheat Commission
Student involved: Mariana de Oliveira Mota
Genetic architecture of traits contributing to grain yield G×E in winter wheat
Year to year environmental variation can trigger wheat production from success to failure. The differential performance of cultivars across a range of environments is due to environment (E) as well as genotype × environment interactions (G×E). Identifying crop traits that contribute to grain yield G×E is crucial to target selection efforts for cultivars that have the ability to cope with environmental variation: exploring environment yield potential when resources are available and maintaining yields under stressful conditions. Current research is focused on exploring the genetic architecture of traits that contribute to yield G×E on a set of 231 cultivars adapted to the Central Great Plains region.
Location: Central Great Plains
Funding agency: Kansas Wheat Alliance
Student involved: Nicolas Giordano