CSES Faculty

Agroecology

Agoecology - Croplands

Within this area, the focus in on producing crops in a sustainable manner. This includes economic, quality, and environmental practices which add value to the enviroment, and the ecosystem service(s) we as a society derive from a human altered landscape. Although major crops are listed the emphasis of our programs is increasingly directed at cropping systems, a means of increasing temporal diversity. few crops are grown

  • Cropping Systems

    We focus on efficient, profitable, and environmentally sound production of food, feed, fuel, and fiber from alternative and traditional crops. Our goal is to develop and implement strategies, technologies, and solutions that ensure the demand for essential ecosystem services will continue to be met while maintaining or improving the capacity of our systems to supply them.

  • Corn and Small Grains

    This program focuses on corn, wheat, and barley production, with an emphasis on cropping systems, value added production, and quality.

  • Cotton

    Area Description

  • Peanut

    Area Description

  • Soybean

    Area Description

  • Tobacco

    Area Description

  • Soil and Nutrient Management for Agroecosystems

    Area Description

      Dr. Marl Alley
      Dr. Steve Philips (postion now search)

Grasslands

This program focuses on the ecosystem services we obtain from grasslands. Topics of interest include utilization of vegetative resources for domestic animal production, including horses, cattle, dairy, and goats; improved wildlife habitat, enhanced water quality protection, and alternative uses of marginal lands for production of improved forages and biomass for energy.

  • Forages for Pasture and Hay
  • Agroforestry
  • Underutilized Plants
  • Biofuels
  • Plant-Animal-Soil Interactions
  • Grassland Ecology and the role of biodiversity

Grasslands Faculty

CSES Grassland and Forage Web Links
Forage Ecology Webpage
Forage Management -SPAREC

Turf Ecology and Management

The focus of this area is on ecosystem services found associated with intensive recreational uses by man. Emphasis areas include environments such as golf courses, sports turf, commercial and institutional landscapes, roadside vegetation, and homesites.

  • Physiological responses to stress
  • Molecular effects of growth regulators
  • Extending the Season - Sport and Recreational Turf
  • Reduced Management Turf Systems
  • Roadside Vegetation Management

Turf Team

  • Erik Ervin, Physiologist-CSES
  • Mike Goatley, - Agronomist-CSES
  • Shawn Askew, Weeds-PPWS
  • Jeff Derr, Weeds-PPWS
  • Brandon Horvath, Pathologist-PPWS)
  • Rod Youngman, Insects-ENT)

Turfgrass Webpage

Crop & Soil Environmental Sciences
330 Smyth Hall (0404)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061
540-231.6305 (V)
540.231.3431 (F)
cses@vt.edu