GRIFFIN, Georgia – The Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program (SSARE) has announced the funded projects for the 2020 Graduate Student Grants program.
The Graduate Student Grant program is one of the only sustainable agriculture research funding opportunities for master’s and PhD students enrolled at accredited institutions in the southern region. In 2020, the SSARE Administrative Council funded 16 projects totaling $236,875.
These projects include:
GS20-219 Translating Grazing: Calculating Nitrogen Credits from Cool-Season Integrated Crop Livestock Systems, University of Florida, $16,493, researcher: Marcelo Wallau, [email protected] student: Kacey Aukema, [email protected]
GS20-220 Novel Bio Sensor Derived from Cotton Biomass to Monitor Real-Time Soil Moisture and Nitrate, Tuskegee University, $16,500, researcher: Byungjin Min, [email protected], student: Naresh Shahi, [email protected]
GS20-221 Assessing anaerobic soil disinfestation for improving weed and soilborne disease management in high-tunnel and open-field salad green production, University of Florida, $16,499, researcher: Xin Zhao, [email protected], student: Isaac Vincent, [email protected]
GS20-222 Agroecological intensification of warm-season pastures for improved productivity and quality and ecosystem services, University of Florida, $16,173, researcher: Chris Wilson, [email protected], student: Hannah Rusch, [email protected]
GS20-223 Intercropping for pest control in organic kale in Northern Florida, Florida State University, $16,279, researcher: Nora Underwood, [email protected], student: Penelope Ales, [email protected]
GS20-224 Determining how the ubiquitous fungi Mortierella regulates belowground N dynamics under different crop rotation systems, University of Florida, $16,144, researcher: Hui-ling-Liao, [email protected], Student: Kaile Zhang, [email protected]
GS20-225 Deploying oak mulch to contain and suppress HLB disease in citrus, University of Florida, $12,347, researcher: Lorenzo Rossi, [email protected], student: Lukas Hallman, [email protected]
GS20-226 Comparing the effects of forage mix and nutrient management on soil greenhouse gas flux in semi-arid improved pastures, Texas Tech University, $16,450, researcher: Lindsey Slaughter, [email protected], student: Billi Peterman, [email protected]
GS20-227 Texas Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) Phenotypic Attribute Correlations to Collection Site Environment Characteristics, Tarleton State University, $11,889, researcher: James Muir, [email protected], Student: Kimberlee Howell, [email protected]
GS20-228 Sustainable Management of Phytophthora Cinnamomi and Ambrosia Beetles Under Stress Conditions, Tennessee State University, $16,335, Researcher: Fulya Baysal-Gurel, [email protected], student: Krishna Neupane, [email protected]
GS20-229 Cannabis sativa L. as a feed source in backyard rabbit production, Tarleton State University, $16,419, researcher: William Smith, [email protected], student: Kristen Jacobsen, [email protected]
GS20-230 Investigating social networks for cooperative management potential in agriculture, North Carolina State University, $8,984, researcher: Jason Delborne, [email protected], student: Dalton George, [email protected]
GS20-231 Evaluating Local Food Hubs as Alternative Food Systems to Preserve Specialty Crop Producers and Build Resilient Communities in North Central Florida, University of Florida, $14,028, researcher: Johnathan Watson, [email protected] , student: Bhagatveer Sangha, [email protected]
GS20-232 Assessing suitable production techniques for ramps in Appalachia, Virginia Tech, $14,660, researcher: John Munsell, [email protected], student: Pabitra Aryal, [email protected]
GS20-233 Effect of Ground Cover Management on Predators and Predation of Halymorpha halys in Georgia Peach Orchards, University of Georgia, $16,111, researcher: Brett Blaauw, [email protected], student: Daniel O’Connell, [email protected]
GS20-234 Development of push-pull system for ambrosia beetles, vectors of laurel wilt disease in Florida avocado, University of Florida, $11,564, researcher: Xavier Martini, [email protected], student: Derrick Conover, [email protected]
Published by the Southern Region of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), Southern SARE operates under cooperative agreements with the University of Georgia, Fort Valley State University, and the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture to offer competitive grants to advance sustainable agriculture in America’s Southern region. This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, through Southern Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.