Welcome!
The Plant and Soil Sciences Department at Oklahoma State University is an exciting place to study and work. Our faculty and staff are committed to excellence in undergraduate and graduate education, research, and extension. We offer a comprehensive educational experience for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in trying to solve some of the world’s most pressing needs with respect to food, feed, fiber, and fuel.
Please explore our website and see the opportunities our department can offer you. If you have questions or comments about what you see here, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you are a prospective student who is interested in finding out more about our department, we would love to hear from you!
IN THE NEWS
Safeguard wheat profitability with nitrogen reference strips
2008-08-20
STILLWATER, Okla. – The high cost of nitrogen means that wheat producers should strongly consider playing it safe with nitrogen reference strips, according to Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.
"Now more than ever, getting your nitrogen rate wrong will cost you,” said Brian Arnall, OSU Cooperative Extension precision agriculture and nutrient management specialist. "Profit margins are such that few if any producers can afford to over apply nutrients in an attempt to achieve maximum yield, even during years when input costs are not sky high.” more...
Reception held honoring Oklahoma Wheat Commission and Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation
2008-08-15
President Burns Hargis and Vice President Bob Whitson hosted a reception honoring the Oklahoma Wheat Commission (Mr. Mark Hodges) and Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation (Mr. Joe Neal Hampton), for their generous gift to the Endowed Wheat Genetics Chair in Agriculture in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. The reception was held on Tuesday, August 12, 4:00-5:00 p.m., in the Robert M. Kerr Food and Agricultural Products Center, Second Floor Atrium. |
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Dr. Zhang recieves Regents Distinguished Research Award
2008-08-15
Dr. Hailin Zhang is the recipient of the 2008 Regents Distinguished Research Award! This prestigious recognition clearly reflects his dedication to research excellence in plant and soil sciences at Oklahoma State University
Reception held honoring Ms. Helen J. Hodges and Mr. Lew Meibergen
2008-08-11
| President Burns Hargis and Vice President Bob Whitson hosted a reception honoring Ms. Helen J. Hodges and Mr. Lew Meibergen, who generously endowed two new professorships in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences. The reception was held on Monday, July 28, 3:00-4:30 p.m., in the Lloyd L. Long Conference Room, 106 Agricultural Hall. |  |
Olympic Games sow seeds of good will with OSU grass
2008-08-09
By John David Sutter
NewsOK.com, Staff Writer
Stillwater - A stubborn, bright-green grass developed at Oklahoma State University is carpeting on of the three Olympic baseball fields in Beijing.
The Bermuda grass - named Riviera - is nearly impossible to kill and can stand up to the cold climate and intense rainy season in Beijing, said Murray Cook a consultant heading up Olympic baseball fields maintenance. more...
News Channel 8 broadcast
http://www.ktul.com/news/stories/0808/543594.html
A $250,000 gift from the Lew Meibergen Family will establish a plant and soil sciences professorship.
2008-08-01
(STILLWATER, Okla., Aug. 1, 2008) – Oklahoma State University announced today $1.25 million in donations received from alumni, a bank and a foundation to fund five endowed professorships within the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by T. Boone Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the gifts will provide more than $5 million of impact in endowed funds. more...
Nitrogen Sensing Creating Lots of Interest as Fertilizer Costs Rise
2008-07-31
One of the speakers at the 5th Annual Wheat Technology Meeting being held in Oklahoma City on this Wednesday was Brian Arnall, who has worked for more than six years on sensor technology at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Arnall tells us that as the price of nitrogen has gone higher- the interest in the various levels of sensor technology has moved higher and higher. In fact, the tipping point was when nitrogen went above fifty cents a pound- interest has skyrocketed since that time.
His advice to producers is to- at very least- plant a nitrogen rich strip in your fields that will help monitor the amount of nitrogen available in that field. We talked with Brian about that- and other ways that farmers can cash in with these advances made in this field by OSU. We have our conversation with Brian on our website- and the link to that story is below- check it out.
The 5th Annual Wheat Technology Meeting in Oklahoma City is being hosted by Bayer Crop Science.
Ron talks with Brian Arnall on Sensor Technology developed at OSU.
Olympic baseball being played on OSU Riviera bermudagrass
2008-07-29
STILLWATER, Okla. – Yanqi Wu of Oklahoma State University’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources is back from China and telling how Riviera bermudagrass developed by division scientists will be the turf of champions during Olympic baseball games. more...
Four OSU research projects among those chosen for EDGE funding consideration
2008-07-17
Four OSU projects are among 21 that the EDGE Policy Board will review for funding. The EDGE — Economic Development Generating Excellence — endowment has about $13 million for its first round of funding. The 21 applicants were asked to submit full proposals. The following principal investigators at OSU were invited to submit full proposals: Yanqi Wu, Breeding a Switchgrass Seed Industry in Oklahoma; Andrew Arena, Oklahoma Flight Innovation, Research and Testing — Unmanned Aerial Systems; Allen Apblett; Commercialization of Passive Wireless Corrosion Sensors for Aerospace Applications; D. Webster Keogh, Sensor Technology: A National Center and Industrial Focus for Oklahoma.
$250,000 gift from California Alumna creates Plant & Soil Science Professorship at OSU
2008-07-09
(STILLWATER, Okla. July 9, 2008) – Oklahoma State University has received a $250,000 gift from OSU alumnus Helen J. Hodges to establish a plant and soil science professorship in honor of her parents, Dillon and Lois Hodges. The position will concentrate on scholarship and research to increase grain production, and is committed to ensuring that the benefits of OSU’s expertise are made available to farmers from around the world.
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Oklahoma wheat producers donate $300,000 to strengthen OSU wheat genetics
research chair
2008-07-08
(STILLWATER, Okla. July 8, 2008) - Oklahoma State University announced today a $300,000 joint gift from the
Oklahoma Wheat Commission (OWC) and the Oklahoma Wheat Research Foundation (OWRF) to bolster funding for the
organizations' currently funded wheat genetics research chair at OSU. Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by T. Boone Pickens' $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education, the gift will provide $1.2 million of impact in endowed funds.
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National fertilizer organizations donate $250,000 to OSU for agriculture research
2008-07-07
(STILLWATER, Okla. July 7, 2008) - Oklahoma State University announced today a $250,000 gift from three
agricultural based organizations, the Nutrients for Life Foundation, The Fertilizer Institute, and the International Plant
Nutrition Institute to create an endowed professorship in soil and food crop nutrition. Once fully matched dollar-for-dollar
by T. Boone Pickens' $100 million chair match commitment, as well as the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education, the gift will provide $1 million of impact in endowed funds. ...more
Dr. Edwards receives grant
2008-06-27
Dr. Edwards just received word that his USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant proposal “An innovative approach to conservation and integrated pest management in Oklahoma cropping systems” was fully funded. It’s a team approach with Chad Godsey, Rick Koch, Gary Strickland, Tom Royer, and Kris Giles.
Congratulations to Dr. Edwards and the team!
Dr. Penn receives grant
2008-06-27
Dr. Penn and team just received a USDA-NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant award. The focus of the work is using P sorbing materials to remove P from swine manure on farms.
Congratulations to Dr. Penn and the team!
President Hargis takes tour in Lahoma
2008-06-09
Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis toured the North Central Research Station in Lahoma last month and heard about wheat breeding and canola production. Brett Carver, Regents Professor and Wheat Genetics Chair, discusses this year’s wheat crop with Hargis (center) and Bob Whitson (right), Vice President, Dean and Director of the OSU Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. |
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Bill Raun, Oklahoma State University soil science and precision agriculture professor, Stillwater shows the GreenSeeker hand-held sensor.
2008-06-06
TheFarmerStockman.com — With fertilizer prices through the roof, you can't be guessing about nitrogen needs in wheat or corn. "The N rate changes every single year," says Bill Raun, Oklahoma State University soil science and precision agriculture professor, Stillwater. more...
Tom Peeper, Okahoma State University weed scientist, points out research plots during a recent filed day athe the Perkins, Okla., Experiment Station
2008-06-05
southwestfarmpress.com — High costs, good prices suggest wheat farmers need to change. Variety selection, fertilization practices, and pest management routines may need hard scrutiny as Southwest wheat farmers try to produce a profitable crop during a period of high grain prices and significantly higher production costs. more...
OSU researchers saying Bermuda is plant of future
by John David Sutter, NewsOK.com Staff Writer
2008-05-15
STILLWATER — At a party, Bermuda grass would be that loud-mouthed guest rooted to your sofa long after all the drinks are gone.
But the fact that the grass — widely used in Oklahoma lawns — won't dry up or die off without a fight may make it a prime candidate to thrive in a world with rising temperatures, water shortages and expanding populations.
In short, it may be a grass of the future — a grass that can thrive in an era of global warming. more...
Dr. Hailin Zhang named Fellow
2008-05-07
Dr. Hailin Zhang was named a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy!
Dr. Penn receives grant
2008-05-06
Dr. Chad Penn just received an award of $9,852 from the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry for a Basic and Applied Research Grant to look at poultry litter utilization.
