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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Agronomy and Horticulture

The Science and Application of Plants to Sustain and Enhance Human Life

Richard B. Ferguson

Professor and
Soil Fertility Specialist

Contact Information
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DEGREES:

  • B.S., Biology/Chemistry, Friends University, 1976
  • M.S., Agronomy/Soil Fertility, Kansas State University, 1981
  • PhD., Agronomy/Soil Fertility, Kansas State University, 1985
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RESEARCH INTERESTS:

  • Management practices to minimize nitrogen loss to the environment
  • Site-Specific Management
  • Environmental impacts of variable rate nitrogen application
  • Remote sensing for crop nutrient management
  • Site-specific management of nitrification inhibitors
  • Impacts of long-term manure application on N and P movement in soil

EXTENSION INTERESTS:

  • Nebraska Agricultural Technologies Association - http://www.neata.org/
  • Central Platte Nitrogen & Irrigation Management Demonstration Project - conducted in partnership with the Central Platte Natural Resources District - http://www.cpnrd.org/

MAJOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

  • Nebraska representative - NCR-180 - North Central Committee on Site-Specific Management
  • Nebraska representative - NCR-103 - North Central Committee on Non-Traditional Products
  • University of Nebraska Soil Fertility website - http://soilfertility.unl.edu/index.html

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:

  • Adamchuk, V.T., D.B. Marx, A.T. Kerby, A.K. Samal, L.K. Soh, R.B. Ferguson and C.S. Wortmann. 2007. Guided soil sampling for enhanced analysis of georeferenced sensor-based data. In U. Demsar (ed.): Proceedings of the ninth International Conference on Geocomputation 2007 Conference, Maynooth, Ireland, 3-5 September 2007. MCG – National University of Ireland.

  • Ferguson, R.B., T. Kyaw, V.I. Adamchuk, D.D. Tarkalson, and D.L. McCallister. 2007. Site-specific management of pH-induced iron chlorosis of maize. in. J.V. Stafford (ed.) Precision Agriculture 07, Proceedings of the Sixth European Conference on Precision Agriculture, Skiathos, Greece, 3-6 June, 2007. pp 151-156.

  • Adamchuk, V.I., E.D. Lund, T.M. Reed, and R.B. Ferguson 2007. Evaluation of on-the-go technology for soil pH mapping. J. Prec. Ag. 8:139-149.

  • Milne, A.E., R.B. Ferguson, and R.M. Lark. 2006. Estimating a boundary line model for a biological response by maximum likelihood. Annals Appl. Biol. 149:223-234.

  • Milne, A.E., R.B. Ferguson, and R.M. Lark. 2006. Estimating a boundary line model for a biological response by maximum likelihood. Annals Appl. Biol. 149:223-234.

  • Ferguson, R.B., J.A. Nienaber, R.A. Eigenberg, and B.L. Woodbury. 2005. Long-term effects of sustained beef feedlot manure application on soil nutrients, corn silage yield, and nutrient uptake. Journal Series No. 14763. J. Environ. Qual. 34:1672-1681.

  • Lark, R.M., and R.B. Ferguson 2004. Mapping risk of soil nutrient deficiency or excess by disjunctive and indicator kriging. Geoderma 18:39-53.

  • Dobermann, A, J.L. Ping, V.I. Adamchuk, and R.B. Ferguson. 2003. Classification of crop yield variability in irrigated production fields. Journal Series No. 14009. Agron. J. 95:1105-1120.

  • Eigenberg, R.A., J.W. Doran, J.A. Nienaber, R.B. Ferguson, and B.L. Woodbury. 2002. Electrical conductivity monitoring of soil condition and available N with animal manure and a cover crop. Agric. Ecosystems & Environment 88:183-193.

  • Pedersen, S.M., R.B. Ferguson, and R.M. Lark. 2001. A multinational survey of precision farming early adopters. Farm Mgmt. 11:147-162.

  • Ferguson, R.B., R.M. Lark, and G.P. Slater. 2003. Approaches to management zone definition for use of nitrification inhibitors. Journal Series No. 13533. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 67:937-947.

  • Ferguson, R.B., G.W. Hergert, J.S. Schepers, C.A. Gotway, J.E. Cahoon, and T.A. Peterson. 2002. Site-specific nitrogen management of irrigated maize: yield and soil residual nitrate effects. Journal Series No. 13316. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66:544-553.

RECENT EXTENSION PUBLICATIONS

  • Ferguson, R.B., G.W. Hergert, C.S. Shapiro, and C.S. Wortmann. 2007. Guidelines for Soil Sampling. NebGuide G1740. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

  • Wortmann, C.S., A.R. Dobermann, R.B. Ferguson, G.W. Hergert, C.A. Shapiro, and D. Tarkalson. 2006. Fertilizer suggestions for grain sorghum. NebGuide G1669. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

  • Wortmann, C.S., M. Al-Kaisi, M. Helmers, J. Sawyer, D. Devlin, C. Barden, P. Scharf, R. Ferguson, W. Kranz, C. Shapiro, R. Spalding, D. Tarkalson, J. Holz, D. Francis, and J. Schepers. 2006. Agricultural nitrogen management for water quality protection in the Midwest. RP 189. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

  • Ferguson, R., A. Dobermann, and J. Schepers. 2006. Site-Specific Nitrogen Management for Irrigated Corn. EC-163. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

  • Shapiro, Charles A., Richard B. Ferguson, Gary W. Hergert, Achim R. Dobermann, and Charles S. Wortmann. 2003. Fertilizer Suggestions for Corn. G74-174. University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

  • Ferguson, R.B., C.A. Shapiro, A.R. Dobermann, and C.S. Wortmann. 2003. Fertilizer Recommendations for Soybean. G87-859A. University of Nebraska Lincoln.

  • Reynolds, M.A. (ed.). B.L. Benham, R.B. Ferguson, C.G. Henry, M.A. Reynolds, C.A. Shapiro, J.P. Stack, C.S. Wortmann. Managing Livestock Manure to Protect Environmental Quality. EC 02-179

  • Ferguson, R.B., and G.W. Hergert. 2000. Soil Sampling for Precision Agriculture. EC 00-154, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

  • Ferguson, R.B. (editor). 2000. Nutrient Management of Agronomic Crops in Nebraska. EC 01-155. University of Nebraska Lincoln.