Turf/Range/Forage Science
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Centrally located within the United States and North America, Nebraska's variable climate, topography, soil, and water resources provide abundant opportunity for different natural ecosystems and agricultural production systems to develop and co-exist. Nebraska has about 9.2 million ha (46% of land area) of native rangeland including tallgrass, mixed, and shortgrass communities. About 50% of Nebraska's rangeland is the unique Sandhills which is the largest stabilized sand-dune complex in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the finest cattle producing areas of the world. Rangeland combined with the 835,000 ha of seeded pastureland accounts for 50% of the total land area in the state. Including cropland harvested for hay or silage, more than 57% of Nebraska is devoted directly to grasslands and forage crops. Research, teaching, and extension programs in range and forage sciences at the University of Nebraska are committed to addressing the conservation and utilization of rangeland and forage resources. |
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Research Thrusts
Faculty members with research programs and graduate students in range and forage sciences include four research scientists at the Lincoln campus, two scientists at Research and Extension Centers in central and western Nebraska (North Platte and Scottsbluff), and two USDA-ARS researchers in Lincoln. Excellent facilities for pasture and forages research are located at several sites in eastern Nebraska whereas facilities for research in rangeland ecology and management are located in central and western Nebraska, including two ranches in the Sandhills owned and operated by the University of Nebraska (i.e., Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory and Barta Brothers Ranch). The main areas of faculty and graduate student research are listed below.
Rangeland Ecology
- Influences of prescribed burning on warm-season, native grass mixtures in eastern Nebraska and woody plant invasion in the Mixed Prairie.
- Long-term changes in Sandhill Prairie vegetation.
- Ecology and propagation of blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii) and threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia).
- Vegetation response to manipulation practices on Sandhills fens.
Herbivory and Grazing Management
- Grazing strategies and systems for Sandhills upland and wet meadow sites and for pasture in eastern Nebraska.
- Drought and defoliation effects on warm-season grasses.
- Effect of intensity, frequency, and timing of grazing on characteristics of current year and carryover herbage.
- Legume persistence, forage yields, and cattle performance on grass/legume mixtures.
- Physiology and development of range and pasture plants.
Revegetation and Grass Establishment
- Grass seed and seedling vigor and development.
- Develop technology to convert highly erodible and marginal cropland to grasslands.
- Identify economic sequences and combinations of weed management technologies to reclaim degraded grasslands.
- Provide improved perennial warm- and cool-season grasses.
Forage quality
- Forage protein degradation and utilization.
- Forage quality in hay and pasture systems.
Extension Thrusts
Extension programming is led by extension specialists in Lincoln, North Platte, and Scottsbluff. Strong support is provided by leading extension educators in northeast and south central Nebraska along with excellent assistance from local extension educators throughout the state. Most programs involve interdisciplinary subjects related to forage and range plants, pests, livestock, economics, and conservation. Extension information is delivered using a variety of formats including printed (e.g., publications and news articles), electronic (e.g., radio, television, internet, videotape, and telephone), and in person (e.g., conferences, workshops, field tours, and individual consultation). Current extension programs focus primarily on the following areas.
Forage/livestock production systems
- Managing grass and cattle cycles based on interactions of plant and animal growth.
- Using such forages as warm-season grasses, legumes, and grazing maize in forage/livestock systems.
- Sustainable management of Sandhills resources for livestock and wildlife.
Grazing Management and Pasture Utilization
- Management intensive grazing in eastern Nebraska.
- Grazing strategies for wet meadows and upland sites in the Sandhills.
Alfalfa Production and Marketing
- Alfalfa management schools.
- Alfalfa variety testing.
- Use of alfalfa in irrigated crop production systems.
Developing and delivering educational materials for workshops, shortcourses, schools, beef and forage production meetings, youth camps, judging contests, and individual consultation.
Faculty List:
Alphabetical list of faculty in the Turf/Range/Forage Science peer group. Click on a Faculty name to view contact information, professional accomplishments, etc.
