RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Current research interests focus on site-specific nutrient management and nutrient management for groundwater quality protection. Current research projects include:

• Thematic Soil Mapping and Crop-Based Strategies for Site-Specific Management - http://agronomy.unl.edu/precisionag/
• Site-Specific Management of Nitrification Inhibitors
• Nebraska Soil Fertility Project - http://soilfertility.unl.edu/NSFP.htm
• Long-Term Effects of Beef Feedlot Manure Application on Nutrient Accumulation and Movement in Soil
• Soil Nitrate Leaching Potential from Commercial Potato Production
• Nutrient Management for Maize with Sub-Surface Drip Irrigation

EXTENSION INTERESTS:

Current Extension efforts focus on nitrogen and irrigation management to protect groundwater quality, as well as precision agriculture. Current Extension projects include:

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

MAJOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

• Coordinator - Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources Precision Agriculture Initiative - http://precisionagriculture.unl.edu/
• 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

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

• Lark, R.M., and R.B. Ferguson 2003. Mapping risk of soil nutrient deficiency or excess by disjunctive and indicator kriging. Geoderma (accepted).
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Ferguson, R.B. 2002. Educational resources for precision agriculture. J. Precision Ag. 3:359-371.
  
  
• Schmidt, J.P, A.J. DeJoia, R.B. Ferguson, R.K. Taylor, R.K. Young, and J.L. Havlin. 2002. Corn yield response to nitrogen at multiple in-field locations. Agron. J. 94:798-806.
  
  
• Pedersen, S.M., R.B. Ferguson, and R.M. Lark. 2001. A multinational survey of precision farming early adopters. Farm Mgmt. 11:147-162.
  
  
• Dielman, J.A., D. A. Mortensen, D. D. Buhler and R. B. Ferguson. 2000. Identifying associations among site properties and weed species abundance. II. Hypothesis generation. Journal Series No. 12555. J. Weed Science 48:576-587.
  
  
• Schepers, J.S., M.R. Schlemmer and R.B. Ferguson. 2000. Site-specific considerations for managing phosphorus. Journal Series No. 12637. J. Environ. Qual. 29:125-130.
  
  
• Pedersen, S.M., R.B. Ferguson, R.M. Lark. 2000. A Comparison of Producer Adoption of Precision Agricultural Practices in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Silsoe Research Institute, Silsoe, Bedford, UK. Divisional Note 1671.
  
  
• Pedersen, S.M., R.B. Ferguson, R.M. Lark. 2000. A Comparison of Producer Adoption of Precision Agricultural Practices in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States. University of Nebraska. Research Bulletin 343.
  
  
• Ferguson, Richard B. and Gary W. Hergert. 1999. Sampling and Spatial Analysis Techniques for Quantifying Soil Map Unit Composition. in D.L. Corwin, K. Loague and T.R. Ellsworth, (ed.). Application of GIS, Remote Sensing, Geostatistical and Solute Transport Modeling to the Assessment of Nonpoint Source Pollution in the Vadose Zone. American Geophysical Union. pp 79-91.