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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Agronomy and Horticulture

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

James S. Schepers

Adjunct Professor and Soil Scientist
USDA-ARS

Contact Information
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DEGREES:

  • B.S., Agronomy, University of Nebraska, 1968
  • M.S., Soil Chemistry, University of Nebraska, 1970
  • Ph.D., Soil Chemistry, University of Illinois, 1973

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

I am the Research Leader of the Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit. The broad emphasis of the group is to develop management practices and cropping systems to protect the environment while maintaining productivity. My specific efforts are in the area of nutrient management, which involves irrigation practices, precision agriculture, manures, and remote sensing.

EXTENSION INTERESTS:

Transfer technologies and information to producers, consultants, agribusiness, and industry in the region, U.S., and internationally.

MAJOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

My emphasis in on integrating and facilitating the activities of Unit scientists. Unit projects include manure management to improve utilization of nutrients while minimizing runoff and leaching losses and using remote sensing as a tool to enhance plant stress detection and document spatial and temporal variability in fields. Special activities include 1) develop active crop canopy sensors for nitrogen and other stresses, 2) develop algorithm for in-season N-applications, and 3) develop a relay cropping system involving seed corn, winter wheat, and soybeans (three crops in two years). These projects are in cooperation with UNL colleagues, argibusiness, industry, specialty foundations, and government agencies.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

  • Schepers, J.S., D.D. Francis, and J.F. Shanahan, 2005. Relay cropping for improved air and water quality. Zeitschrift fur Naturforschung C. Special Issue. 186-189.

  • Schepers, J.S., and J.F. Shanahan, 2005. Variable-rate N management. Fluid Journal Vol. 13, No. 3, Issue #49:20-23.

  • Schlemmer, M.S., J.F, Shanahan, J.S. Schepers, D.D. Francis. 2005. Remotely measuring chlorophyll content in corn leaves with differing N and relative water content. Agron. J. 97:106-112.

  • Mallarino, A.P. and J.S. Schepers. 2005. Role of Precision Farming in Phosphorus Management Practices. p.p. 881-908. In T.J. Sims and A.N. Sharpley (eds.) Phosphorus: Agriculture and the Environment. Amer. Soc. Agron. Monograph 46.

  • Schepers, J.S. 2004. Integrating remote sensing and ancillary information into management systems. p. 254-259. In Remote Sensing for Agriculture and the Environment. S. Stamadiadis, J.M. Lynch, and J.S. Schepers, (eds.) Peripheral Editions, Larissa Greece.

  • Stamtiadis, S., C. Tsadilas, and J.S. Schepers. 2004. Real-time crop sensors. p. 128-135. In Remote Sensing for Agriculture and the Environment. S. Stamadiadis, J.M. Lynch, and J.S. Schepers, (eds.) Peripheral Editions, Larissa Greece.

  • Akhtar, M., D.L. McCallister, D.D. Francis, and J.S. Schepers. 2004. Manure source effects on soil phosphorus fractions and their distributions. Soil Science 170(3):183-190.

  • Vina, A., A.A. Gitelson, D.C. Rundquist, G. Keydan, B Leavitt, and J. Schepers. 2004. Monitoring maize (Zea mays L.) phenology with remote sensing. Agron. J. 96:1139-1147.
    Osborne, S.L., J.S. Schepers, and M.R. Schlemmer. 2004. Using multi-spectral imagery to evaluate corn grown under nitrogen and water stressed conditions. J. Plant Nutr. 27(11): 1917-1929.

  • Schepers, A., J. F. Shanahan, M. A. Liebig, J.S. Schepers, S. Johnson, and A. Luchiari. 2004. Delineation of management zones that characterize spatial variability of soil properties and corn yields across years. Agron. J. 96:195-203.

  • Osborne, S.L., J.S. Schepers, and M.R. Schlemmer. 2004. Detecting nitrogen and phosphorus stress in corn using multi-spectral imagery. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. Vol. 35 (3&4) 505-516.

  • Arnold, S.L. and J.S. Schepers. 2004. A simple roller-miller grinding procedure for plant and soil samples. Comm. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 35:537-545.

  • Schepers, J.S., S. Payton, D.D. Francis, and J. Shanahan. 2003. Improving nutrient management via evolving strategies and new technologies. Fluid Journal. 11:18-22.

  • Shanahan, J.F., K. Holland, J.S. Schepers, D.D. Francis, M.R. Schlemmer, and R. Caldwell. 2003. Use of crop reflectance sensors to assess corn leaf chlorophyll content. p 135-150. In: Digital Imaging and Spectral Techniques: Applications to Precision Agriculture and Crop Physiology. Amer. Soc. Agron. Spec. Publ. 66. (Refereed Book Chapter)

  • Eghball, B., J. S. Schepers, M. Negahban, and M. R. Schlemmer. 2003. Spatial and temporal variability of soil nitrate and corn yield: Multifractal analysis. Agron. J. 95:339-346.

  • Osborne, S.L., J.S. Schepers, D.D. Francis and M.R. Schlemmer. 2002. Determining specific wavelengths of spectral radiance measurements to detect phosphorus and nitrogen deficiencies in corn. Agron. J. 94:1215-1221.

  • Biggs, G.L., T.M. Blackmer, T.H. Demetriades-Shah, K.H. Holland, J.S. Schepers, and J.H. Wurm. 2002. Method and apparatus for real-time determination and application of nitrogen fertilizer using rapid, non-destructive crop canopy measurements. U.S Patent #6,393,927. May 28, 2002.

  • Osborne, S.L., J.S. Schepers, D.D. Francis and M.R. Schlemmer. 2002. Use of spectral radiance to estimate in-season biomass and grain yield in nitrogen and water stressed corn. Crop Sci. 42:165-171.

  • Ferguson, R.B., G.W. Hergert, J.S. Schepers, C.A. Crawford, J.E. Cahoon, and T.A. Peterson, 2002. Site-specific nitrogen management of irrigated maize: yield and soil residual nitrate effect. Soil Sci. Soc. Amer. J. 64:544-553.