From the Director
Harvest season has arrived, and expectations are high for good crop yields at the WFREC. We had plenty of rain during the growing season and our peanuts, soybeans, cotton, and corn (already harvested) look great. Barring a natural disaster or major mechanical failure of harvesting equipment, this year’s crop yields may equal or exceed that of last year’s, which was the best we’ve had since I became Director in 2014. Let’s hope it works out that way.
The WFREC undergraduate teaching program is well into the Fall semester. Our undergraduate numbers have reached pre-Covid levels and recruitment of new students is going well.
Our highly productive faculty have been busy with field work and other aspects of academia such as publishing refereed journal articles, garnering grant funds, and winning awards as shown in sections below. Our graduate students have been successful in winning presentation competitions and in getting scholarships and fellowships. We had several successful field days this summer at the Jay Research Facility that highlighted faculty led field research programs.
I’m happy to report that construction has begun on the graduate student dormitories at the Jay Research Facility. Dr. Unruh and I had a pre-construction meeting last month with the contractor, subcontractors, and IFAS Facilities personnel regarding the dormitories, and their schedule indicates an April 2026 completion. At this time, site preparation has been completed, and concrete footers have been poured. I’m hopeful that we will begin filling the dormitories with graduate students in Summer 2026. The dormitories will help ensure recruitment of highly qualified graduate students for our research programs.
I’m proud of the accomplishments of our productive faculty, staff, and students, and continue to believe the WFREC’s future is bright. I thank you for taking the time to read about our accomplishments, and I invite you to attend and participate in our upcoming field days that are mentioned in this newsletter. Until then, GO GATORS!
I
I
Honors and Awards
Welcome New Employees and Skill Bridge Interns
2025 Refereed Publications
Shah, A., Singh, H., Sharma, L., Carter, E. and Morata, G., 2025. Petiole Sampling as a Tool for In-Season Nitrogen Management in Cotton: SS-AGR-491/AG489, 6/2025. EDIS, 2025(4).
Stewart O., Singh S., Singh H., Carter E., Wynn K. Managing Vine Growth in Peanuts: When to Use Plant Growth Regulators (Accepted EDIS)
Daramola, O.S., MacDonald, G.E., Kanissery, R.G., Tillman, B.L., Singh, H., Oluseyi, A.A., and
Devkota, P. (2025) Evaluation of preemergence and postemergence herbicide programs used in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) for Benghal Dayflower (Commelina benghalensis) control. Peanut Science 52(1), p.121-128. https://doi.org/10.3146/0095-3679-52.1-PS1646
Daramola, O.S., MacDonald, G.E., Kanissery, R.G., Tillman, B.L., Singh, H. and Devkota, P. (2025) Implications of cereal rye cover crop termination timing and residue management on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) and sicklepod (Senna obtusifolia) control in peanut. Weed Technology 10.1017/wet.2025.10049
Ajani O.A., Mathew S., Singh H., Upadhyaya Y.R., Daramola O.S., Nwosu N.J., Brecke B.J., Brym Z.T., Sharma L., and Devkota P. Evaluating preemergence herbicide tolerance and weed control in hemp under different nitrogen fertilization. Journal of Crop Improvement, pp.1-22. https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2025.2557902
Singh, R., Kaur S., Singh, R., Singh, S., Sharma A., Sidhu, S.K., Kutoch, K., Zotarelli, L., Singh, H., Bhadha, J., Sharma, L. (2025) Advancing prediction of biophysical and biochemical traits in potatoes using hyperspectral data and artificial intelligence. Agronomy Journal https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70172
Singh K., Dar, E.A., Singh S., Shah A., Sharma L., Singh H*. (2025) Enhanced efficiency nitrogen fertilizers reduced ammonia emissions in rainfed cotton. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment, 4(3), p.e70084. https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.70084
Singh, R., Kaur, S., Joshi, D.R., Iboyi, J., Dar, E., Sharma, L.K., Singh, H*. (2025) Estimating cotton biomass and nitrogen content using high-resolution Satellite and UAV data fusion with machine learning. Smart Agricultural Technology, p.101191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101191
Sharma, R.K., Nwosu, N., Singh, L., Kramer, A., Singh, H., Bheemanahalli, R., Dhillon, J. (2025) Agricultural sustainability under unpredicted atmospheric changes—strategies to enhance crop resilience and system efficiency: a narrative review. Discover Agriculture, 3(1), p.124. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00287-4
Singh K., Dar, E.A., Singh S., Shah A., Sharma L., Singh H*. (2025) Subsurface banding did not effectively reduce ammonia losses in rainfed cotton systems Frontiers in Agronomy https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2025.1625163
Sharma, A.S., Lesmes-Vesga, R.A., Simranjot, K., Singh, H., Sandhu, H.S. (2025) Effect of energycane integration on ground-dwelling arthropod biodiversity in a sugarcane-sweet corn cropping system. Agronomy, 15(7), p.1685. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15071685
Wonkka, C. L., McGranahan, D. A., Muscha, J. M., Branson, D. H., Campbell, J. W., & West, N. M. (2025). Long‐term plant community dynamics following Russian olive removal and vegetation restoration. Restoration Ecology, e70148.
Donovan, V. M., Schiltmeyer, A. V., Wonkka, C. L., Wagner, J., McGranahan, D. A., Rogers, W. E., ... & Twidwell, D. (2025). High Mortality of Huisache (Vachellia farnesiana) with Extreme Fire During Drought. Fire, 8(7), 242.
Donovan, V.M., Ludwig, A.K., Fogarty, D.T., Roberts, C.P., Twidwell, D., 2025. High-intensity fire supports restoration of grassland species richness and community composition following woody encroachment. Journal of Environmental Management 391, 126469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126469
Bueno, I.T., Silva, C.A., Hamamura, C., Donovan, V.M., Sharma, A., Qiu, J., Xia, J., Brock, K.M., Schlickmann, M.B., Atkins, J.W., Valle, D.R., Vogel, J., Susaeta, A., Karasinski, M.A., Klauberg, C., 2025. Aboveground biomass density maps for post-hurricane Ian forest monitoring in Florida. Sci Data 12, 1189. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05464-0
Bueno, I.T., Silva, C.A., Schlickmann, M.B., Donovan, V.M., Atkins, J.W., Brock, K.M., Xia, J., Valle, D.R., Qiu, J., Vogel, J., Susaeta, A., Sharma, A., Klauberg, C., Mohan, M., Dalla Corte, A.P., 2025. Upscaling Frameworks Drive Prediction Accuracy and Uncertainty When Mapping Aboveground Biomass Density from the Synergism of Spaceborne LiDAR, SAR, and Passive Optical Data. Remote Sensing 17, 2340. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17142340
Scholtz, R., Uden, D.R., Allred, B.W., Donovan, V.M., Maestas, J.D., Morford, S.L., Jones, M.O., Naugle, D.E., Cady, S.M., Fogarty, D.T., Metcalf, A.L., Chaffin, B., Allen, C., Roberts, C., Rowen, E., Meredith, G., Nesbitt, H.K., Williamson, M.A., Gulab, S., Hamlin, S., Lohani, S., Twidwell, D., 2025. Reconciling scale using the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Framework to improve management of woody encroachment in grasslands. Journal of Environmental Management 387, 125820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125820
Donovan, V.M., Schiltmeyer, A.V., Wonkka, C.L., Wagner, J., McGranahan, D.A., Rogers, W.E., Kreuter, U.P., Twidwell, D., 2025. High Mortality of Huisache (Vachellia farnesiana) with Extreme Fire During Drought. Fire 8, 242. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8070242
Donovan, V.M., Ludwig, A.K., Fogarty, D.T., Roberts, C.P., Twidwell, D., 2025. High-intensity fire supports restoration of grassland species richness and community composition following woody encroachment. Journal of Environmental Management 391, 126469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126469
Bueno, I.T., Silva, C.A., Hamamura, C., Donovan, V.M., Sharma, A., Qiu, J., Xia, J., Brock, K.M., Schlickmann, M.B., Atkins, J.W., Valle, D.R., Vogel, J., Susaeta, A., Karasinski, M.A., Klauberg, C., 2025. Aboveground biomass density maps for post-hurricane Ian forest monitoring in Florida. Sci Data 12, 1189. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-025-05464-0
Bueno, I.T., Silva, C.A., Schlickmann, M.B., Donovan, V.M., Atkins, J.W., Brock, K.M., Xia, J., Valle, D.R., Qiu, J., Vogel, J., Susaeta, A., Sharma, A., Klauberg, C., Mohan, M., Dalla Corte, A.P., 2025. Upscaling Frameworks Drive Prediction Accuracy and Uncertainty When Mapping Aboveground Biomass Density from the Synergism of Spaceborne LiDAR, SAR, and Passive Optical Data. Remote Sensing 17, 2340. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17142340
Scholtz, R., Uden, D.R., Allred, B.W., Donovan, V.M., Maestas, J.D., Morford, S.L., Jones, M.O., Naugle, D.E., Cady, S.M., Fogarty, D.T., Metcalf, A.L., Chaffin, B., Allen, C., Roberts, C., Rowen, E., Meredith, G., Nesbitt, H.K., Williamson, M.A., Gulab, S., Hamlin, S., Lohani, S., Twidwell, D., 2025. Reconciling scale using the Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) Framework to improve management of woody encroachment in grasslands. Journal of Environmental Management 387, 125820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125820
Donovan, V.M., Schiltmeyer, A.V., Wonkka, C.L., Wagner, J., McGranahan, D.A., Rogers, W.E., Kreuter, U.P., Twidwell, D., 2025. High Mortality of Huisache (Vachellia farnesiana) with Extreme Fire During Drought. Fire 8, 242. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8070242
Donovan VM, Schiltmeyer AV, Wonkka CL, Wagner J(u), McGranahan DA, Rogers WE, Kreuter UP, Twidwell D. 2025. High mortality of huisache (Vachellia farnesiana) with extreme fire during drought. Fire, 8(7), 242. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire8070242
Scholtz R, Uden DR, Allred BW, Donovan VM, Maestas JD, Morford SL, Jones MO, Naugle DE, Cady SM, Fogarty DT, Metcalf AL, Chaffin B, Allen CR, Rowen E, Meredith G, Nesbitt HK, Williamson MA, Gulab S, Hamlin S, Lohani S, Vallury S, Banerjee S, Twidwell D. 2025. Monitoring early warning signals to Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) grassland collapse. Journal of Environmental Management, 387, 125820.
Singh, K., Singh, R., Nwosu, N.J., Omara, P., Sharma, L., Dunn, B.L. and Singh, H., 2025. Optimizing Nutrient Delivery in Agronomic Crops: A Review of Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/jpln.12010
Hopf, A., Boote, K. J.,Upadhyaya, Y., Singh, H., Mulvaney, M. J., Kaur, N.,Sharma, L. K., Brym, Z., Watson, J. A., &Hoogenboom, G. (2025). Adaptation of theprocess-based CSM-CROPGRO model to simulatethe growth and development of industrial hemp forseed and fiber production. Agrosystems, Geosciences& Environment, 8, e70145. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70145
Calixto, E.S., Singh, H. and Paula-Moraes, S.V., 2025. Management of corn earworm using Bt corn hybrids, 2024. Arthropod Management Tests, 50(1), p.tsaf083. https://doi.org/10.1093/amt/tsaf083
Campbell-Martinez G. M. Thetford, D.Miller. 2025. Direct Seeding of Asclepias humistrata (Sandhill Milkwee) in Coastal Dunes. Ecological Restoration. 43
Campbell-Martinez G. M. Thetford, D.Miller. 2025. Container Type but not stubstrate of Hydrogel affects Establishment of Sandhill Milkweed (Asclepias humistrata), Ecological Restoration. 43
Borgato EA, Smith AM, Burns EE. Assessing impacts of drought on weed communities in the Great Lakes region. Weed Research. doi: 10.1111/wre.70023 (accepted)
Dücker R, Wagner J, Oerke L, Venegas JAM, Borgato EA, Dicke D, Herrmann J, Hess M, Patterson EL. (2025) Unintentional herbicide resistance in ryegrass cultivars and its impact on weedy populations. Weed Research, e70009. doi: 10.1111/wre.70009
Carvalho-Moore P, Borgato EA, Cutti L, Porri A, Meiners I, Lerchl J, Norsworthy JK, Patterson EL. (2025) A novel genomic rearrangement in the Amaranthus palmeri extrachromosomal circular DNA provides dual herbicide resistance to glyphosate and glufosinate. The Plant Cell, koaf069, doi: 10.1093/plcell/koaf069
Kenworthy, K., K. Quesenberry, J. B. Unruh, P. Harmon, N. Flor, E. Rios, P Reith, W. Crow, J. Zhang, B. Schwartz, S, R, Milla-Lewis, G. L. Miller, P. Raymer, A. Chandra, Y. Wu, and D. Martin. 2025. Registration of ‘FAES 1307’ and ‘FAES 1319’ zoysiagrasses. Journal of Plant Registrations, 19, e20428. https://doi.org/10.1002/plr2.20428
Ervin, D. E., G. B. Frisvold, J. H. Allen, A. J. Patton, J.T. Brosnan, R. Grubbs Bowling, M. T. Elmore, M. V. Bagavathiannan, J. D. McCurdy, T. W. Gannon, J. E. Kaminski, A. R. Kowaleski, J. S. McElroy, P. McCullough, B. Unruh, S. Askew, and L. McCarty. 2025. Motivations and barriers to integrated management of annual bluegrass in sports fields: US survey findings. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening. 128877. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128877.
Cox, K. D.g, K. E. Kenworthy, E. F. Rios, J. B. Unruh, A. Chandra, and J. Erickson, J. 2025. The suitability of polyethylene glycol for inducing drought symptoms in zoysiagrass. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70044
Schiavon, M., T. Pirtle, K. Cox, E. Rios, B. Unruh, J. Erickson, A. J. Lindsey, K. Kenworthy, B. Cardenas-Lailhacar, M. Dukes, B. Schwartz, P. Raymer, A. Chandra, and Y. Wu. 2025. Irrigation frequency requirements for sufficient warm-season species quality in Florida. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70000
Askew, S. D., C. G. Gonçalves, J. R. Romero, E. B. De Castro, J. D. McCurdy, C. McKeithen&, J. B. Unruh, K. Tang, and J. E. Kaminski. 2025. Nonsynthetic herbicides for turfgrass: Assessing frequency of consumer information and regional performance for annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) control. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/its2.70002
Lindsey, A. J., M. Schiavon, J. B. Unruh, and K. Kenworthy. 2025. Urban Landscapes: Turfgrass Benefits. Grasses, 4(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.3390/grasses4010003
McCurdy, J. D., R. G. Bowling, E. B. de Castro, A. J. Patton, A. R. Kowalewski, C. M. Mattox, J. T. Brosnan, D. E. Ervin, S. D. Askew, C. G. Goncalves, M. T. Elmore, J. S. McElroy, B. C. McNally, B. D. Pritchard, J. E. Kaminski, T. W. Gannon, J. B. Unruh, and M. V. Bagavathiannan. 2025. Poa annua ecology, biology, and integrated weed management practices in turfgrass. Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management, 11, e70019. https://doi.org/10.1002/cft2.70019
Ivey, M. A., C. L. Wonkka, N. C. Weidig, and V. M. Donovan. 2024. Woody Cover Fuels Large Wildfire Risk in the Eastern US. Geophysical Research Letters 51:e2024GL110586.
Boland, K., McGranahan, D. A., Geaumont, B., Wonkka, C. L., Ott, J. P., & Kreuter, U. P. (2025). Perceptions of prescribed fire among ranchers near northern US National Grasslands. Fire, 8(3), 102.
Kaur, N., Sharma, A.K., Shellenbarger, H., Griffin, W., Serrano, T., Brym, Z., Singh, A., Singh, H., Sandhu, H. and Sharma, L.K. (2025). Drone and handheld sensors for hemp: Evaluating NDVI and NDRE in relation to nitrogen application and crop yield. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 8(1), p.e70075. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70075
Nwosu, N.J., Upadhyaya, Y.R., Kaur, N., Sharma, L., Brym, Z. and Singh, H. (2025). Limited effects of phosphorus application on growth and yield of industrial hemp in Florida. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 8(1), p.e70077. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70077
Serrano, T., Brym, Z.T., Monserrate, L.A., Her, Y.G., Stanford, J., Bhadha, J.H., Singh, H., Sharma, L.K., Upadhyaya, Y.R., Griffin, W.D. and Shellenbarger, H.T. (2025). Nitrogen Fertilizer Effects on Hemp Biomass Production Detected by Drone-based Spectral Imaging. HortScience, 60(3), pp.353-361. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI18264-24
Dar, E. A., Omara, P., Iboyi, J. E., Mulvaney, M. J., Carter, E., Wood, C. W., Sharma, L., and Singh, H. (2025). Optimizing nitrogen rates for rainfed cotton on sandy loam soils of Florida. Agronomy Journal, e70046. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70046
Bajwa P., Saini R., Singh S., Makkar J., Trostle C., and Singh H. (2025). Effect of early and late POST emergence herbicides on weed suppression, crop injury, and biomass yield of industrial hemp. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.70078
2025 Grant Funding
Dr. Hardeep Singh, Potential of Perennial Groundcover Crops for Sustainable Cotton Production and Improved Nutrient Use Efficiency. Funding Agency: FDACS (314,276)
Dr. Ednaldo Borgato, Monitoring herbicide resistance occurrence in major weeds in Florida peanuts. Florida Peanut Check-Off Funds. $11,000
Dr. Ednaldo Borgato, Efficacy of various two-pass herbicide programs in twin-rows system for late-season control of emerging weed issues in peanuts. National Peanut Board Research Proposal. $20,160
Dr. Hardeep Singh, Determining Peanut Peg Strength and Digging Losses for Different Cultivars and Planting Patterns (National Peanut Board, $20,000)
Dr. Bryan Unruh Co-PI, Landscape Equipment Sustainability Strategies: Do More with LESS, USDA AMS SCMP $984,152
Dr. Bryan Unruh, Statewide Evaluation of Novel Reduced Input Turfgrass and Perennial Peanut Mixtures, FL Golf Course Supt Asso $45,437
Dr. Bryan Unruh Co-PI, Development of Improved St. Augustinegrass and Bahiagrass Cultivars, Turfgrass Producers of Florida, $865,961
Dr. Bryan Unruh, IFAS Faculty Service Program, Multiple Sources, 51,090
Dr. Bryan Unruh, Public Education of Mixed Species Groundcovers on Photovoltaic (Solar) Farms, DL Dept of Env Protection, $457,675
Dr. Bryan Unruh Co-PI, Evaluation of Compost Soil Amendments on Nutrient Mineralization, Leaching, and Turfgrass Quality, FL Dept of Ag and Conser Ag Water POL, $204,841
Dr. Bryan Unruh, Evaluation and Validation of Mosmart M3T Surfactant on Agronomic Performance When Applied to Turfgrass, Mosmart North America, $248,766