From the Director
The holidays being upon us denotes an end to another successful year at the WFREC. Our productive faculty and graduate students have won awards (see the awards section below) while our undergraduate numbers continue to recover from the downturn during the pandemic. We continue to publish relevant scientific papers (see the refereed journal article section below) that have application to the livelihoods of our stakeholders. Our faculty have garnered substantial grant monies to support their programs (see the grant section below). We have hired a new forest management assistant professor, Dr. Carissa Wonkka, and look forward to putting her expertise to work, further increasing the productivity of the WFREC. She arrives in January 2024. Our crops have been harvested at the Jay Research Facility, and despite the serious drought this past summer, it appears that we may make a profit this year allowing us to reinvest in our ag research/farming operations. Our Farm to City event along with our field days and Spring Flower Festival were a great success this year, highlighting our value to the public. Lastly, we look forward with excitement to the building of the graduate student dormitories at the Jay Research Facility in 2024. The dormitories will allow us to attract graduate students, again increasing the productivity of the WFREC. I’m proud of the accomplishments of our faculty, staff, and students, and 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 any of our upcoming events that are mentioned later in this newsletter. Until then, HAPPY HOLIDAYS and GO GATORS!
Thank you to the 200 Ag students who volunteered their time to harvest collards and turnips, as well as bag sweet potatoes for this year's Farm to City event. Farm to City served over 1,000 families a Thanksgiving meal box that included locally grown produce. Participating Schools include: Northview High School, Beulah Academy FFA & 4-H, Tate High School, Beulah Middle School, Barrineau Park 4-H, Jay High School, Milton High School, Central High School and Boy Scout Troop 400! THANK YOU COASTAL MACHINERY FOR PROVIDING LUNCH!!
The Escambia County Natural Resources crew conducting the sample for bee and host plant on county conservation lands. This is a long-term project headed by Drs. Debbie Miller and Mack Thetford, and it spans the panhandle from Perdido Key to Panama City Beach, FL. We recruited and trained inter agency and community members to conduct the monitoring sample.
Introduction: The purpose of this monitoring effort is to estimate the density of the Gulf Coast Solitary Bee (Hesperapis oraria) and its host plant Coastalplain Honeycombhead (Balduina angustifolia) throughout much of the bee’s range. The bee is restricted to the immediate coast and barrier islands of northwest Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, and it may be at risk. This is an on-going research initiative through the University of Florida in partnership with State Parks, Federal Lands and County partners. The sampling takes place during September and October for approximately three weeks and coincides with the short flight season of the bee. Due to this brief window of bee activity, the timing and intensity of sampling is crucial.
Overall Objectives:
1. Survey 10 Honeycombhead patches at each site for foraging bees and Honeycombhead plants.
2. Document foraging bee density, Honeycombhead density, and Honeycombhead flower density.
3. Familiarize Community Science Volunteers with a standardized monitoring protocol for bees and vegetation that can be used in long-term monitoring programs.
This project is a continuation of on-going research being conducted at the University of Florida, Milton Campus under the direction of Drs. Debbie Miller and Mack Thetford. Research involving this bee, Hesperapis oraria and its host plant, Balduina angustifolia began in 2011 and is currently being conducted by Doctoral student Sherri Lynch and Master’s student Gina Mangold.
To ensure continuous monitoring into the future, this project is under development to strategically recruit, educate and train volunteers to participate with partners from State, Federal and Local parks. Volunteers are asked to contribute by attending classroom and field training and conducting monitoring surveys during the fall at locations throughout the panhandle of Florida.
Honors and Awards
Congratulations Dr. Tori Donovan for being awarded an Early-Career Research Fellowship in Environmental Protection and Stewardship from the Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. This is an impressive accomplishment that brings positive recognition to our Center, to IFAS, and to UF at large. Way to go, Dr. Donovan!
Congratulations Dr. Debbie Miller! She was recognized for being one of several UF/IFAS research faculty who are the principal investigator on new, external research awards totaling more that $1 million, this is a remarkable accomplishment and a testament to the impact and productivity of her program.
2023 Refereed Publications
Omara P., Singh H., Singh K., Otim F., Obia A. 2023. Short-term Effect of Field Application of Biochar on Cation Exchange Capacity, pH and Electrical Conductivity of Sandy and Clay Loam Temperate Soils.” Technology in Agronomy 3:16 doi: https://doi.org/10.48130/TIA-2023-0016
Singh R., Kaur S., Bhullar S.S., Singh H., Sharma L. 2023. Bacterial biostimulants for climate smart agriculture practices: Mode of action, effect on plant growth, and roadmap for commercial products" Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment https://doi.org/10.1002/sae2.12085
Daramola O.S., Iboyi J.E., MacDonald G.E., Kanissery R.G., Singh H., Tillman B., Devkota P. 2023. A systematic Review of Chemical Weed Management in Peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) in the United States: Challenges and Opportunities. Weed Science, pp.1-74.
Singh H., Dunn, B.L., Fontanier, C., Singh, H., Kaur, A., Zhang, L. 2023. Shade Nets Reduced Growth, Nutrition, and Sugars of Hydroponic Lettuce and Basil. HortScience 58, no. 11 (2023): 1383-1392. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17252-23
Singh H., Dunn, B.L., Fontanier, C., Singh, H. 2023. Colored Shade Nets Affect Growth but Flowering of Four Greenhouse-grown Potted Ornamental Species. HortScience 58, no. 9 (2023): 1075-1076. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI17256-23
Frisvold, G., C. Agme, D. Ervin, J. Allen, S. Askew, R. Bowling, J. Brosnan, M. Elmore, T. Gannon, J. Kaminski, L. McCarty, J. D. McCurdy, A. J. Patton, J. Taylor, J. B. Unruh, and M. Bagavathiannan. 2023. Extension event attendance increases adoption of weed management practices by sports field managers. Weed Technology, 1-32. https://doi:10.1017/wet.2023.66
Kowalewski, A. R., C. M. Mattox, J. T. Brosnan, J. E. Kaminski, A. J. Patton, J. D. McCurdy, R. G. Bowling, T. W. Gannon, S. D. Askew, J. S. McElroy, J. B. Unruh, M. T. Elmore, D. E. Carroll, and E. B. De Castro. 2023. Using survey results to direct future extension efforts in annual bluegrass management. Natural Sciences Education, 52, e20123. https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20123
Rutland, C.A., R. G. Bowling, E. C. Russell, N. D. Hall, J. Patel, S. D. Askew, M. V. Bagavathiannan, J. T. Brosnan, T. W. Gannon, C. Gonçalves, D. Hathcoat, L. B. McCarty, P. E. McCullough, J. D. McCurdy, A. J. Patton, J. B. Unruh, and J. S. McElroy. 2023. Survey of target site resistance alleles conferring resistance to Poa annua. Crop Science, 63, 3110-3121. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21066
Shaddox, T.W., J.B. Unruh, M. E. Johnson, C. D. Brown, and G. Stacey. 2023. Turfgrass use on U.S. golf courses. HortTechnology. 33(4):367-376. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05238-23
Boeri, P.A., A.J. Lindsey, and J.B. Unruh. 2023. Autonomous compared with conventional mower use on St. Augustinegrass lawn quality. HortTechnology. 33(4):377-380. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05206-23
Sierra Augustinus, A., McLoughlin, P. H., Arevalo Alvarenga, A. F., Unruh, J. B., and Schiavon, M. 2023. Evaluation of different aerification methods for ultradwarf hybrid bermudagrass putting greens. HortTechnology. 33(4), 333-341. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05213-23
Shaddox, T.W., J.B. Unruh, M. E. Johnson, C. D. Brown, and G. Stacey. 2023. Land-use and energy practices on U.S. golf courses. HortTechnology. 33(3):296-304. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05207-23
Shaddox, T.W., J.B. Unruh, M. E. Johnson, C. D. Brown, and G. Stacey. 2023. Survey of pest management practices on U.S. golf courses. HortTechnology. 33(2):152-156. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05117-22
Bekken, M.A.H., D. J. Soldat, P. L. Koch, C. S. Schimenti, F. S. Rossi, T. S. Aamlid, K. J. Hesselsøe, T. K. Petersen, C. M. Straw, J.B. Unruh, A. R. Kowalewski, C. Spring. 2023. Analyzing golf course pesticide risk across the US and Europe – the importance of regulatory environment. Science of the Total Environment. May 20;874:162498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162498
Shaddox, T.W., J.B. Unruh, M. E. Johnson, C. D. Brown, and G. Stacey. 2023. Nutrient use and management practices on U.S. golf courses. HortTechnology. 33(1):79-98. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05118-22
Singh H., Carter E., Sharma L., Sidhu S.S., Omara P. Sulfur Deficiency in Cotton: Causes, Symptoms and Considerations (In Press for publication in EDIS)
Sharma L., Khanna R., Singh H. Developing a Web-based Agro-Application (Accepted for publication in EDIS)
Sharma L., Sharma A., Ogram A., Singh, H. Improving Biological Nitrogen Fixation to Improve Soil Nutrient Status. doi.org/10.32473/edis-SS714-2023
Lamichhane B., Dunn B.L., Ouedraogo A., Singh H. Preparation of Biochar for Use as a Soil Amendment. HLA-6502
Sidhu S., Sharma L., Zotarelli L., Singh H. Potassium- an indispensable macronutrient for potatoes (Accepted for publication in EDIS)
Mendesil, E.E., Tefera, T., Blanco, C.A., Paula-Moraes, S.V., Huang, F., Viteri, D.M., Hutchison, W. 2023. The invasive fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, in Africa and Asia: responding to the food security challenge, with priorities for integrated pest management research. Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 1-32. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41348-023-00777-x.
Mahas, J. W., Mahas, J.B., Ray, C., Kesheimer, A., Steury, T.D., Conzemius, S.R., Crow, W., Gore, J., Greene, J.K., Kennedy, G.G., Kerns, D., Malone, S., Paula-Moraes, S., Roberts, P., Stewart, S.D., Taylor, S., Toews, M., Jacobson, A.L. 2023. The spatiotemporal distribution, abundance, and seasonal dynamics of cotton-infesting aphids in the southern U.S. Insects, 15:474. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins15070474
Dively, G.P., Kuhar, T.P., Taylor, S.V., Doughty, H., Holmstrom, K., Gilrein, D.O., Nault, B.A., Ingerson-Mahar, J., Huseth, A., Reisig, D., Fleischer, S., Owens, D., Tilmon, K., Reay-Jones, F., Porter, P., Smith, J., Saguez, J., Wells, J., Congdon, C., Byker, H., Jensen, B., DiFonzo, C., Hutchison, W.D., Burkness, E., Wright, R., Crossley, M., Darby, H., Bilbo, T., Seiter, N., Krupke, C., Abel, G., Coates, B.S., McManus, B., Fuller, B., Bradshaw, J., Peterson, J.A., Buntin, D., Paula-Moraes, S., Kesheimer, K., Crow, W., Gore, J., Huang, F., Ludwick, D.C., Raudenbush, A., Jimenez, S., Carrière, Y., Elkner, T., Hamby, K. 2023. Extended sentinel monitoring of Helicoverpa zea resistance to Cry and Vip3Aa toxins in Bt sweet corn: assessing changes in phenotypic and allele frequencies of resistance. Insects, 14:577. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14070577
Reisig, D., Graham, S.H., Green, J.K., Paula-Moraes, S.V., Roberts, P., Taylor, S. 2023. Influence of Heliothinae (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pests on cotton yield components across a range of planting dates in the southeastern USA. Crop Protection, 172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106320
Resende, E.S.g, Beuzelin, J.M., Dunkley, V.E., Paula-Moraes, S.V, Seal, D.R., Nuessly, G.S. 2023. Exploring lethal and sublethal effects of conventional insecticides and insect growth regulators on a picture-winged fly (Diptera: Ulidiidae) pest of sweet corn. Crop Protection, 172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2023.106304
Donovan, V.M., Wonkka, C.L., Roberts, C.P., Wedin, D.A., McGranahan, D.A., Twidwell, D., 2023. The influence of wildfire on invasive plant abundance and spatial structure in eastern ponderosa pine savanna. Plant Ecology 224, 987–999. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-023-01355-9
Sierra Augustinus, A., McLoughlin, P. H., Arevalo Alvarenga, A. F., Unruh, J. B., and Schiavon, M. 2023. Evaluation of different aerification methods for ultradwarf hybrid bermudagrass putting greens. HortTechnology, 33(4), 333-341. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05213-23
Shaddox, T.W., J.B. Unruh, M. E. Johnson, C. D. Brown, and G. Stacey. 2023. Land-use and energy practices on U.S. golf courses. HortTechnology. 33(3):296-304. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05207-23
Shaddox, T.W., J.B. Unruh, M. E. Johnson, C. D. Brown, and G. Stacey. 2023. Survey of pest management practices on U.S. golf courses. HortTechnology. 33(2):152-156. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05117-22
Bekken, M.A.H., D. J. Soldat, P. L. Koch, C. S. Schimenti, F. S. Rossi, T. S. Aamlid, K. J. Hesselsøe, T. K. Petersen, C. M. Straw, J.B. Unruh, A. R. Kowalewski, C. Spring. 2023. Analyzing golf course pesticide risk across the US and Europe – the importance of regulatory environment. Science of the Total Environment. May 20;874:162498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162498
Shaddox, T.W., J.B. Unruh, M. E. Johnson, C. D. Brown, and G. Stacey. 2023. Nutrient use and management practices on U.S. golf courses. HortTechnology. 33(1):79-98. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05118-22
Deomurari, A., Sharma, A., Ghose, D., Singh, R. (2023). Projected Shifts in Bird Distribution in India under Climate Change. Diversity, 15(3), 404.
Pope, C.G, Cannon, J., Bigelow, S. W., Sharma, A. (2023). Effects of hurricane canopy gaps on longleaf pine and upland oak sapling growth. Forest Ecology and Management, 529, 120684.
Panda, D., Mohanty, S., Allen, M. L., Dheer, A., Sharma, A., Pandey, P., Lee, H., Singh, R. (2023). Competitive interactions with dominant carnivores affect carrion acquisition of striped hyena in a semi-arid landscape of Rajasthan, India. Mammal Research, 1-13.
Barbara Cory, Ashlynn Smith, Matthew J. Deitch, Deborah L. Miller, Heather Enloe & Todd Z. Osborne Ecosystems 2023 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-23-00853-1
Santos, I.B.G, Paula-Moraes, S.V., Beuzelin, J.M., Hahn, D.A., Perera, O.P. 2023. Factors affecting population dynamics of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in a mixed landscape with Bt cotton and peanut. Insects, 14:395. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14040395
Santos, A.A.P, Santos, I.B.G, Paula-Moraes, S.V. 2023. Flight phenology of Elasmopalpus lignosellus (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in the Northwest Florida Panhandle. Insects, 14:354. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14040354
Pezzini, D.T.g, Reisig, D.D., Buntin, G.D., Del Pozo-Valdivia, A.L., Gold, F., Paula-Moraes, S.V., Reay-Jones, F.P.F. 2023. Impact of seed blend and structured maize refuge on Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) potential phenological resistance development parameters in pupae and adults. Pest Management Science, https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.7529
Reisig, D., Butin, D.G., Green, J.K., Paula-Moraes, S.V., Roberts, P., Smith, R., Taylor, S. 2023. Magnitude and extent of Helicoverpa zea resistance levels to Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab2 across the southeastern USA. 2023. Insects, 14:262. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects14030262
Bridgemohan, R.S., Deitch, M.J., & Bridgemohan, P., (2023). Environmental Risk Assessment for Fecal Contamination Sources in Urban and Peri- Urban Estuaries. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11478-1.
Cory B.M., Smith A.N., Deitch M.J., Enloe H.A., Miller D.L., & Osborne T., (2023). Differences in Vegetation Structure and Composition Influence Groundwater Chemistry in Herbaceous Wetland Ecosystems. Ecosystems, DOI: 10.1007/s10021-023-00853-1.
Croteau, A.C., Gancel, H.N., Gebremicael, T.G., Caffrey, J.M., & Deitch, M.J., (2023). Implications of changing trends in hydrodynamic and water quality parameters on estuarine habitats in the Gulf Coastal Plain., Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1167767
Gebremicael, T.G., Haile, G.G., Mulubrhan, K., Gebremedhin, T., Deitch, M.J., Kidane, W., & Reda, A., (2023). Effects of irrigation methods and scheduling on water and Onion productivity in semi-arid areas of Ethiopia. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 39(3): 291-301, DOI: 10.13031/aea.15256
Kumar, L., Naqvi, S.A., Deitch, M.J., Khalid, M.J., Naeem, K., Qayyum Amjad, A., Kumar, A., Gebremicael, T.G. & Arshad, M., (2023). Opportunities and constraints for cleaner production policy in the developing world: a case study of Sindh Region, Pakistan. Environment, Development and Sustainability,1-44. DOI: 10.1007/s10668-022-02889-0
Zhou, J., Deitch, M.J., Grunwald, S., & Screaton, E., (2023). Does the Mann-Kendall test and Theil-Sen Slope Estimator fail to inform the Statistical Significance and Magnitude of trends in hydrologic and water quality time series? Hydrological Sciences Journal, DOI: 10.1080/02626667.2023.2212166.
Victoria M Donovan, Dillon Fogarty, Dirac Twidwell. 2023. Spot-fire distance increases disproportionately for wildfires compared to prescribed fires as grasslands transition to Juniperus woodlands. PLOS One, 18/4: e0283816. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283816
Singh, H., Northup, B.K. and Prasad, P.V., 2023. Water storage and use efficiencies of rainfed winter wheat-summer green manure systems of the US Southern Great Plains. European Journal of Agronomy, 146, p.126818.
Daramola, O.S., Iboyi, J.E., MacDonald, G.E., Kanissery, R.G., Singh, H., Tillman, B.L. and Devkota, P., Competing with the Competitors in an Endless Competition: A Systematic Review of Non-chemical Weed Management Research in Peanut (Arachis hypogea) in the US. Weed Science, pp.1-45.
Singh, H., Sharma L., Johnson, L., Carter, E., Devkota, P. 2023. Mitigating Nitrogen Losses in Row Crop Production Systems: SS-AGR-471/AG467, 1/2023
Singh, K., Singh, H., Johnson, L., Carter, E., Sharma L., Singh R. 2023. Plant Growth Regulators as a Management Tool in Cotton Production: SS-AGR-475/AG471, 5/2023
2023 Grant Funding
Dr. Victoria Donovan: *$75,000.00 National Academies Gulf Research Program Early-Career Research Fellowship from September 01, 2023 to August 30, 2025
Dr. Bryan Unruh: *$208,999.23 Developing optimal nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for sod producers in Florida. Florida Department of Agriculture
Dr. Hardeep Singh: *$158,917.00 FDACS Optimizing Nitrogen Management by Improved Fertilizer Placement and Utilizing Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers * $214,169.00 FDACS Impact of Nitrogen Fertilizer Application Rate and Timing to Industrial Hemp Yeild Response and Nitrogen Cycling in Three Florida Agroecosystems *$277,847.00 FDACS On-farm Soil Health Assessment of Cover Crops in Florida
Dr. Bryan Unruh: $865,961 Sod Solutions Development of Improved St. Augustinegrass and Bahiagrass Cultivars
Dr. Victoria Donovan: *$49, 208.00 US Dept of Ag Natl Inst of Food and Ag Remote Sensing Vegetation Analytics (AWDD14042) *$300,000.00 US Dept of Ag Natl Inst of Food and Ag Rapid FEM4D: A Web-based Mapping Platform for Rapidly Assessing the Impacts and Near-term Recovery of Hurricane Ian on Forest Ecosystems in Florida *$650,000.00 US Dept of Ag Natl Inst of Food and Ag National-scale Early Detection and Ecosystem Service Impact Assessment Tool for Invasive Terrestrial Plants
Dr. Debbie Miller and Dr. Mack Thetford: $1,244,076.00 Restoring Dune Habitats in the Florida Panhandle