Contact Information:
251 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building University Park, PA 16802- Phone: 814-863-3179
- Fax: 814-863-7043
- E-mail: hdk3@psu.edu
Appointment:
- 30% Research
- 70% Teaching
Links:
Heather Karsten
Associate Professor of Crop Production / Ecology
Responsibilities and Interests:
Teaching responsibilities: teaching, advising, and developing courses for the Agroecology Major. The courses I currently teach are:
- Agroecology 134 / Political Science 134 - Sustainable Agriculture Science and Policy
- Agroecology 461 - Integrated Crop Management
- Agroecology 490 - Producer Speaker Series
- Agronomy 28 - Principles of Crop Management
- Agronomy 489 - Supervised Experience in College Teaching
- Agronomy 510 - Ecology of Agricultural Systems
Research: I'm interested in examining the ecological and physiological processes of cropping systems with the objective of improving the sustainability of agroecosystems.
My research has focused on forage and pasture plant ecology and physiology, with the objective of identifying how to improve pasture plant persistence and productivity, and advancing pasture management. I am also interested in tropical agriculture, and have a working knowledge of Spanish.
Education:
- B.S. Environmental Biology, Yale University, 1989
- M.S. Agronomy, Cornell University, 1992
- Ph.D., Agronomy, Cornell University, 1996
Professional Background:
- Fulbright fellowship study and research at Massey University and AgResearch Grasslands, Palmersto North, New Zealand, 1992
- Teaching Assistant, University of California Education Abroad Program, Las Cruces, Biological Research Station, Costa Rica, spring 1996
- Post-doctoral Research Associate, Department of Plants, Soils, and Biometeorology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah; 1996-1997
- Assistant Professor, Department of Agronomy, The Pennsylvania State University, 1998 - 2003.
- Associate Professor, Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 2003 - present.
Selected Publications:
- A. Rotz, G. H. Kamphuis, H. D. Karsten, and R. D. Weaver (in press). Organic Dairy Production Systems in Pennsylvania: A Case Study Evaluation. J. Dairy Science.
- A. Clark, H. D. Karsten, W. M. Murphy, and B. F. Tracy. 2006. Ecology of Plant Communities in Forage-Livestock Systems. Chapter 2. p.10-31. In Forage Production for Pasture-Based Livestock Production. Ed. Edward B. Rayburn. NRAES- 172. Ithaca, NY.
- Karsten, H.D. and M. Risius. 2004. Development of an Interdisciplinary Agroecology Major with Input from Surveys of Students, Graduates, and Employers. March 2004. 58-64.
- Carnes, L. M. and H. D. Karsten. 2003. Building diverse community networks for sustainable food systems: Guiding philosophies of the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture (December 2003; Vol. 18, No. 4: 173-184).
- Carlassare, M.C. and H. D. Karsten. 2003. Species population dynamics in a mixed pasture under two rotational grazing regimes. Agronomy Journal. 95: 844-854
- Karsten, H. D., G. W. Roth, and L.D. Muller. 2003. Evaluation of corn hybrids at two stages of development for cattle grazing. Agronomy Journal. 95:870-877.
- Carlassare, M. and H.D. Karsten. 2002. Species contribution to seasonal productivity of a mixed pasture under two sward grazing height regimes. Agronomy Journal. 94:840-50.
- Karsten, H.D., and M. Carlassare. 2002. Describing the botanical composition of a mixed species northeastern U.S. pasture rotationally-grazed by cattle. Crop Science. 42:882-889
- Karsten, H. D. and R. E. O'Connor. 2002. Lessons Learned from Teaching an Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Course on Sustainable Agriculture Science and Policy. Journal of Natural Resources & Life Science Education. 31:111-116.
- Karsten, H.D. and J. W. MacAdam. 2001. Effect of Autumn Drought Conditions on Growth, Carbohydrate Use, and Soil Moisture Use of Irrigated Perennial Ryegrass, Tall Fescue, and White Clover in the Semiarid Intermountain West. Crop Science. 41:156-166
- Karsten, H.D. and G.W. Fick. 1999. Seasonal growth of white clover in a rotationally-stocked dairy pasture in New York. Grass and Forage Science 54:174 183.