Crop and Soil Sciences Research

Research Programs

Penn State Forages:
Forage establishment and management, variety trials, pastures, pests, forage quality and testing, and related information pertaining to forages.
Penn State Hydropedology:
Hydropedology integrates pedology, hydrology, and geomorphology to study interactive pedologic and hydrologic processes and landscape-soil-hydrology relationships across space and time, aiming to understand pedologic controls on hydrologic processes and properties, and hydrologic impacts on soil formation, variability, and functions.
Penn State Poa annua:
Research pertaining to breeding improved strains of Poa annua for use as putting surfaces on golf course greens.
Penn State Soil Characterization Lab:
The Penn State Soil Characterization Laboratory has a long history of studying how soil affects the lives of the state’s citizens and how people have, and are today, changing the state’s soils. While the lab’s research focuses largely on Pennsylvania soil issues, we have conducted work regionally, nationally, and internationally.
Penn State Weed Ecology:
Weed Science research conducted in both field and greenhouse situations.
Penn State Weed Science:
Weed Ecology research.
Penn State Nutrient Management:
Penn State University and Penn State Cooperative Extension provide a wide range of programs addressing nutrient management issues. Many of these programs are cooperative programs with public and private agencies and organizations.

Research Centers and Laboratories

Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory
The Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory provides a wide range of testing programs for soils, plants, biosolids and other agricultural materials. The fee-based programs are available to all University faculty and staff as well as the general public.
Land Analysis Laboratory
The Land Analysis Laboratory (LAL) is a research, extension, and teaching facility located within the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences that specializes in the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and related advanced information system technologies for environmental assessment and land management.
Landscape Management Research Center
The Landscape Management Research Center was established in 1984 to meet the needs of the rapidly growing and diversifying landscaping industry.
Office of Remote Sensing of Earth Resources
The Office for Remote Sensing of Earth Resources (ORSER) is a center within the Environmental Resources Research Institute (ERRI). The Institute provides a framework within the University for intercollege research on air, land, and water resources.
Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center
The Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center is located ten miles southwest of the University Park campus. This facility provides research plots for a variety of departments in The College of Agricultural Sciences.
Valentine Turfgrass Research Center
The Valentine Center is a turfgrass research facility that is focused on high-maintenance turfgrass. The 17 acre facility includes 2.5 acres of close-cut creeping bentgrass for golf course putting green research. Other areas include intensively maintained Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue.

Publications

Agronomy Gleanings:
An annual compilation of applied crop research projects conducted in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences.
Agronomy Series Publications:
The Penn State University Agronomy Series publications provide information about crop and soil science studies in Pennsylvania.
Corn & Soybean Research Updates:
Current articles and research updates pertaining to corn and soybean studies.
Focus on Research
The Department of Crop and Soil Sciences newsletter, with an emphasis on production agriculture. Published three times a year, Focus on Research showcases a research project from each of the Department's three sections: crop, soil, and turfgrass science.
Living Mulches:
Information on the Environment Enhancing Legume Living Mulch System.