Forage and range plant physiology and development, grass seedling development, grass establishment, forage protein degradation and utilization. My current research project emphasizes warm-season grass seedling development as it relates to plant type, environmental conditions, seeding management practices, and establishment success. A new project is being inititated to relate seed vigor as measured by laboratory tests to establishment success in the field. We have developed seeding recommendations that reduce risk in establishment by evaluating the environmental effects on seedling morphology.
Work continues on relating grass morphology to plant growth, quality, and management.
Cooperative studies include grazing stategies to effectively utilize big bluestem and establishing protein degradation of legumes in the bovine rumen and undegradable protein available in the lower GI tract. Cooperative drought by defoliation studies are being initiated at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory. Forage production and range management. Smart, A.J., and L.E. Moser. Switchgrass seedling development as affected by seed size.