Research/Discovery

The spatial and temporal variation of biologically-important components of solar radiation such as ultraviolet and photosynthetically active radiation are studied to define the radiative environment of crop and tree canopies to improve the modeling of the detrimental and beneficial plant and human effects of ultraviolet radiation.

For more information, see “Within vegetation canopy PAR and UV radiation Distributions” at http://shadow.agry.purdue.edu /research.prog.html

The impact of changes in the stratospheric ozone climate and resulting solar ultraviolet radiation on agriculture depends in part on the intensity and duration of UV exposure and physiological response of the plant. We are currently studying the soybean response to short duration UV exposures in conjunction with geneticists, physiologists, and extensionists.

Plant canopy structure strongly influences the distribution of radiation in and under the canopy. We are presently looking at the heliotropic response of soybeans to more accurately define the radiative exposure of soybeans to ultraviolet and photosynthetically-active radiation.

Studies of the emission, dispersion, and deposition of bacteria, viruses, ammonia, and odors from confined animal feed operations (CAFOs) are conducted in collaboration with others to provide operational and monitoring guidelines as well as risk assessments of confined animal feed operations.