Exploring Alternative Fiber Crops for Marginal Lands on the Delmarva Peninsula
Through a collaboration with UD engineers, we are exploring whether fiber crops may be suitable for the marginal lands of the Delmarva Peninsula, such as those affected by salinity and sea level rise and evaluate these crops' suitability for the TuFF process to generate strong composite materials. The flax (Linum usitatissimum) harvest and retting process are pictured here, but we are also exploring alternative species such as seashore mallow (Kosteletzkya pentacarpos) and kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus).
Cropping System Diversity
At the Newark Farm on UD's campus we have an experiment looking at how greenhouse gas emissions, nutrient losses, and soil health change among different cropping systems from conventional annual crops and tillage to a no-till system with cover crops and perennial grain crop system.
Cover Crops
At UD's southern DE research farm, we are monitoring how nitrous oxide emissions vary with and without cover crops in partnership with USDA-ARS. We are also working on other projects to explore how spatial heterogeneity of cover crops affects soil N status, soil moisture, and cash crop yield.
Perennial Grains
At UD's southern DE research farm, we are exploring whether the perennial grain Kernza or intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) takes up excessive phosphorus in soils along a gradient of phosphorus availability from long-term poultry litter applications.
