Richard Smith

Richard Smith

Professor
Phone: (603) 862-2724
Office: Kendall Hall, Room 420, Durham, NH 03824
Websites:
In general, my research tends to focus on the interface between agriculture and plant community and ecosystem ecology. My interests include weed ecology and management, the role of diversity in agroecosystem function, plant invasions, community assembly theory, trophic interactions, and implications of land-use and climate change. The overall goal of my research is to better understand the ecological interactions that underpin agricultural production systems so as to improve the economic and environmental sustainability of agriculture.

Courses Taught

  • AGFS 502: Agroecology
  • ANFS/SAFS 895/795: Special Topics
  • NR 600: Work Experience
  • NR 909: Analysis of Ecological Data
  • NRES 997: Interdisciplinary Research
  • NRES 999: Doctoral Research
  • SAFS 502: Agroecology

Education

  • Ph.D., Plant Biology; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology & Behavior, Michigan State University
  • B.S., Biology, University of New Mexico

Research Interests

  • Agricultural Management
  • Agriculture Conservation
  • Agronomy
  • Climate Change
  • Crop Protection (Pests, Diseases, & Weeds)
  • Crops and Pastures
  • Ecology
  • Ecosystems
  • Environmental Conservation
  • Invasive Species
  • Organic Farming
  • Pest Management
  • Plant Sciences

Selected Publications

  • Mandal, P., Lima, M. R. M., Warren, N. D., Brito, A. F., & Smith, R. G. (2026). Influence of cutting frequency and height on phytoestrogen levels in red clover and white clover. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment, 9(2). doi:10.1002/agg2.70363

  • Cai, S., Xu, Y., Yang, Z., Crow, W. T., Zhang, Z., Shang, J., . . . Huang, J. (2026). High-resolution surface and rootzone soil moisture over US cropland: A novel framework assimilating multi-source remote sensing data, machine learning, and the Layered Green and Ampt Infiltration with Redistribution model. Remote Sensing of Environment, 334, 115167. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2025.115167

  • Menalled, F. D., Ebel, R., Peterson, R. K. D., Schutte, B. J., Shergill, L. S., & Smith, R. G. (2026). Eco-evolutionary and risk assessment frameworks for assessing agroecosystem resilience in a changing climate. Discover Agriculture, 4(1). doi:10.1007/s44279-026-00491-w

  • Macancela-Herrera, A., & Smith, R. (2025). Stomatal morphometry of Andean species and their relationship with spatial variation. iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, 18(6), 327-334. doi:10.3832/ifor4689-018

  • Mandal, P., Wallingford, A. K., Lima, M. R. M., Warren, N. D., Brito, A. F., & Smith, R. G. (2025). Effects of insect herbivory on phytoestrogen concentrations in three Trifolium species. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 19(6). doi:10.1007/s11829-025-10206-5

  • Hunter, M. C., Smith, R. G., Schipanski, M. E., Atwood, L. W., & Mortensen, D. A. (2017). Agriculture in 2050: Recalibrating Targets for Sustainable Intensification. BIOSCIENCE, 67(4), 385-390. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix010

  • Smith, R. G., Atwood, L. W., & Warren, N. D. (2014). Increased Productivity of a Cover Crop Mixture Is Not Associated with Enhanced Agroecosystem Services. PLOS ONE, 9(5). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0097351

  • Mortensen, D. A., Egan, J. F., Maxwell, B. D., Ryan, M. R., & Smith, R. G. (2012). Navigating a Critical Juncture for Sustainable Weed Management. BIOSCIENCE, 62(1), 75-84. doi:10.1525/bio.2012.62.1.12

  • Smith, R. G., Gross, K. L., & Robertson, G. P. (2008). Effects of crop diversity on agroecosystem function: Crop yield response. ECOSYSTEMS, 11(3), 355-366. doi:10.1007/s10021-008-9124-5

  • Menalled, F. D., Smith, R. G., Dauer, J. T., & Fox, T. B. (2007). Impact of agricultural management on carabid communities and weed seed predation. AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT, 118(1-4), 49-54. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2006.04.011

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  • Most Cited Publications