Richard Smith
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.
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
Courses Taught
- NR 909: Analysis of Ecological Data
- SAFS 502: Agroecology
- SAFS 600: Field Experience
Selected Publications
Jilling, A., Keiluweit, M., Contosta, A. R., Frey, S., Schimel, J., Schnecker, J., . . . Grandy, A. S. (2018). Minerals in the rhizosphere: overlooked mediators of soil nitrogen availability to plants and microbes. Biogeochemistry, 139(2), 103-122. doi:10.1007/s10533-018-0459-5
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), 386-391. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix010
Smith, R. G. (2015). A succession-energy framework for reducing non-target impacts of annual crop production. Agricultural Systems, 133, 14-21. doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2014.10.006
Smith, R. G., Mortensen, D. A., & Ryan, M. R. (2010). A new hypothesis for the functional role of diversity in mediating resource pools and weed–crop competition in agroecosystems. Weed Research, 50, 37-48.