Crop and pasture science

Agriculture is the most important export industry in New Zealand. The science behind sheep, wool, dairy, beef and crop production is a cornerstone to ensure that New Zealand stays at the forefront of efficient, sustainable farming systems.

Lincoln University has a number of active research scientists studying relationships between the environment, grazing management in both pastures and crops. In particular we study: methods for transforming pine plantations into pasture; efficient pasture systems for dryland farming; the influence of climate change on pasture productivity; methods for improving nitrogen fixation in legume crops; utilisation of crop rotations for improving soil fertility and weed control; environmental factors controlling growth and yield of forage crops etc.

For students with a background in:

Agronomy
Agricultural science
Ecology
Horticultural science.

Career pathways include:

Local and international research organisations
Universities and polytechnics
Agricultural businesses.

Current students and topics

Student	Topics
Annamarie Mills	Identifying constraints to cocksfoot/legume based pastures.
Zachariah Munakamwe	The influence of variable pea morphology on weeds.
Dave Monks	Physiology and reproduction in a range of annual pasture legumes.
Anthony Kellman	Factors influencing nitrogen fixation in Phaseolus vulgaris.
Dave Power	Ecology of annual legumes in hill and high country pastures.
Serkan Ates	Grazing management of annual legumes in dryland pastures.
Michael Cripps	Weed management of Californian thistle.
Davidson Lloyd	Soil microbial activity in forest to pasture conversions.

Some recent theses

Hamish Brown: Understanding yield and water use of dryland forage crops in New Zealand.

Cynthia Gabiana: Response of linseed to irrigation, nitrogen and plant population.

Conrad Leeks: Determining seed vigour in selected brassica species.

Andrew Fletcher: Understanding ‘Challenger” sweet corn yield, quality and phenology responses to phosphorus.

Ben Gillespie: Modifying merino grazing and pasture composition in the high country by salt application.

Edmar Teixeira: Understanding growth and development of lucerne crops with contrasting levels of perennial reserves.

Some research topics and supervisors

Topics	Supervisors
Simulation modelling of crop growth	Bruce McKenzie
Environmental control of plant development	Derrick Moot
Climate change and grazing management effects on pastures	Grant Edwards
The role of lupins in sustainable agriculture	George Hill
Management strategies for forage crops	Warwick Scott
Effect of salt on pasture production	Richard Lucas
Nitrogen fixation in legume	George Hill
Partitioning in perennial legumes	Derrick Moot