2019 ASHS Annual Conference

My appointment at the Utah State University (USU) is 65% research, 30% teaching, and 5% service.

Extreme weather significantly impacts rainfall patterns and distribution, annual snowpack, and the frequency and severity of drought events in Utah, the second driest state in the United States. Utah is also the nation’s fastest growing state with a population projected to double by 2065, and this rapid population growth will dramatically increase future water demand. These climate and human driven changes in water availability could result in more restrictions to agricultural and landscape irrigation, a segment of water use that utilizes 82% of freshwater resources in Utah. Water conservation is becoming critically important throughout Utah and the Intermountain West.

My Landscape Horticulture program with an emphasis in water conservation is to 1) enhance the understanding of whole plant responses to water stress in urban landscapes and 2) to promote the use of native plants for water efficient landscaping through developing sustainable cultural practices and efficient propagation protocols. These two broad objectives will be achieved through the following sub-objectives:

a) Evaluate landscape plants for salt tolerance. I started this project with plants that are commonly used in Utah and the Intermountain West, e.g. ornamental grasses, spirea, viburnum species or cultivars. These plants are also popular in green industry nationwide with an estimated $150, 29, and 24 million worth of plants, respectively, being sold annually in the United States. I am also evaluated the salinity tolerance of ornamental plants in the Sego Supreme™ program, a designated plant introduction program at the USU Botanical Center and the USU Center for Water Efficient Landscaping. Information about salt tolerant plants will be disseminated to nursery and greenhouse growers and landscape professionals as well as public clienteles. This will assist in the development of best management practices and solutions that permit safe, cost-effective and sustainable use of non-traditional water sources, prevent salt damage, and maintain aesthetically appealing landscapes.

b) Select drought tolerant plants for landscape use in Utah and the Intermountain West. These plants will be subjected to water stress in large drainage lysimeters to ascertain drought tolerance for different plant types under different minimum water demand categorizations. Plants with greater drought tolerance or lower water needs may be of importance for water-efficient landscaping. The drought tolerant plants will be also recommended to nursery and greenhouse growers and landscape professionals as well as publics. This research will help to develop sustainable management practices to reach the state goal of reducing water usage by 25% in 2025.

c) Develop efficient micro-propagation protocols for superior cultivars or selections of native plants. Native plants are of keen interest to the landscape industry in part because they require less water than non-natives due to their ability to develop deep root systems to uptake water from deeper soil layers. They are adapted to harsh conditions in the arid and semiarid environment and are resistant to insects and fungi prevalent in their home regions. For these reasons, native plants are excellent candidates for water efficient landscaping. Promoting the use of native plants for low water use landscapes is vital for water conservation and improved environmental stewardship. Micropropagation protocols are under development for Utah native plant species, e.g. Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus) and Cercocarpus montanus (mountain mahogany). They are chosen for further exploration based on aesthetics, function, maintenance, and economics.

With 30% teaching appointment, I am teaching three classes (Plant Stress Physiology, Applied Statistics in Agricultural Research, and Plant Propagation). As a college professor, my responsibility is to foster the development of creative, independent-thinking individuals with the necessary knowledge and problem-solving skills to succeed in their future careers. The development of these skills is facilitated when students are genuinely excited about learning. Subjects relevant to current issues are taught to help students to gain knowledge on how plants respond to different environmental stresses, how research projects are properly designed and analyzed, and how plants are efficiently propagated. The engagement of undergraduate students in research is essential to a learning environment. Conference experience is also important for both graduate and undergraduate students to develop professional skills and present the results produced from their research. Two graduate students in the program are assigned to research projects and learn directly about sustainable horticultural practices for water conservation. Three undergraduate students join my program to learn research skills. Students in my program are encouraged to attend the ASHS annual conference and/or other local meetings. These experience will allow students to apply knowledge gained through coursework and hands-on experience, to gain greater insight into their strength and weakness, and further prepare students for the field by allowing them to network and meet horticultural professionals.

I also have 5% appointment in service that includes serving committee members in our department and professional society. I have been an ASHS member since 2007. ASHS is my home society and has been helping me grow professionally. In returning what I have gained from the society, I am making my contributions to support horticultural science community. At the same time, the service I am doing will further hone my professional skills and network with colleagues. I love to be a part of the ASHS family and will continue my efforts to better serve our society.

Working in Landscape Horticulture with water conservation as an emphasis is an exciting and active research area that offers solutions to many challenges spanning plant water use, irrigation management, drought tolerance, salt tolerance, and native plant utilization. As one of the passionate researchers in these areas, my experience provides a strong position to tackle some of those challenges. From my research program, stress-tolerant landscape plants and sustainable horticultural practices will be developed to support statewide landscape horticulture to enhance water conservation, ensure quality landscapes, and save input costs for growers and landscapers.