A world leader in ecological agriculture strategies will visit Iowa State University June 4 to talk about crop diversification and sustainable weed management. Martin Kropff, director general of the Plant Science Group and professor of crop ecology and weed science at Wageningen University in the Netherlands, will deliver the 2004 Staniforth Lecture at 4:10 p.m. in 118 Horticulture Hall. Kropff will discuss intercropping including the aspects of competition and effects on weed management. He will share his experience using models to understand a variety of cropping systems. Kropff has been active in the field of modelling interplant competition with emphasis on crop-weed interactions. His current research focuses on crop ecological themes such as the interactions between genotypes, the environment and management; functional biodiversity; and weed population dynamics. The Staniforth Lecture series is presented in honor of David Staniforth, a pioneer in the field of weed science who was particularly interested in weed biology-ecology. His experience spanned the development of modern herbicide technology, beginning with work on the mode of action of 2,4-D and continuing through refinements in weed control systems including systems for use in conservation tillage. The lecture series is sponsored by the Staniforth Fund in the Department of Agronomy at Iowa State. -30- Editor’s note: Kropff will be available for interviews on June 4. Contact Mike Owen, agronomy, (515-294-5936) to schedule an appointment. More information about Kropff is available online.
2004 Staniforth Lecture in Weed Science June 4 at Iowa State
May 14, 2004