May 6, 2020 Issue, Page 5 of 8

Page Text

Agriculture Wednes« lay 6, 2020 (a The Elk City News, Elk City, Oklahoma Page 5 OSU soil service lab goes virtual and serves students at multiple institutions By Donald Stotts able resources,” said Kathy STILLWATER -— As the Allison, a faculty member coronavirus pandemic has at NOC in Tonkawa. “His driven educators’ creativ- teaching is thorough and ity, one of the first and most leaves nothing uncovered, innovative has been Okla- and his personality is per- homa State University’s fect for the virtual labs: en- Sergio Abit, whose efforts tertaining yet maintaining a to go virtual have provided professional demeanor.” benefits to students at OSU Abit and Glenn Garcia, and five cooperating, two- the graduate teaching as- year institutions across the sistant who records labora- state. tory presentations, came up “It was obvious rather with a winning formula for quickly that we needed to the virtual labs by projecting create virtual versions of our what they would need if they Fundamentals of Soil Sci- were students. ence laboratory exercises Each online experience and make them available begins with a pre-lab dis- Sergio Abit, left, and Glenn Garcia record the effects of a rainfall simulator as part of the online,” said Abit, an asso- cussion that focuses on key Oklahoma State University Fundamentals of Soil Science virtual laboratory series. Photo by ciate professor with OSU's questions presented in an Gary Lawson, OSU Office of Brand Management. Department of Plant and easily understood manner Soil Sciences. “Then we — for example: why prevent “Having a renowned soil ence courses. demic. It has solidified my Erosion and then imagine realized, why not just make soil loss? Abit highlights scientist like Dr. Abit share Agriculture Instructor professional career choice.” what it is like to attend his them accessible to agricul- important soil functions his virtual labs has been a Alisen Anderson of North- Abit’s academic depart- classes in person.” tural and science programs such as how soil provides gift to all of us who are using eastern Oklahoma A&M ment head is among those Fundamentals of Soil Sci- at other state institutions so for food, fiber and fuel; eco- them,” Allison said. “It has College in Miami said Abit’s who have been impressed by ence historically attracted a they could be used as part of logical regulation; healthy freed up more time for me ability to think outside the the virtual laboratories. An their coursework.” microorganism habitat; and to work on my own lectures, box in his laboratory pre- OSU faculty member since wide swath of students even before the pandemic. This Abit was soon Dr. Popu- an engineering foundation and to reach out to students sentations has some of her 2004, Jeff Edwards said larity, as a high-quality, im- for structures. who may have anxiety about students asking questions Abit is a prime example of past semester saw 96 OSU mersive virtual laboratory Following the pre-lab dis- coronavirus concerns or to they likely would not have the students-first focus in the students from 14 majors en- was just what his fellow ed- cussion, students can access spend more time with those considered otherwise. She university’s Ferguson Col- rolled, and then that number ucators needed at Cameron user-friendly video clips who may have been strug- lauded his ability to enhance lege of Agriculture. expanded significantly after University, Eastern Okla- they can play and rewind gling academically prior to individualized learning in a “Tt’s no surprise Dr. Abit going virtual. homa State College, North- as needed to suit their own the pandemic.” shared environment. has been able to develop a More information about em Oklahoma College, personal pace of learning. Allison pointed out an “T know Dr. Abit has al- virtual lab that is education- academic and other pro- Northeastern Oklahoma They can pause the videos extra bonus: Many NOC lowed me as an instructor al and engaging and ensures grams of the OSU’s Depart- A&M College and Western to focus on answering ques- students eventually transfer to be more [immersive] in students receive the techni- ment of Plant and Soil Sci- Oklahoma State College as tions, writing observations to OSU. She said the value my approach and do more cal training and knowledge they struggled with social and recording data in their of seeing a familiar faculty to make sure students are they need to succeed,” Ed- ences is available online. distancing. lab reports before continu- member should not be un- learning,” Anderson said. wards said. “Sergio is an Donald Stotts works in the “Dr. Abit’s virtual labs ing to the next clip. Each vir- derestimated, especially if “T love Dr. Abit’s zest for awesome teacher. I recom- Agricultural Communica- have definitely strengthened tual lab session typically has they continue to take more teaching and how we have mend people look at a virtu- tions Services department of and expanded our avail- four or five video segments. advanced soil and plant sci- come together in the pan- al lab such as the one on Soil OSU. Monitoring cotton crop growth essential during early stages From the Beckham or less. years is rare. Thus, a balance development. Due to cot- stress. This consideration grow out of these stressed County Extension Office Time planting around opti- must be met between these ton’s lack of early season primarily comes up when conditions, while cool tem- The first two to three mal temperatures, which are two factors to provide the competitiveness, eliminating early season insect pests, peratures or herbicide injury weeks of the cotton season highs in the low to mid 80s best possible conditions for weeds that out-compete the specifically thrips, are pres- prolong the amount of time is a critical period to monitor or higher, overnight lows in early season growth. crop for water, sunlight and ent. Thrips feed on the leaves the plants remain susceptible growth and development of the 60s or above, to ensure Conditions that favor uni- nutrients is a priority. Many of young cotton plants, and to thrips. Actively scouting the crop. that the plant accumulates form emergence and rapid of the at-plant and post- if not controlled, will stunt for thrips during the early It’s key to understand the the needed daily DD60s, or early season growth are not emergence herbicides used growth and result in delayed part of the season is recom- interactions between envi- heat units, for rapid growth only critical to establish- in cotton result in slight in- maturity. mended, especially if other ronmental conditions, pest and emergence. The general ing a uniform stand, they jury to seedlings and young Cotton is most susceptible hosts for thrips are nearby pressure and crop protec- tule is 50 to 60 heat units also will mitigate addi- plants. to thrips at early growth or there is a history or thrips tion products, and how these are required after planting tional stresses to which the While this injury alone is stages, from the cotyledon feeding. factors impact the progress to achieve emergence and seedlings will be exposed. rarely severe enough to be stage to the four- to five-leaf For more information of the crop. Regardless of After emergence, there is detrimental, and the weed stage. Warm temperatures accumulating six to 10 heat contact Greg Hartman variety selection or area of a need to maintain rapid control that is achieved is and adequate soil moisture units per day during the five- Beckham/Washita — County the state, avoiding maturity to seven-day period after growth and minimize factors more valuable, care must promote rapid growth that Extension at 580-928-2139 delays is key to ensure an planting is considered favor- that will inhibit the crop’s be taken not to compound aid in the plant’s ability to or 580-832-3356. optimal fruiting window and able conditions. fiber quality, as well as a In some long season ar- timely harvest. Two of the primary driv- ers behind the growth of cot- ton throughout the season eas of Oklahoma, moisture drives planting decisions more so than temperature, particularly for dryland pro- OCA working to make list are water and temperature. Development of the crop is ducers. Although cotton does not often predicted or monitored require much water for ad- using heat units, referred to equate growth early in the of beef sellers who deal as DD60s for cotton. Daily heat unit accumulation in season, planting into good soil moisture is essential to cotton is based on daily high ensure rapid and uniform and low temperatures, with germination and emergence. directly with consumers OKLAHOMA CITY - inquiries, we have decided information,” Weeks said ciate our members and are a certain amounts of heat It is more beneficial to The Oklahoma Cattlemen’s to compose a list of OCA People may submit their working hard every day to units required to get to ma- plant into a moist seed bed Association is working to members who sell beef di- contact information by log- jor benchmarks in a crop’s where water can be readily empower cattlemen, pro- compile a list of OCA mem- rect.” ging on to the OCA website tect the industry that we all development, such as squar- imbibed by the seed, rather bers who sell beef direct to Consumers could find at https://oca.memberclicks. ing, flowering and open boll. than into a dry seed bed and the consumer, the OCA stat- this list available starting net/login#/login. Once OCA love and help keep Okla- Heat units will be discussed waiting until there is enough ed in a release. on April 30 on the OCA’s members have logged into homa beef producers in the in more detail in an upcom- moisture to initiate germina- “With the current CO- website (okcattlemen.org). the website, click ‘Beef Di- beef business during this ing fact sheet. tion. VID-19 pandemic and the Social media channels en- rect Sales List’ located on disheartening time,” Weeks While warm days certainly Planting into a moist seed meat supply chain being courage consumers to call the right-hand side under the said in the release. signal the onset of plantingbed will decrease the chanc- disrupted by sickness of em- the producers on the list to ‘Quick Links’ menu. (This season, be careful to moni- es of uneven or delayed ployees at packing plants, purchase beef. For more information link will only be visible after tor overnight lows, as even stand establishment. In dry- the demand to buy beef di- “An email went out to all logging in.) about OCA membership, the daytime highs of 90 F can land scenarios, the combina- rect is at an all-time high,” OCA members this morning “The list is yet another theft reward program or ac- result in slow growth rates if tion of ideal soil moisture said Mike Weeks, President asking for those that sell beef membership benefit for tivities call 405-235-4391 or overnight lows drop to 50 F and temperatures in some of the OCA. “After several direct to submit their contact OCA members. We anpre- visit www.okcattlemen.org.