Tag: Mary Lusk

Graduate Students Earn National Recognition at CANVAS 2025

by Mike Loizzo
November 20, 2025

Two students from the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center (GCREC) returned from an international conference with well-earned recognition. Oluwasegun Olubisi and Justina Odogwu have Mary Lusk, assistant professor in the UF/IFAS Department ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Justina Odogwu, Mary Lusk, Nutrient Cycling, Oluwasegun Olubisi, Reclaimed Water, Soil Health, Water Quality

Cover Crops in Sandy Soil: Legumes and Grasses Differ in Nitrogen Cycling

by Mike Loizzo
October 29, 2025

Florida’s sandy soils typically have low organic matter and high permeability. That means a greater risk of nutrient leaching before a plant or tree can use what it needs. Cover crops are an option for improving soil fertility because they ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, Crops, Farm Management, UF/IFAS Extension, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Carbon, Cover Crops, Inorganic Nitrogen, Juma Bukomba, Legumes, Mary Lusk, Nitrogen, Sandy Soils, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Sorghum, Sudangrass, Sunn Hemp

UF expert: While hurricanes are on your mind, get your septic system inspected

by Brad Buck
October 29, 2024

Hurricanes Helene and Milton left many homeowners with flooded septic tanks. To make sure your system is ready for future storms, a University of Florida scientist has suggestions for you. “If you are one of those homeowners with a flooded ... READ MORE

Category: Water
Tags: Drain Field, Flooding, Germs, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Human Waste, Hurricanes, Inspection, Mary Lusk, Septic System, Septic Tank, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Unsaturated Soil

New UF/IFAS publication: Managing impacts of flooding, groundwater rise on septic systems

by Mike Loizzo
January 16, 2024

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection estimates the state has more than 2 million septic systems. If an owner does not properly maintain one, it poses an environmental threat to the state’s drinking water. Besides regular maintenance, ... READ MORE

Category: Disaster Preparation, Home Management
Tags: Flooding, Groundwater Level Rise, Mary Lusk, Septic Systems, Soil And Water Sciences, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences

Students present work at Undergraduate Research Symposium

by Mike Loizzo
November 17, 2023

Students working with UF/IFAS Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences (SWES) faculty can add undergraduate research to their resume. Tanya Charan and Camille Haupt both focused on a variation of nitrogen (N). Charan examined atmospheric ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS Research, UF/IFAS Teaching
Tags: Camille Haupt, Mary Lusk, Masanori Fujimoto, Nitrogen, Soil And Water Sciences, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Tanya Charan, Undergraduate Research

Nearly half of global septic systems work inadequately; UF scientist urges safety in wake of climate change

by Brad Buck
September 12, 2022

Nearly one-fourth of the world’s wastewater comes from residential septic systems, according to the United Nations. But only 48% of such systems adequately treat wastewater. The most common type of septic system includes the tank and a ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Climate Change, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Hurricane Season, Leach Field, Low-lying Areas, Mary Lusk, Pathogens, Public Health, Saturation, Septic System, Septic Tank, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, Wastewater

UF scientists receive grant to study fumigation impacts on soil health

by Brad Buck
March 21, 2022

Soil health is an important aspect to strawberry and tomato production. Farmers often apply a type of pesticide called fumigants to the soil months before planting to manage soil health. Fumigants reduce harmful diseases such as Fusarium ... READ MORE

Category: Pests & Disease
Tags: Crops, Fusarium Wilt, Gary Vallad, Grant, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Mary Lusk, Nathan Boyd, Nitrogen, Root-knot Nematodes, Sarah Strauss, Soil And Water Sciences, Soil Health, Soil Microbes, Soil Microbiome, Soil-borne Diseases, Southwest Florida Research And Education Center, Strawberries, Tomatoes, USDA-NIFA

UF study: Florida’s 76,000 ponds emit more carbon than they store

by Brad Buck
March 9, 2022

When you look at ponds, you might see birds and fish, but you probably don’t think about carbon. In fact, Florida’s 76,000 ponds store plenty of carbon, and a lot of it escapes into the atmosphere. In fact, ponds lose more carbon via ... READ MORE

Category: UF/IFAS
Tags: Audrey Goekner, Carbon, Development, Emission, Gas, Gulf Coast Research And Education Center, Manatee County, Mary Lusk, Muck, Ponds, Soil And Water Sciences, Stormwater Ponds, Urbanization

Graduate student wins award from UF International Center

by Mike Loizzo
December 13, 2021

Juma Bukomba, a master’s degree student in the UF/IFAS Soil and Water Sciences Department, received the 2021 Outstanding Post-Graduate Award from the UF International Center. The award recognizes international students who have distinguished ... READ MORE

Category: Agriculture, UF/IFAS Research
Tags: Juma Bukomba, Mary Lusk, Soil And Water Sciences, Soil And Water Sciences Department, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences, UF International Center

Soil and Water Sciences faculty win national, state awards

by Mike Loizzo
April 21, 2021

Several faculty members in the UF/IFAS soil and water sciences department won state and national awards for their extension service. The awards come from the Association of Natural Resources Extension Professionals (ANREP) and the Florida chapter ... READ MORE

Category: Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Extension
Tags: Ashley Smyth, Association Of Natural Resources Extension Professionals, Florida Assocation Of Natural Resources Extension Professionals, Laura Reynolds, Mark Clark, Mary Lusk, Soil And Water Sciences, Soil And Water Sciences Department, Soil Water And Ecosystem Sciences

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