Dr. Jeb Fields
Assistant Professor / Nursery Crops
Dr. Jeb Fields is a production horticulturist who works with Florida's nursery industry to develop applicable solutions to routine and atypical issues. His extension & research program is focused on developing more efficient and effective production practices through his environmental nursery production lab. Dr. Fields’ primary interests include soilless substrate science, irrigation & fertilizer management, whole plant-water relations and plant abiotic stress physiology. Dr. Fields is an internationally recognized substrate scientists, the leader of the Beyond Peat project through the USDA Specialty Crops Research Initiative, and the national S3 (Soilless Substrate Science) team which pursues advancement of the global substrate industry and development of more sustainable substrate materials and practices, including substrate stratification.
Please contact me if you are interested in working with my lab and being a part of the future of soilless substrate science.
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RESEARCH
Research: Media Assessment & Development
Dr. Fields manages the Media Assessment & Development (MAD) Lab. His research focuses on soilless substrate science, where his team develops new substrate practices and assesses new and potential substrate materials. His team explores local and region-specific biomass and agfibers to identify new substrate components and processing methods. As growers around the world continue to transition to soilless culture, research into the development and utilization of substrates and soilless systems is critical. “The Future is Soilless.”
Research: Substrate Stratification
Substrate stratification involves layering unique substrates within a container to achieve a balanced rootzone environment. This technique can allow improved fertilization and irrigation practices, support better established root systems, and help with a variety of other production related issues. Most of all, this technique allows for reduction of reliance on any particular substrate component. Using low-cost “filler” substrates in lower-strata can reduce costs without trading high-performance nature of the upper strata materials.
Research: Moving Beyond Peat
For decades, growers have relied heavily on peat moss as the primary component of soilless media. However, with rising demand for substrate media it is critical that we continue to identify the next generation of soilless substrates. Thus, the Beyond Peat team was developed to help U.S. growers usher in the next paradigm of soilless substrates, where peat continues to be utilized, but with lower reliance allowing growers to generate more customizable and regional substrate materials.
Research: Management of Root Zone Temperature
Dr. Fields collaborates with researchers across the U.S. to explore issues surrounding increasing root zone temperatures in nursery productions. This collaborative group continues to develop solutions for growers facing critical root zone temperatures. Moreover, this team is dedicated to developing decision-making tools for growers beyond and establishing early-warning options and monitoring options.
Research: Integrated Root Zone Management
Understanding the various aspects of the root zone and their interconnectivity is critical to developing more efficient and sustainable production practices. Mechanistic understanding of the Substrate-plant-atmosphere continuum, and understanding of how production parameters work together is key to moving our industry forward.
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EXTENSION
Extension: Environmental Nursery Production
Dr. Fields’ Extension program is dedicated to serving Florida’s green industry through development and implementation of novel and efficient practices. He works with industry stakeholders to improve their cultural practices surround plant production. His programmatic goal is to provide practical solutions to routine and exceptional issues to help advance and forward progress of Florida’s nursery industry and provide applicable options for growers. Dr. Fields regularly travels across the state of Florida and the country supporting growers & Extension agents, conducting educational activities and trainings, presenting at workshops, symposia, and other events.
Nursery & Landscape Insider
Dr. Fields is the Editor for the Nursery Landscape Insider, an e-newsletter hosted by Ball Publishing that delivers targeted news and updated for members of the green industry across the US. The NLI is delivered twice a month to over 32,000 industry stakeholders world-wide.
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EDUCATION
- Ph.D. Horticulture, Virginia Tech 2016
- M.S. Horticulture, North Carolina State University 2013
- B.S. Horticultural Sciences, University of Florida 2008
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PUBLICATIONS