Vitae
JOE T. RITCHIE
Dr. Ritchie held the Homer Nowlin Chair, in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University until his retirement in December, 2000. He is now a part time consultant and Emeritus Professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences. He now lives in Belton, Texas, and visits the campus at Michigan occasionally.
Michigan address:
Department of Crop and Soil Sciences
570 Plant and Soil Sciences Building
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1325
(517) 353-4702 (Voice)
(517) 355-0270 (Fax)
Texas address:
217 Camino Principal
Belton, Texas 76513
(254) 933-7742
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
1964 Ph.D. Iowa State University, Soil Physics, Mathematics
1961 M.S. Texas Technological University, Soil Fertility, Physical Chemistry
1959 B.S. Abilene Christian University, Range Management, Chemistry
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
| 2000-present | Professor Emeritus and part time consultant, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences Department, Michigan State University. |
| 1984-2000 | Professor, Homer Nowlin Chair, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan |
| 1980-1984 | Research Leader, Crop Systems Evaluation Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Temple, Texas |
| 1977-1980 | Research Leader, Water and Soil Resources Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Temple, Texas |
| 1974-1980 | Technical Advisor, USDA-ARS, Soil, Water and Air Sciences |
| 1966-1984 | Soil Scientist, USDA-ARS, Temple, Texas |
HONORS AND AWARDS
1996 Agronomic Research Award, American Society of Agronomy
1995 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year, Abilene Christian University
1991 Sir Frederick McMaster Fellow, Australia
1985 Fellow, Crop Science Society of America
1980 Alumni Citation Award, Abilene Christian University
1978 Fellow, American Society of Agronomy
1978 Fellow, Soil Science Society of America
1970 Recipient, Outstanding Aggie Alumni Award, Abilene Christian University
1964 Sigma XI, Honorary Research Society
1961 Gamma Sigma Delta, Honorary Agricultural Society
MEMBERSHIP
Agricultural Systems, Board of Editors
International Consortium for Agricultural Systems Applications, former
Vice-Chairman
Soil and Water Conservation Society of America, former chapter President
American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Sigma Xi Honorary Research Society, formerly President of Central Texas
Chapter
Board of Trustees, Abilene (Texas) Christian University
International Benchmark Sites Network for Agrotechnology Transfer, former
Chair of Technical Advisory Committee
SPECIALIZATION AND RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Ritchie's field of research is agricultural physics, with emphasis on soil-plant-water atmosphere relationships and how those factors can be integrated into functional simulation models. The work is an attempt to develop practical mathematical models containing sound physical and physiological principles in order that the resulting predictions will be useful over a broad range of environmental, crop and soil conditions. Special attention is given to testing models under field conditions and identifying major sources of errors as a means of defining critical research needs where fundamental understanding is lacking. Major objectives are to develop management strategies including proper genetic types for crop production systems that minimize risks to farmers and the environment, with emphasis on efficient use of water and fertilizer.
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