Soil Fertility Team

Faculty

Trenton L. Roberts

Dr. Roberts is an Endowed Professor and Extension Soil Fertility Specialist in the CSES department with a primary focus on the development of soil-based nitrogen tests to improve nitrogen use-efficiency of agricultural crops. Trenton received degrees from Oklahoma State University, University of Arizona and University of Arkansas all related to soil science and agricultural production. Dr. Roberts has been the leader in the development of N-STaR the nitrogen soil test for rice, which is the first site-specific soil test method for rice. Future research will focus on the development of soil test methods for corn, wheat and cotton as well as the implementation of N-STaR for rice throughout the Mid-south. Trenton has worked diligently on the nitrogen use efficiency in the Mid-south and has several (>15) refereed journal articles on this topic. Over the past 8 years Dr. Roberts has worked to revise and update nutrient management recommendations, adding new soil and tissue tests to improve the accuracy and efficiency of crop production. In addition to his soil fertility work, Dr. Roberts has taken the lead of cover crop research within the state of Arkansas and has developed guidelines and recommendations for their effective implementation into crop rotations across the Mid-south.

Gerson Laerson Drescher

Bronc Finch

Dr. Finch is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Soil Fertility with the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture (UADA). Dr. Finch earned his B.S. in Agriculture Education, and M.S. in Plant, Soil, and Environmental Sciences from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, TX, and his Ph.D. in Soil Science from Oklahoma State University (OSU) in Stillwater, OK. He worked as a post-doc researcher at OSU leading research projects focused on nutrient management of various forage crops, as well as managing a soil analysis laboratory. Currently, Dr. Finch’s extension program is focused on developing, and disseminating up-to-date fertilizer and nutrient management recommendations for forage production in Arkansas. He has experience with soil and plant analysis, plant nutrition, nutrient cycling, and soil health.

Staff

Alden D. Smartt

Alden Smartt has been a part of the Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Arkansas since 2008. Alden earned his B.S. degree in 2011, with a major in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science and a minor in Crop Management. After graduation, he stayed in the department to continue his education, studying trace gas emissions from rice systems and earning his M.S. in Soil Physics under Dr. Kristofor Brye. Following the completion of his graduate degree, Alden continued research in rice, focusing on nitrogen fertility under Dr. Richard Norman, where his time as a Program Associate began in 2016. After Dr. Norman’s retirement, Alden expanded his research scope to include soil fertility work in crops such as corn, soybean, cotton, wheat, and forages under the guidance of Dr. Nathan Slaton and Dr. Trent Roberts.

David Smith

Dave Smith-Weisflog earned his B.S. degree in Crop Protection, M.S. degree in Weed Science, and Ph.D. in Plant Pathology from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.  He grew up working with livestock, row crops, and forage crops in North-Central Indiana before attending college.  He has experience in extension, teaching, and private industry in conventional agriculture production as well as organic cropping systems with experience from vastly different cropping regions in the United States.  He joined the Arkansas Soil Fertility team in April of 2023.

Joseph B. Shafer

Joseph Shafer is a Program Associate of the Arkansas Soil Fertility program at the Department of Crop Soils, and Environmental Sciences. Joseph has a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Arkansas State University. Joseph has been with the University since 2002. He spent 9 years as the Soybean Research Specialist at The Pine Tree Research Station. He has been in his current position since 2011. Joseph is responsible for the day-to-day management of Dr. Roberts’ research located at the Pine Tree Research Station. It is also Jospeh’s responsibility to assist Dr. Roberts in the implementation of his research located at various locations across the State.

Stephanie M. Williamson

Stephanie Williamson is a Program Associate with the Arkansas Soil Fertility team and has a B.S. Degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University. Following her M.S. Degree in Animal Science from the University of Arkansas researching environmentally focused feed modifications of grazing animals, Stephanie joined the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Science Department working with the USDA focused on animal waste management.  After several years in the lab and field conducting animal waste and water quality research, Stephanie returned to the CSES department and her row crop upbringing in 2010 to work for Dr. Roberts.  She manages the N-STaR Soil Testing Lab and Dr. Roberts’ research program.

Carri Lu Scott

Carri Scott is a Program Technician in the soil fertility program of Dr. Roberts.  A Northwest Arkansas native, Carri graduated from the University of Arkansas with a B. S. in Environmental Soil & Water Science. After a detour into other areas, Carri came back to the Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences Department in 2012. The majority of Carri’s time is spent in the lab, but sometimes she ventures out into fieldwork as well.