• Preparation and maintenance of research plots, including planting, fertilizer and pesticide applications.

• Field measurements and sample collecting of rice plants grown for various research projects being conducted by the Agroecosystems Research Group.

• Processed plant samples are analyzed for Total Non-Structural Carbohydrates (Hendrix 1993; Tarpley et al. 1993) and Total Nitrogen Content (Leco FP-528 Nitrogen Determinator). Soil samples are analyzed for available nitrogen using the indophenol blue method for ammonium concentration and a cadmium mediated nitrate reduction / colormetric method for nitrate concentration.

• Maintain all lab and field equipment assigned to this lab, including but not limited to: Leco FP-528 Nitrogen Determinator, Plate Readers,leaf area machines, grinders, PC and Macintosh computers, various scanners, film recorder, printers, threshers, tractor, cone planter, combine, and vehicles.

• Interview and hire part and full time hourly workers.

• Supervising lab technicians and other part / full time hourly workers.