Dr. A.J. Both, Extension Specialist at Rutgers -- Dr. Both is an agricultural engineer with research interests in environmental control for crop production systems and supplemental lighting, and systems engineering and renewable energy systems for controlled environment agriculture. He is a regular contributor for greenhouse publications such as Greenhouse Grower and Hort Americas. For Project LAMP, Dr. Both is focused on carbon footprint and life cycle assessment (LCA) of lighting systems, decision support system(s) for cost-effective lighting strategies, light distribution in tall plant canopies and lamp testing. He is also a member of our Outreach Team.
Sustainable Nursery Production.
Nursery crop production is an important part of the agricultural industry in New Jersey, supporting local communities economically and maintaining the agrarian character of areas in the state. Especially in a densely populated state like New Jersey, where agriculture and residential areas coexist in close proximity, it is important for all businesses to follow practices that optimize profitability while maintaining environmental and social sustainability.
For nurseries, evaluating and optimizing production practices may help profitability by reducing costs for inputs such as water, fertilizer, and pesticides. In addition to being good stewards of the soil and water, nurseries further benefit from sustainable production by being seen as good neighbor in their local communities and avoiding conflicts with regulators and neighbors.