Experiential Learning in Southeast Missouri Agriculture - Riparian Management Zones.

Opportunities provide students a method for connecting lectures to real-life applications.  David M. Barton Agriculture Research Center (located near Gordonville, MO) of Southeast Missouri State University, provides a location for research projects, field demonstrations, and classroom activities.  As a part of the field demonstrations, a riparian management zone was developed.  In an attempt to include students and help provide a chance for experiential learning, students were involved in the development and implementation of the riparian management zone.  For the first year, this included design and planting the trees, grasses, and wildflowers.  The second year included maintenance to keep trees alive.  After the plants had opportunity for establishment, the third year was focused on data collection and analysis on the survival of plant species over extremely wet conditions followed by high heat.  Seeing the project from planting to surviving trees provides students work experience and allows them a brief introduction to research through data collection and analysis.  Finally, students are asked to share the results with the public at several field days held at the location.  Experiential learning in applied research is being continued in forage management, pesticide safety and application, and precision agriculture.