CARLOS J. FERNANDEZ, Ph.D.
Plant Physiology and Cropping Systems Program Leader

Crop Physiology, Modeling, Management
Web-based Tools for Crop Management
Agricultural Runoff Water Quality and Quantity

Phone (361) 265-9201 ext 276

 eMail: cj-fernandez@tamu.edu

 

Publications

 

Web:  The Crop-Weather Program for South Texas

 

Education
 
Ph.D., Agronomy, 1989, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
 
M.S., Agronomy, 1977, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
 
Ingeniero Agrónomo, Agricola-Ganadera (Crops and Pastures - Cattle and Sheep Husbandry), 1970, Universidad de la República Oriental del Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay

Professional Experience
  Associate Professor - Research Agronomist, Plant Physiology and Crop Systems Research, Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Corpus Christi. 1999 - present
    Serve as Project Leader in the conduction of disciplinary and applied farming systems research involving agronomic research, crop management, and applications of precision farming technologies to field crops in the lower Coastal Bend region of Texas, and to publish and otherwise disseminate research results to professional peer, industry and user groups. Responsible to the Resident Director of Research, TAES, Corpus Christi.
  Associate Professor - Research Agronomist, Physiology and Management of Crop Stress, Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Uvalde. 1996 - 1999
    Same function as described in position below.
  Assistant Professor - Research Agronomist, Physiology and Management of Crop Stress, Texas A&M University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Uvalde. 1991 - 1996
    Plan and conduct fundamental research on a complex of environmental and biological stresses influencing cultivated agronomic crops under irrigation and dryland conditions in the Winter Garden of Texas, with emphasis on physiological stresses, physiological adaptation of plants to these stresses and conversion of this understanding into technology to minimize risk while maximizing sustainable profit for area producers. Responsible to the Resident Director of Research, TAES, Uvalde.
  Post-doctoral Research Associate, Physiology of Crop Stress, Soil & Crop Sciences Dept., Texas A&M University, College Station. 1989 - 1991
    Conduct fundamental research to evaluate crop plant responses to nitrogen and soil water availability and to plant growth regulators grown under controlled environmental conditions. Responsible to Professors J.T. Cothren and K. McInnes, Soil & Crop Sciences Dept.
  Graduate Research Assistant, Crop Physics, Soil & Crop Sciences Dept., Texas A&M University, College Station. 1986 - 1989
    Conduct fundamental research to evaluate the carbon and water economy of grain sorghum and other crop species grown under controlled-environmental conditions. Responsible to Professor K.J. McCree, Soil & Crop Sciences Dept.
  Professor and Faculty Chairman, Ecology, Facultad de Agronomía (College of Agriculture), Universidad de la República Oriental del Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay. 1979 -1985
    Chair group of faculty teaching undergraduate course on crop ecology. Responsible to the Dean of the College of Agriculture.
  Administrative Director, Facultad de Agronomía (College of Agriculture), Universidad de la República Oriental del Uruguay, Montevideo, Uruguay. 1979 - 1983
    Administered the College of Agriculture in the general areas of Secretarial, Accounting, Personnel, Purchasing and Supplies, Printing and Library. The College of Agriculture has four experimental stations specializing in cereal crops and animal production, fruit-horticulture, swine and poultry, and forestry. Personnel included 200 staff and 400 regular employees, along with a student population of 1300. Responsible to the Dean of the College of Agriculture.
  Farm Manager, Fernández-Ferrando Farm, Canelones, Uruguay. 1978 - 1985
    Manage all aspects of family farm dedicated to production of fresh produce for the local market.
  Research Scientist, Agricultural Climatology, "Alberto Boerger" Agricultural Research Center (C.I.A.A.B.), Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Uruguay. 1970 - 1978
    Conduct research to quantify the relationship between climate and the productivity of crops and pastures. Responsible to the Head of the Climatology National Program at C.I.A.A.B.

Professional Interests (Research)
 
  • Field-crops research program in areas of production, physiology, and modeling.
   
  • Research in production targets cotton and grain sorghum, and includes deficit-irrigation strategies, nitrogen fertilization rates, narrow rows, seeding rates, and plant growth regulation.
  • Research in production also includes sweet sorghum as renewable source of energy (ethanol production).
  • Research in physiology includes growth and development responses of crop plants to the environment, including water and nitrogen deficits, and plant growth regulators.
  • Research in modeling includes the development of mechanistic computer simulation models for studying the complex and interactive responses of plants to environmental stresses.
 
  • Agricultural Runoff Water Quality - NPS
   
  • Characterization of runoff and water-quality constituent concentrations and loads emerging from the cropland- and rangeland- dominated watersheds
 
  • Development of Web-based applications to be used as research and crop management tools to assist researchers and crop managers.