Title
Assistant Professor, Precision Ag. Cropping Systems, Internship CoordinatorOffice Building
Raven Precision Agriculture CenterOffice
119Mailing Address
Raven Precision Ag Building 119Agronomy, Horticulture & Plant Science-Box 2100A
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007
Biography
Dr. Kovács born and raised in Hungary, where he grew up in a small town, in the country’s primary agricultural production area. Péter received his MSc degree in Agricultural Engineering at the Szent István University. He participated in a double degree program through the Erasmus student exchange program to earn his MSc degree in Geographical Information Management at Cranfield University in the United Kingdom.Dr. Kovács participated in farm exchange program sponsored by the Hungarian Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. He has worked on a family farm in west central Minnesota, and witnessed the adaptation of the use of precision agriculture tools in crop production.
During his Ph.D. studies at Purdue University he was also involved teaching labs for undergraduate courses, and was a graduate advisor for the Agronomy Club.
Currently, Péter is an Associate Editor for Agronomy Journal, and he is also actively involved in the reviewing process for several International Journals.
Dr. Kovács has joined SDSU in November 2016 with research focus on Precision Ag Cropping Systems.
Education
Ph.D., Agronomy, Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN)M.Sc., Geographical Information Management, Cranfield University (Cranfield, UK)
M.Sc., Agricultural Engineer, Szent István University (Gödöllő, Hungary)
Expertise
Academic Responsibilities
Teaching PS-103 Crop Production classTeaching PRAG-423/523 Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrient Management
Teaching PS/HO-494 Internship, and PS/HO-490 Internship Seminar courses
Internship Coordinator
Faculty Advisor of the Agronomy and Precision Ag Club
Awards and Honors
Club Advisor of the Year - SDSU College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Science - 2024Malo Excellence in Teaching Award, SDSU Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science - 2021
Teacher of the Year - Agronomy and Conservation Club, SDSU - 2018
International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI) Scholar Award - 2013
Outstanding Graduate Student - North-Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conference - 2012
Grants
Investigating impact of starter fertilizer placement on plant development, grain yield, and nutrient uptake, SD Nutrient Research and Educational Council, 2021 -Investigating fertilizer response and requirement in high protein soybean varieties, SD Nutrient Research and Educational Council, 2021 -
Sulfur source and application timing effect on soybean yield. Funding Agency: SD Nutrient Research and Educational Council, 2019-2021
Survey of South Dakota producers' current nutrient management practices. Funding Agency: SD Nutrient Research and Educational Council, 2019-2020
In-season N application in corn to improve fertilizer efficiency in eastern South Dakota. Funding Agency: SD Nutrient Research and Educational Council, 2018-2020
Effect of cultural practices on soybean seed quality: A review and research studies - Funding Agency: United Soybean Board, 2017-2020
In-season N application in corn to improve fertilizer efficiency in eastern South Dakota - Funding Agency: SD Nutrient Research and Educational Council, 2018-2020
Professional Memberships
International Society of Precision Agriculture - 2014 to presentAmerican Society of Agronomy - 2012 to present
Crop Science Society of America - 2012 to present
Soil Science Society of America - 2012 to present
Area(s) of Research
Goal of the research program to improve the production of crops relevant to South Dakota using precision agriculture techniques while keep environmental stewardship in focus. My research focus is to improve crop production and input (e.g. nutrient, seed, etc.) use efficiency through the understanding of genotype x environment x management practice interactions and incorporate precision ag and remote sensing techniques into crop management and (immediate or future) decision making process(es).In addition, we address today’s agronomic challenges and evaluate upcoming production systems and resources.
Main areas of research:
Precision Agriculture
Cropping Systems
Plant Nutrition
Tillage Systems
Applied Crop Physiology
Applications of Research
Most Significant Publications:Kovács, P. and S. Casteel. 2023. Evaluation of a high-speed planter in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. Agron. J. 115, 1174-1187
Almeida, L.F.A., A.A. Correndo, J. Ross, M. Licht, S. Casteel, M. Singh, S. Naeve, R. Vann, J. Bais, H. Kandel, L. Lindsey, S. Conley, J. Kleinjan, P. Kovács, D. Berning, T. Hefley, M. Reiter, D. Holshouser, I.A. Ciampitti. 2023. Soybean yield response to nitrogen and sulfur fertilization in the United States: contribution of soil N and N fixation processes. European J. Agron. 145, 126791
De Borja Reis, A, L.H. Morro Rosso, D. Davidson, P. Kovács, L.C. Purcell, F.E. Below, S.N. Casteel, H. Kandel, S.L. Naeve, S. Archontoulis, and I.A. Ciampitti. 2022. Soybean management for seed composition: The perspective of US farmers. Agron. J. 114:2608-2617.
De Borja Reis, A, L.H. Moro Rosso; E. Adee; D. Davidson; P. Kovács; L.C. Purcell; F.E. Below; S.N. Casteel; C. Knott; H. Kandel; S.L. Naeve; M.P. Singh; S. Archontoulis; and I.A. Ciampitti. 2022. Seed inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense in the U.S. soybean systems. Field Crops Research. 283:108537
Clark, J., J.D. Ulrich-Schad, P. Kovács, A. Bly, E. Avemegah. 2022. Farmer adoption of efficient inorganic nitrogen fertilizer management practices in South Dakota. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation. 77, 568-578
de Borja Reis, A.F., L.H. Moro Rosso, D. Davidson, P. Kovács, L. C. Purcell, F.E. Below, S.N. Casteel, C. Knott, H. Kandel, S.L.Naeve, W. Carciochi, W.J. Ross, V.R. Favoretto, S. Archontoulis and I.A.Ciampitti. 2021. Sulfur fertilization in soybean: A meta-analysis on yield and seed composition. European Agr. J. 127: 126285
de Borja Reis, A.F., L.H. Moro Rosso, L. C. Purcell, S.L.Naeve, S.N. Casteel, P. Kovács, S. Archontoulis, D. Davidson and I.A.Ciampitti. 2021. Environmental factors associated with nitrogen fixation prediction in soybean. Front. Plant Sci. 675410.
Bergman, K., I.A. Ciampitti, P. Sexton, and P. Kovács. 2021. Fungicide, insecticide, and foliar fertilizer effect on soybean yield, seed composition and canopy retention. Agrosystems, Geoscience and Environment. e20116.
Gautam, A., J. Guzman, P. Kovács and S. Kumar. 2021. Manure and inorganic fertilization impacts on soil nutrients, aggregate stability, and organic carbon and nitrogen in different aggregate fractions. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. 0421.
Avemegah, E., W. Gu, A. Abulbasher, K. Koci, A. Ogunyiola, J. Eduful, S. Li, K. Barington, T. Wang, D. Kolady, L. Perkins, J. Leffler, P. Kovács, J. Clark, D. Clay and J. Ulrich-Schad. 2020. An examination of best practices for survey research with agricultural producers. Society and Natural Resources. DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2020.1804651
Gautam A., U. Sekaran, J. Guzman, P. Kovács, J.L.G. Hernandez and S. Kumar. 2020. Responses of soil microbial community structure and enzymatic activities to long-term application of mineral fertilizer and beef manure. Environmental and Sustainability Indicitaors. 8:100073
Carciochi, W., L.M. Rosso, M. Secchi, A. Torres, S. Naeve, S. Casteel, P. Kovács, D. Davidson, L. Purcell, S. Archontoulis and I. Ciampitti. 2019. Soybean yield, biological N2 fixation and seed composition responses to additional inoculation in the United States. Sci. Rep. 9:19908.
Assefa, Y., L.C. Purcell, M. Salmeron, S. Naeve, S.N. Casteel, P. Kovács, S. Archontoulis, M. Licht, F. Below, H. Kandel, L.E. Lindsey, J. Gaska, S. Conley, C. Shapiro, J.M. Orlowski, B.R. Golden, G. Kaur, M. Singh, K. Thelen, R. Laurenz, D. Davidson and I.A. Cimapitti. 2019. Assessing Variation in US Soybean Seed Composition (Protein and Oil). Frontiers in Plant Science. doi:10.3389/fpls.2019.00298
Y. Assefa, N. Bajjalieh, S. Archontoulis, S. Casteel, D. Davidson, P. Kovács, S. Naeve and Ignacio A. Ciampitti. 2018. Spatial Characterization of Soybean Yield and Quality (Amino Acids, Oil, and Protein) for United States. Scientific Reports vol. 8, Article number: 14653. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-32895-0
Kovács, P. and T.J. Vyn. 2017. Relationships between ear-leaf nutrient concentrations at silking and corn biomass and grain yields at maturity. Agron. J. 109:2898-2906.
Tamagno, S., G.R. Balboa, Y. Assefa, P. Kovács, S.N. Casteel, F. Salvagiotti, F.O. García, W.M. Stewart and I.A. Ciampitti. 2017. Nutrient partitioning and stoichiometry in soybean: A synthesis-analysis. Field Crops Res. 200:18-27.
Kovács, P., G.E. Van Scoyoc, T.A. Doerge, J.J. Camberato and T.J. Vyn. 2015. Anhydrous ammonia timing and rate effects on maize N use efficiencies with parallel-to-row placement. Agron. J. 107:1205-1214.
Omonode, R.A., P. Kovács and T.J. Vyn. 2015. Tillage and nitrogen rate effects on area- and yield-scaled nitrous oxide emissions from pre-plant anhydrous ammonia. Agron. J.107:605-614.
Kovács, P. and T.J. Vyn. 2014. Full-season retrospectives on causes of plant-to-plant variability in maize grain yield response to nitrogen and tillage. Agron. J. 106:1746-1757.
Kovács, P., G.E. Van Scoyoc, T.A. Doerge, J.J. Camberato and T.J. Vyn. 2014. Pre-plant anhydrous ammonia placement consequences on no-till versus conventional-till maize growth and N responses. Agron. J. 160:634-644.
Department(s)
Image for Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science
Department of Agronomy, Horticulture and Plant Science
Links
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