- Degree: Master of Horticultural Science (Spring 2021)
- Project/Dissertation Title: Evaluation of Chopped Miscanthus Biomass as a Mulch for Weed Control in Container Grown Nursery Crops
- Advisor: Dr. Joe Neal
How are you planning to use your degree?
To serve and educate the people of Johnston County as their Horticulture Extension Agent.
Whom do you want to thank?
My Advisory Committee – Dr. Joe Neal, Dr. Lucy Bradley, and Dr. Anthony LeBude
What is the best thing about studying horticulture at NC State?
Increasing my knowledge in a subject I love, and meeting and making new friends.
Clubs and Activities
Do you have plans for after graduation? Are you currently working?
Continue in my role as the Horticulture Extension Agent in Johnston County.
Advisor Comments (Joe Neal)
When Marshall approached me about advising him on a Master of Horticultural degree, he did so with a plan in mind. As a recently hired Extension agent in Johnston, and having experience working in the nursery industry, he recognized an opportunity that needed to be investigated. Nursery crop producers were spending a lot of money on mulches for weed control in herbicide-sensitive crops. At the time, miscanthus grown for biofuel had few markets. He saw the opportunity to test chopped miscanthus as a weed control mulch. He independently established connections with biofuel materials producers and growers and established experiments to test his ideas. It is this type of insight and initiative he brought to all aspects of his graduate program. Through his efforts, a new use for a North Carolina-grown product may emerge. Along the way he won first place in the graduate student presentation contest at the Northeastern Weed Science Society. I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve as an advisor on Marshall’s program of study and look forward to continuing to work with him on Extension educational programs.