Ashley Pearce

Hello my name is Ashley Pearce, I am passionate about solving problems through agronomic practices and precision agriculture methods. My research focuses on the response of California rice varieties to different pre-plant nitrogen rates. I utilize canopy reflectance measurements and vegetation indices such as NDVI to monitor the nitrogen status of rice throughout the growing season. By combining this information with rice straw nitrogen analysis, yield components, and grain quality information, a comprehensive understanding of nitrogen needs across rice varieties can be formed. This understanding will contribute to more precise applications of nitrogen, benefiting farmers and the environment. Prior to my work in the Linquist lab, I completed a Masters in the UC Davis Weed Science department with Dr. Mesgaran. My work involved using transference and machine learning to locate weed patches in cotton fields using satellite imagery.