Robert C. Hansen 

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Research Scientist

• Computer-controlled fertigation of nursery crops
• Grain drying and grain quality
• Taxus/taxol production
• Composting

Education

The Ohio State University                   B.S.             Agricultural Engineering            1962

The Ohio State University                   M.S.            Agricultural Engineering             1962       

University of California, Davis              Ph.D.            Engineering                              1968

Employment History 

1987-             Research Scientist, Adjunct Ass=t. Prof., FAB Engineering, OARDC/OSU

1986-1987      Instructor, Statistical Quality Control, Terra Community College, Fremont, Ohio

1973-1987      Manager, Gray Haven Grain/Farm, Bellevue, Ohio

1971-1973      Vice Pres./Treas., Hansen Enterprises, Inc., Columbus, Ohio

1968-1971      Asst. Prof., Agr. Engineering, Texas A & M Univ., College Station, Texas

Professional Activities 

·        Chairman, NE 164 Multistate Research Committee: “Decision Support for Design and Control of Plant Growth Systems,” 2002 - 2003.

 ·        Associate Editor, Structures and Environment Division, Transactions of the        ASAE and Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 2001- 2005.

Honors and Awards

Texas A & M University 

• Honor professor award candidate - College of Agriculture

American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE)

• Blue Ribbon Award, 1989. Extension Bulletin.  Modern Composting--A Natural Way to  Recycle Wastes.

• Blue Ribbon Award, 1990. Extension Bulletin. Natural-Air Drying--Guidelines for Ohio.

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center

Faculty Research Award, 1998.  Awarded to Composting Team
Team members: Harold Keener, David Elwell, Robert Hansen, and Harry Hoitink

Research Assignments while employed at the OARDC in Wooster (1987 to present)

• Poultry manure composting.

• Post-harvest grain quality as affected by drying, storage and handling.

• Growing, harvesting, drying, storage, and handling of medicinal plants with emphasis on Taxol production from Taxus cultivars.

• Computer-controlled micro-irrigation and fertigation of container-grown landscape nursery plants.

Refereed Publications (last four years)

Glynn, C., D.A. Herms, M. Egawa, R.C. Hansen, and W.J. Mattson. 2003.  Effects of nutrient availability on biomass allocation as well as constitutive and induced herbivore resistance in poplar. Oikos 101: 385-397.

Prenger, J.J., R.P. Fynn and R.C. Hansen. 2002. A comparison of four evapotranspiration models in a greenhouse environment. Transactions of the ASAE 45(6): 1779-1788.

Kirnak, H., R.C. Hansen, H.M. Keener and T.H. Short. 2002. An evaluation of physically based and empirically determined evapotranspiration models of nursery plants. Turkish Journal of Agriculture and Forestry 26: 355-362.

Hansen, R.C. (Editor). 1999. Taxus and Taxol - A Compilation of Research Findings. Special Circular 150. 68 pp. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

Hansen, R.C. and C.C. Pasian. 1999. Using tensiometers for precision microirrigation of container-grown roses. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 15(5):483-490.

Short, T.H., A. Irvim and R.C. Hansen. 1999. Transpiration of container-grown Acer Rubrum under conditions of high evaporative demand. Applied Engineering in Agriculture 15(5):553-557.