Dr. Joseph Heckman

Contact Information

Mailing Address

Rutgers University
Department of Plant Biology & Pathology
Foran Hall/ Cook Campus
59 Dudley Rd.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
heckman@aesop.rutgers.edu

Campus Location

Office: Room 167 Foran Hall, 732-932-9711 x119
Lab: Room 171 Foran Hall, 732-932-9711 x123

Research, Extension, and Teaching

Dr. Joseph Heckman is a Professor of Soil Science; he teaches courses in Soil Fertility, Organic Crop Production, and Agroecology. As Soil Fertility Specialist for Rutgers Cooperative Extension, he serves both conventional and organic farmer cliental. He is responsible for providing soil fertility recommendations for the wide variety of agronomic and horticultural crops grown in New Jersey. His current research focus is on sustaining soil fertility with improvements in nutrient cycling and composting. His extension programs support healthy plant and animal ecosystems with the goal establishing nutritious food systems for human health and sustainable communities. Dr. Heckman has served as Associate Editor of Journal of American Society of Horticulture Science, and as Chair of the Council on History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Soil Science. Dr. Heckman is currently serving on the American Society Agronomy, Committee on Organic and Sustainable Agriculture. Dr. Heckman recently hosted a seminar series on Raw Milk at Rutgers University.

Dr. Heckman's main research and extension program focuses areas:

• Development of soil and plant nitrogen tests for agronomic and horticultural crops.
• Correction of micro-nutient deficiencies for production of agronomic and horticultural crops.
• Utilization of natural waste materials as soil amendments and nutrient sources.
• Soil fertility in organic farming systems.
• Soil-plant-animal health relationships.

Publications

Click on a link below to launch a publication search:

Heckman, J.R. 2006. A History of Organic Farming: Transitions from Sir Albert Howard's War in the Soil to USDA National Organic Program. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 21:143-150.

Rutgers Affiliations

1. Rutgers Plant Biology Graduate Program
2. Rutgers Cooperative Extension
3. New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
4. Center for Turfgrass Science

Other Affiliations

1. American Society of Agronomy
2. American Society of Horticulture Science
3. Soil Science Society of America
4. Council on History, Philosophy, and Sociology of Soil Science
5. International Union of Soil Sciences
6. International Society for Horticultural Science
7. International Turfgrass Society
8. Mid-Atlantic Soil Test Working Group
9. New Jersey Association of Professional Soil Scientists
10. USDA-NEC-67 Northeast Coordinating Committee on Soil Testing

Dr. Heckman joined the department in 1990 and was promoted to Extension Specialist in Soil Fertility in 2003.