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Oklahoma State University
Plant and Soil Sciences Department
Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources

Robert William Mullen

205 N. Ag Hall
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
(405) 744-9599
e-mail:  rwm@okstate.edu

Birthplace and Date:  Lawton, OK, August 26, 1974
Marital Status: Married

EDUCATION

Ph.D.  Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma
Dissertation Chairman: Dr. William R. Raun
Major Field: Soil Science
Graduation Date: May 2003
   

M.S.

Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma

Thesis Chairman:

Dr. William R. Raun

Major Field:

Soil Science

Graduation Date:

May 2001

 

B.S.

Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma

Major Advisor

Dr. A.C. Bennett

Major Field

Animal Science

Graduation Date:

May 1998

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

August 2000 to Present.  Senior Research Specialist, Soil Fertility Project, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University.  Supervise the laboratory analysis of soil fertility experiments.  Provide guidance and training to laboratory personnel and graduate students relative to plant and soil sample preparation, and use of various analytical instruments (atomic adsorption spectrophotometer-AA, inductively-coupled argon plasma-ICAP, flow injection analysis-Lachat AE, UV/VIS spectrophotometers, digestion blocks, dry combustion analysis and mass spectrometry).  Analyze soil, forage, and grain samples for nutrient status.  Operate and maintain laboratory analytical equipment.  Receive and track samples.  Manage, report, and monitor quality assurance/quality control of data acquired through laboratory analysis. 

May 1998 to August 2000. Research Assistant for Dr. W.R. Raun, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma.   Responsibilities: Research field work, sample processing, storage and organization, web page publishing, and statistical and chemical analyses associated with soil fertility projects.  Research crops include wheat, alfalfa, cotton, soybeans, switchgrass, and bermudagrass.

January 1998 to May 1998. Student worker for Dr. Al Bennett, Department of Agriculture, Cameron University, Lawton Oklahoma.  Responsibilities: Maintaining and updating department homepage, office duties, and tutoring students on computer usage.

COLLEGIATE ACTIVITIES

Member of FFA/Aggie Club at Cameron, two-year member of varsity baseball team, involved in intramural athletics, donated time to political campaign.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Graduated from Cameron University with Cum Laude Honors, Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Candidate, Named to President’s List three times, Named to Dean’s List every semester but one.

JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS

Mullen, R.W., W.E. Thomason, and W.R. Raun. 1999. Estimated increase in atmospheric CO2 due to worldwide decreases in soil organic matter.   Commun. Soil Sci. and Plant Anal. 30:1713-1719.

Mullen, R.W., S.B. Phillips, W.R. Raun, G.V. Johnson, and W.E. Thomason.  2000.   Forage Yield and Crude Protein of Legume-Interseeded Bermudagrass Mixtures as Affected by Phosphorus Fertilizer.  J. Plant Nutr. 23:673-681.

Mullen, R.W., B.M. Howell, G.V. Johnson, and W.R. Raun.  2000.  Simulating Anhydrous Ammonia Applications: A Simple Laboratory Exercise.  J. Natural Resources Life Sci. Educ. 29:107-110.

Wright, D.G., R.W. Mullen, W.E. Thomason, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Estimated Land Area Increase of Agriculture Ecosystems to Sequester Excess Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide.  Commun. Soil Sci. and Plant Anal. 32:1803-1812.

Thomason, W.E., K.J. Wynn, K.W. Freeman, E.V. Lukina, R.W. Mullen, G.V. Johnson, R.L. Westerman and W.R. Raun. 2000. Effect of chloride fertilizers and lime on wheat grain yield and take-all disease.  J. Plant Nutr.) 24:683-692.

Lukina, E.V., K.W. Freeman, K.J. Wynn, W.E. Thomason, R.W. Mullen, G.V. Johnson, R.L. Elliott, M.L. Stone, J.B. Solie, and W.R. Raun. 2000. Nitrogen fertilization optimization algorithm based on in-season estimates of yield and forage nitrogen uptake. J. Plant Nutr. 24:885-898.

Woolfolk, C.W., W.E. Thomason, R.W. Mullen, K.J. Wynn, G.V. Johnson, and W.R. Raun. 2001.  Influence of late-season foliar nitrogen applications on grain protein of winter wheat (in press, Agron. J.).

Raun, W.R., G.V. Johnson, J.B. Solie, M.L. Stone, R.W. Mullen, K.W. Freeman, W.E. Thomason, and E.V. Lukina.  2002.  Improving nitrogen use efficiency in cereal grain production with optical sensing and variable rate application.  (in press, Agron. J.).

ARTICLES IN REVIEW

Mullen R.W., W.E. Thomason, K.W. Freeman, E.V. Lukina, K.J. Wynn, G.V. Johnson, M.L. Stone, J.B. Solie, and W.R. Raun.  2001. Use of an in-season response index to predict potential yield increases from applied nitrogen.  (J. Plant Nutr.)

Cossey, D.A., W.E. Thomason, R.W. Mullen, K.J. Wynn, C.W. Woolfolk, G.V. Johnson, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Relationship between ammonium and nitrate in wheat plant tissue and estimated nitrogen loss.  (J. Plant Nutr.)

Thomason, W.E., W.R. Raun, G.V. Johnson, K.W. Freeman, K.J. Wynn, and R.W. Mullen.  2002.  Production system techniques to increase nitrogen use efficiency in winter wheat.  (J. Plant Nutr.)

Thomason, W.E., W.R. Raun, G.V. Johnson, C.M. Taliaferro, K.W. Freeman, K.J. Wynn, and R.W. Mullen.  2002.  Switchgrass response to harvest frequency, and time and rate of applied nitrogen.  (J. Plant Nutr.)

Humphreys, M.T., K.W. Freeman, R.W. Mullen, G.V. Johnson, and W.R. Raun.  2002.  Improving fertilizer nitrogen use efficiency using alternative legume interseeding in continuous corn.  (J. Plant Nutr.)

POPULAR PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Mullen, R.W., G.V. Johnson, J.F. Stritzke, J.L. Caddel, S.B. Phillips, and W.R. Raun.  2000.  Alfalfa Yield Response to Method and Rate of Applied Phosphorus.  (Better Crops Number 84(3):18-19,23).

Lukina, E.V., K.W. Freeman, R.W. Mullen, K.J. Wynn, W.E. Thomason, R.K. Teal, J. Mosali, T. Feng, D.E. Needham, C.N. Washmon, J.B. Solie, M.L. Stone, N.T. Basta, J.A. Hattey, H. Zhang, S. Deng, J.M. Shaver, R.L. Westerman, and W.R. Raun.  2000.  Soil Fertility Research Highlights 2000.  Oklahoma State University.

Mullen, R.W., G.V. Johnson, J.F. Stritzke, J.L. Caddel, S.B. Phillips, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Alfalfa Responds to High P Rates, P Banding.  Fluid J. 9:9-11.

Mullen, R.W., K.W. Freeman, G.V. Johnson, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  The Magruder Plots - Long-Term Wheat Fertility Research in Oklahoma.  Better Crops 85(4):6-8.

ABSTRACTS

Mullen, R.W., B.M. Howell, G.V. Johnson, and W.R. Raun.  1999.   The Effects of Depth of Application and Soil Texture on Volatilization of Anhydrous Ammonia: A Simple Laboratory Exercise.  p.26.  In Agronomy Abstracts.   ASA, Madison, WI.

Mullen, R.W., W.E. Thomason, and W.R. Raun.  1999.  Effect of Foliar Nitrogen on Cheat Management and Wheat Quality.  p.254.  In Agronomy Abstracts.   ASA, Madison, WI.

Johnson, G.V., D.C. Ward, H. Quals, R.W. Mullen, N.T. Basta, and W.R. Raun.  2000.  A Soil Fertility Laboratory Exercise to Demonstrate Ammonia Volatilization from Urea. p. 7   In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI. 

Thomason, W.E., K.W. Freeman, G.V. Johnson, R.W. Mullen, K.J. Wynn, J.B. Solie, M.L. Stone, and W.R. Raun.  2000.  Production System Techniques for Increasing Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Winter Wheat.  p. 290.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Mullen, R.W., G. V. Johnson, K.W. Freeman, K.J. Wynn, W.E. Thomason, and W.R. Raun.  2000.  Nitrogen Loss from Urea Fertilizer Applications in Hot, Dry Soils.  p. 290.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Cossey, D.A., R.W. Mullen, W.E. Thomason, G.V. Johnson, R.L. Westerman, and W.R. Raun.  2000.  Winter Wheat Yield Response to Knifed and Broadcast UAN.  p. 291.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Johnson, G.V., W.R. Raun, and R.W. Mullen.  2000.  Nitrogen Use Efficiency as Influenced by Crop Response Index.  p. 291.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Mosali, J., W.E. Thomason, R.W. Mullen, G.V. Johnson, M.L. Stone, J.B. Solie, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Applications of in-season reflectance for predicting yield potential in bermudagrass.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Freeman, K.W., W.E. Thomason, G.V. Johnson, R.W. Mullen, K.D. Sayre, J.B. Solie, I. Ortiz-Monasterio, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Late-season prediction of wheat grain yield and protein in Oklahoma and Mexico.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Mullen, R.W., W.E. Thomason, G.V. Johnson, K.W. Freeman, M.L. Stone, J.B. Solie, and W.R. Raun.  2001. Use of an in-season response index to predict potential yield increases from applied nitrogen.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Raun, W.R., W.E. Thomason, G.V. Johnson, A.R. Klatt, K.W. Freeman, J.B. Solie, R.W. Mullen, and M.L. Stone.  2001.  Application of a nitrogen fertilization optimization algorithm for winter and spring wheat.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Thomason, W.E., R.W. Mullen, R.K. Teal, G.V. Johnson, C.M. Taliaferro, K.W. Freeman, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Switchgrass nutrient composition and carbon sequestration as affected by nitrogen rate.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Teal, R.K., W.E. Thomason, R.W. Mullen, G.V. Johnson, J.B. Solie, K.J. Wynn, K.W. Freeman, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Effect of tillage, and method of anhydrous ammonia application on nitrogen use efficiency in wheat.  In Agronomy Abstracts.  ASA, Madison, WI.

Sayre, K.D., K.W. Freeman, M.P. Reynolds, A.R. Klatt, W.E. Thomason, M. Van Ginkel, R.W. Mullen, and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Prediction of spring and winter wheat grain yields using indirect measures.

PROCEEDINGS

Mullen, R.W., G.V. Johnson, J.F. Stritzke, J.L. Caddel, S.B. Phillips, and W.R. Raun.  2000.  Alfalfa Yield Response to Method and Rate of Applied Phosphorus.  p.182-187.  In 2000 Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference Proceedings, Denver, CO.

Mullen, R.W. and W.R. Raun.  2001.  Carbon Sequestration.  Carbon Storage in Oklahoma Soils Proceedings.  Redlands Community College, October 30-31.

Mullen, R.W., W.R. Raun, G.V. Johnson, and K.W. Freeman.  2002.  Use of an in-season response index to predict potential yield increases from applied nitrogen.  Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference Proceedings. 

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Work with International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) based in El Batan, Mexico.  Research targeted at using red, green, and near-infrared spectral bands for determination of high yielding varieties in breadwheats, durum wheats, and triticale.

EXTENSION EXPERIENCE

Master Gardner Program for Comanche County, Oklahoma.  Instructed master gardener students on soil science and nutrient managment.

TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE

Software/analyses experience with Word, Excel, Powerpoint, SAS, Surfer, Netscape Composer, Charisma, HTML, Microsoft FrontPage, and Toolbook.

Analytical experience with Inductively Coupled Argon Plasma, Atomic Absorption, UV/VIS spectrophotometers, and dry combustion for nutrient determination of soil, grain, and forage samples.

Analytical experience with automated flow injection analysis system (LACHAT) for soil nutrient status.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Instructed introductory soil lab fall of 2001 and spring of 2002..

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

American Society of Agronomy
Soil Science Society of America
Sigma Xi Scientific Society

AWARDS

Outstanding Ag Senior, Department of Agriculture, Cameron University
Billy Tucker Outstanding Soil Fertility/Chemistry Student Scholarship, Oklahoma State University
Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference Student Travel Award, Oklahoma State University
Outstanding MS Student, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University