Dr. Ronald L. Ritter

Professor, Extension Coordinator for PSLA

Email: rlritter@umd.edu
Office: 1118 H. J. Patterson Hall
Phone: 301.405.1329
Fax: 301.314.9041
Web Site: weeds.umd.edu
Dr. Ronald L. Ritter

Education and Experience:

  • B. S. in Plant Science from the University of Delaware, Newark, DE, 1975.
  • M. S. in Crop Science from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 1977.
  • Ph.D. in Crop Science from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 1979.

Area of Specialization:

Research (35%) and Extension (65%) responsibilities include the management of weeds in agronomic crops. This includes corn, soybeans, small grains, forages, pasture, tobacco and non-cropland.

Current Research Projects:

See the 'Maryland Weed Science' website for Dr. Ritter's annual report titled, "Results of Weed Control Research."

  • Developing weed management programs for various agronomic crops
  • Screening of candidate herbicides for use in Maryland agriculture
  • Developing lower active ingredient levels for herbicides in the environment
  • Examining the utility of herbicide-resistant crops
  • Control of problem weeds, particularly herbicide-resistant species and newly introduced invasive species

 

Extension and Education Projects:

  • Writing educational materials on weed management
  • Arranging and speaking at educational meetings
  • Trouble-shooting through on-site visits, phone calls, email and computerized images
  • Serve as technical advisor to several county, state, and University organizations
  • Perform numerous demonstration trials at University farms located throughout the state and at the county level with agricultural county extension educators
  • Develop field tours, field days and educational workshop programs on weed control to meet current and future needs of farmers, Extension agents and other agribusiness personnel involved in Maryland agriculture
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Publications:

Refereed:

  • Ritter, R. L. and H. Menbere. 2001. Weed Management Systems Utilizing Glufosinate Resistant Corn (Zea mays) and Soybean (Glycine max). Weed Tech. 15:89-94.
  • Ritter, R. L. and H. Menbere. 2001. Preemergence and Postemergence Control of Triazine-Resistant Common Lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) in No-till Corn (Zea mays). Weed Tech. 15:879-884.
  • Ritter, R. L. and H. Menbere. 2002. Preemergence Control of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) in Wheat (Triticum aestivum). Weed Tech. 16:55-59.
  • Ritter, R. L., H. Menbere and B. Momen. 2005. Tolerance of Maryland-Type Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) to Sulfentrazone. Weed Tech. 19:885-890.
  • King, S. R., R. L. Ritter, E. S. Hagood, and H. Menbere. 2007. Control of ALS- Resistant Shattercane (Sorghum bicolor) in Field Corn (Zea mays) with KIH-485. Weed Tech. - accepted and in press.

Proceedings:

  • Menbere, H. and R. L. Ritter. 2006. Italian Ryegrass Control in Wheat. NEWSS 60:84.
  • Menbere, H. and R. L. Ritter. 2006. Italian Ryegrass Control in Wheat. WSSA Abs. No. 199.
  • Ritter, R. L. and H. Menbere. 2006. New Management Tools for Control of Triazine-Resistant Weeds in No-till Corn. NEWSS 60:83.
  • Ritter, R. L., H. Menbere, and P. J. Porpiglia. 2006. Field Investigations with KIH-485 in Maryland. WSSA Abs. No. 173.
  • Menbere, H. and R. L. Ritter. 2007. What's New in Postemergence Weed Control in Corn. NEWSS 61.
  • Ritter, R. L., H. Menbere and P. J. Porpiglia. 2007. Field Investigations of KIH- 485 in Maryland. NEWSS 61.
  • Menbere, H. and R. L. Ritter. 2008. New Postemergence Weed Control Options For Use in Corn. NEWSS 62:78.
  • Menbere, H. and R. L. Ritter. 2008. New Postemergence Weed Control Options in Corn. WSSA Abs.
  • Ritter, R. L. and H. Menbere. 2008. Italian Ryegrass Control in Wheat. WSSA Abs.
  • Ritter, R. L. and H. Menbere. 2008. Italian Ryegrass Control in Wheat. NEWSS 62:77

Extension:

  • Ritter, R.L., E.S. Hagood, C.W. Swann, H.P. Wilson, W.S. Curran, B.A. Majek, M. VanGessel, and R.S. Chandran. 2006-2007. Weed Control in Field Crops, pp. 2-1 to 2-202, in Extension Bulletin 237, 332 pp. (See Dr. Ritter's web site, 'Maryland Weed Science,' for a link to this publication.)
  • Vough, L. R. and R. L. Ritter. 2006. Guidelines for Seeding New Pastures and Renovating Old Pastures. I. Site Selection. MCE, MDA and NRCS Fact Sheet.
  • Vough, L. R. and R. L. Ritter. 2006. Guidelines for Seeding New Pastures and Renovating Old Pastures. II. Field Preparation. MCE, MDA and NRCS Fact Sheet.

Awards and Honors:

  • Agway Award sponsored by the Northeastern Branch of the American Society of Agronomy and the Soil Science Society of America
  • Maryland Association of County Agricultural Agents Honorary County Agent of Maryland Award
  • Northeastern Branch of the American Society of Agronomy Extension-Industry Award in Agronomy
  • Northeastern Weed Science Society Innovator of the Year Award
  • Northeastern Weed Science Society Outstanding Applied Research Award for Food and Feed Crops
  • Northeastern Weed Science Society Distinguished Member Award

Membership

  • American Society of Agronomy
  • Council for Agriculture and Science Technology
  • Epsilon Sigma Phi
  • Gamma Sigma Delta
  • International Weed Science Society
  • Mid-Atlantic Certified Crop Advisory Board
  • Northeastern Branch of the American Society of Agronomy
  • Northeastern Weed Science Society (Past President)
  • Weed Science Society of America
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