Kansas State University, with an enrollment of 21,000, was founded in 1863 and is the first land-grant university created under the Morrill Act. The university is:

• Located in the Flint Hills, two hours west of Overland Park, in Manhattan, Kansas.

• Home to the National Bio and Agro-Defense Center.

• Involved in developing, implementing, and managing research projects, disease response planning, and training programs for multiple state and federal agencies, ranging from the U.S. Departments of Defense, Agriculture, and Homeland Security, to the intelligence community, to help ensure our agriculture and our food system are safe.

• K-State’s College of Agriculture, rated third best by US News and World Reports, spans 7 departments including Horticulture and Natural Resources.

• Involved in cutting edge international research on prairie ecosystems in the nearby Konza prairie in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy.

Kansas State University Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources

The Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources at Kansas State University is dedicated to improving lives through dynamic, diverse education, research and extension programs.

Teaching Areas of Focus:

  • Greenhouse Management
  • Floral Design
  • Food Crop Production
  • Landscape Management and Design
  • Turfgrass Management

Research Areas of Focus:

  • Sustainable production of horticultural food and specialty crops
  • Identification of turf and ornamental landscape plants and management practices that conserve water and reduce other resource inputs
  • Improving plant resistance to environmental stresses
  • Augmentation of health-promoting phytochemicals in food crops
  • Enhancing post-harvest handling and microbial safety of fresh produce

Extension Areas of Focus:

  • Enhance vibrant local economies by supporting and developing local horticulture businesses through relevant local training, cutting-edge research, and timely resources.
  • Build healthy food systems for families, neighborhoods, and communities by increasing gardening literacy through quality education and outreach.
  • Bolster livable communities by supporting resilient landscaping practices, proper plant selection, water conservation, water quality, and green waste reduction.
  • Develop healthy environments by supporting native pollinator habitats, soil health, and water health, and manage invasive species.
  • Improve quality of life with dynamic volunteer programs.

Follow us now on social media