Jack Rechcigl

Dr. Jack E. Rechcigl (born February 27, 1960 in Washington, DC) is a soil scientist and agronomist and authority of environmental aspects of
agriculture and the utilization of biodegradable waste and industrial waste for agricultural uses. He is the youngest
director of a research and education center in the Florida system and the recently built Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.

Education and professorship

He is associated with the University of Florida in Gainesville,
where he holds the position of Professor in the Soil and Water Science
Department and Director of the University of Florida's Regional Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, located in Balm, Florida, near Wimauma. Prior
to that, Dr. Rechcigl had served as Associate Director and then Director of the
Bradenton and Dover, FL facilities, which are part of the
University Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
(UF/IFAS). Before moving to the Bradenton facility in February 2000, Dr.
Rechcigl was stationed, as a researcher, at the UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research and Education Center at Ona for 15 years.

At the Ona center, he conducted research on the fertilizer requirements of pasture
grasses and the effects of fertilizer on surface and ground
water quality. He also carries out significant research on the
beneficial uses of biodegradable wastes and industrial waste
by-products as fertilizers for agricultural crops.

Rechcigl received his bachelor's degree in plant and soil science from the University of Delaware in 1982. He completed his master's and doctoral degrees in soil, crops and environmental sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1983 and 1986, respectively.

He joined the faculty of the University of Florida in 1986 as
Assistant Professor, in 1991 was promoted to Associate Professor, and
in 1996 attained Full Professorship. In 1999, he was named a
University of Florida Research Foundation Professor.

He is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, center director in the entire University of Florida system. Soon after his appointment he learned that the UF was planning to abolish the Bradenton Center because of its poor physical condition and old age. Against all odds, with the support of the growers and the State legislature, Rechcigl succeeded in building a brand new modern center in Balm, which is a state-of-the-art and a showplace among all UF/ IFAS centers. Apart from its cutting-edge research in biotechnology, the Center has become an important resource for the growers in solving their problems. In 2006, the Center organized Florida Ag Expo, first of its kind, consisting of a two-day seminar and trade show, aimed at the state's vegetable and strawberry producers. Because of its popularity and success, the University of Florida has made it an annual event.

Research

Rechcigl is recognized internationally for his research on the beneficial uses of industrial waste and by-products as fertilizers for agricultural crops.

The primary focus of Rechcigl's research has been on evaluation of the fertilizer requirements for pasture grasses and legumes and determination of the effects of the fertilizer amendments on surface and groundwater quality. His studies have conclusively shown that there is no economic advantage from applying phosphorus and potassium fertilizer to Bahia grass. As a result of his work, fertilizer recommendations have been revised, eliminating the need for phosphorus and potassium fertilization on major pasture grasses grown in Florida. These revisions have saved Florida cattle producers millions of dollars in fertilizer costs. He is currently extending his studies to other forage grasses.

Rechcigl has also successfully assessed the potential uses of various organic biodegradable wastes and industrial wastes and by-products as fertilizers. Through the support of a million-dollar grant, he has evaluated the potential of using phosphogypsum (a waste product of phosphate mining) as a source of nutrients for crops. These results have generated tremendous interest both in the agricultural and the environmental regulatory community, as well as in international agricultural circles, which has led to invitations for Rechcigl to speak about his research findings in a number of countries. Several of these countries are now using phosphogypsum as a fertilizer where, in the past, it was dumped in the ocean as a waste. He has also been invited to give keynote addresses at several prestigious symposia on the utilization of inorganic and organic wastes in agriculture. Rechcigl's research has generated more than $3 million in grants.

Authorship

Rechcigl has authored over 300 publications, including
contributions to books, monographs, and articles in periodicals in the
fields of soil fertility, environmental
quality, and water pollution. His research has been supported by
research grants totaling over $5 million from
both private sources and government agencies. Rechcigl has been a
frequent speaker at national and international workshops and
conferences and has consulted in various countries, including
Canada, Brazil, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Philippines, France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia and has active collaboration with Charles University in Prague, Czech University of Agriculture Prague, Technical University of Ostrava and Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. He also serves on a number of national and international boards, including theCukurova University' Mediterranean International Center for Soils and Environment Research in Turkey.

He is Editor-in-Chief of the "Agriculture and Environment Book
Series." Until recently he was Associate Editor of the Soil and Crop Science Society of FL Proceedings and Associate Editor of the Journal of Environmental Quality.

Recent publications

*Insect Pest Management: Techniques for Environmental Protection (Lewis Publishers, 2000)
*Biological and Biotechnological Control of Insect Pests (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1998)
*Environmentally Safe Approaches to Crop Disease Control (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1997)
*Soil Amendments and Environmental Quality (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1995)
*Soil Amendments: Impacts on Biotic Systems (Lewis Publishers and CRC Press, 1995)
*Use of By-Products and Wastes in Agriculture (American Chemical Society, 1997).

Recognition

Rechcigl is a member of the American Chemical Society, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy,International Soil Science Society, Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences, various trade organizations, and the honorary societies of Sigma Xi,Gamma Sigma Delta,Phi Sigma Biological Honor Society, and Gamma Beta Phi. He is also an Eagle Scout.

Rechcigl has been the recipient of numerous awards, including theSigma Xi Research Award, University of the Philippines Research Award, University of Florida Research Honor Award, University of Florida Research Achievement Award, and University of Delaware presidential Citation for Outstanding Achievement Award. He was elected a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America and Fellow of the Czechoslovak Society of Arts and Sciences. He also holds an Honorary Professorship from the Czech University of Agriculture Prague.

Rechcigl is married to Nancy Rechcigl and has three children: Gregory, Kevin and Lindsey.

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