Sarah White

Professor, Water Quality and Treatment; and Nursery Extension Specialist
Horticulture Program Team, Water Resources Program Team, Plant and Environmental Sciences Department

Office: 167 P&A
Phone: 864-656-7433

Email: swhite4@clemson.edu
Vita: Download CV

Educational Background

PhD Environmental Toxicology
Clemson University 2007

MS Horticultural Science
Virginia Tech 2003

BS Horticulture
Clemson University 2000

Profile

White and her laboratory work to evaluate the use of plant and bio-based treatment technologies to manage nutrient pesticide, and plant pests carried in irrigation water. She is particularly interested in helping growers clean water so that it can be reused on-farm. She recently led (2014-2019) a national team of researchers from 10 universities that received $8.2 million in funding from USDA-Specialty Crops Research Initiative to evaluate Clean WateR3- Reduce, Remediate, Recycle: Informed Decision-Making to Facilitate Use of Alternative Water Resources and Promote Sustainable Specialty Crop Production. White is Project Director for this grant.

Service: Consulting Editor - Land-Grant Press by Clemson Extension and Nursery crops for the journal HortTechnology. Reviewer - multiple journals. Member - CU Vice President for Research Faculty Advisory Board.

Professional Organizations: International Society for Horticultural Science, American Water Resources Association, American Ecological Engineering Society, Society of Wetland Scientists, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, American Society for Horticultural Science, and Southern Region American Society for Horticultural Science.

Research Interests

White manages and conducts research projects and conveys information related to water management, water quality (chemical and biotic parameters), ecologically-based treatment technologies, and integrated pest management to green industry stakeholders. Investigates the applications of vegetation-based technologies (constructed wetlands, floating treatment wetlands, and vegetated buffers) for cleansing agrichemicals from encouraging reuse of production runoff.

White also advises graduate students, supervises undergraduate students, and serves as the Horticulture Club faculty advisor.

Extension and Outreach

White is working to develop information resources for growers to help them make informed decisions related to water management and treatment. Since 2014 White's lab has published 50 trade articles, 18 extension documents, 11 conference proceedings, and 34 journal articles; and 8 decision support tools.

White co-founded and is a consulting editor for Land-Grant Press, a peer-reviewed outlet for stakeholder-focused information.

Publications

White, SA. 2021. Plant nutrient uptake in full-scale floating treatment wetlands in a Florida stormwater pond: 2016-2020. Water. 13:569. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13040569

White, SA, WHJ Strosnider, Chase, MEM, MA Schlautman. 2021. Removal and reuse of phosphorus from plant nursery irrigation return water with reclaimed iron oxides. Ecological Engineering. 160:106153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2021.106153

Garcia Chance, LM, JP Albano, CM Lee, AM Rovder, SA White. 2020. Alkalinity of irrigation return water influences nutrient removal efficacy of floating treatment wetland systems. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 38(4):128-142. https://doi.org/10.24266/0738-2898-38.4.128

Garcia Chance, LM, JC Majsztrik, WC Bridges, SA Willis, JP Albano, SA White. 2020. Comparative nutrient remediation by monoculture and mixed species plantings within floating treatment wetlands. Environmental Science & Technology. 54(14): 8710-8718. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c00198

Warner, LA, AJ Lamm, SA White, PR Fisher, PN Beattie. 2020. A new perspective on adoption: Delivering water conservation extension programming to nursery and greenhouse growers. Journal of Agricultural Education. 60(1):172–189. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2020.01172

Majsztrik, JC, B Behe, CR Hall, DL Ingram, AJ Lamm, LA Warner, SA White. 2019. Social and Economic Aspects of Water Use in Specialty Crop Production in the USA: A Review. Water. 11: 2337. Doi.org/10.3390/w11112337.

White, SA, JS Owen, Jr., JC Majsztrik. LR Oki, PR Fisher, CR Hall, JD Lea-Cox, RT Fernandez. 2019. Greenhouse and Nursery Water Management Characterization and Research Priorities in the USA. Water. 11:2338. Doi.org/10.3390/w11112338.

Lamm, AJ, LA Warner, A Tidwell, K Lamm, PR Fisher, SA White. 2019. Testing an adoption decision-making model of nursery and greenhouse growers’ water reuse in the united states. Water. 11:2470. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11122470 (Editor’s Choice Article).

Garcia Chance, LM, JP Albano, CM Lee, SM Wolfe, SA White. 2019. Runoff pH influences nutrient removal efficacy of floating treatment wetland systems. HortTechnology. 29(6):756-768. doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04299-19.

Huang, P, AJ Lamm, LA Warner, SA White, P Fisher. 2019. Exploring nursery growers’ relationships with water to inform water conservation education. Journal of Human Science and Extension. 7(3):186-205.

White, SA. 2019. Clean WateR3: Reduce Remediate Recycle – Using transdisciplinary science to help specialty crop producers conserve water and resources. HortTechnology. 29(6):684-686. doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04295-19.

Lamm, AJ, LA Warner, P Beattie, A Tidwell, PR Fisher, SA White. 2019. Identifying opportunities to promote water treatment practices among nursery and greenhouse growers. HortTechnology. 29(6): 687-692. doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04245-18.

Shreckhise, JH, JS Owen Jr, MJ Eick, AX Niemiera, JE Altland, SA White. 2019. Dolomite and micronutrient fertilizer effect on phosphorus fate in pine bark II: Fallow column study. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 83(5):1410-1420. Doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2018.12.0493

Ridge, GR, NL Bell, AJ Gitto, SN Jeffers, SA White. 2019. Phytophthora species associated with plants in constructed wetlands and vegetated channels at a commercial plant nursery. HortTechnology. 29(6):736-744. doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04300-19.

Garcia Chance, LM, SC Van Brundt, JC Majsztrik, SA White. 2019. Short- and long-term dynamics of nutrient removal in floating treatment wetlands. Water Research. 159(1):153-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.05.012

Spangler, JT, DJ Sample, LJ Fox, JS Owen, Jr., SA White. 2019. Floating treatment wetland aided nutrient removal from agricultural runoff using two wetland species. Ecological Engineering. 127:468-479. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.12.017

Spangler, JT, DJ Sample, LJ Fox, JS Owen, Jr., SA White. 2019. Data on floating treatment wetland aided nutrient removal from agricultural runoff using two wetland species. Data in Brief. 22:756-761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dib.2018.12.037

Spangler, JT, DJ Sample, LJ Fox, JP Albano, SA White. 2019. Assessing nitrogen and phosphorus removal potential of five plant species in floating treatment wetlands receiving simulated nursery runoff. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 18pp. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-3964-0

Huang, P, AJ Lamm, LA Warner, SA White, P Fisher. 2019 (October publication date). Exploring nursery growers’ relationships with water to inform water conservation education. Journal of Human Science and Extension.

Garcia Chance, LM and SA White. 2018. Aeration and Plant Coverage Influence Floating Treatment Wetland Remediation Efficacy. Ecological Engineering. 122:62-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2018.07.011

Warner, LA, AJ Lamm, P Beattie, SA White, P Fisher. 2018. Identifying opportunities to promote water conservation practices among nursery and greenhouse growers. HortScience. 53(7):958-962. https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTSCI12906-18

Pitton, BJL, CR Hall, DL Haver, SA White, LR Oki. 2018. A cost analysis of using recycled irrigation water in container nursery production: A Southern California nursery case study. Irrigation Science. 36(4-5):217-226. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-018-0578-8

White, SA. 2018. Design and season influence nitrogen dynamics in two surface flow constructed wetlands treating nursery irrigation runoff. Water. 10(1) article #8, 16pp. DOI:10.3390/w10010008

Chappell, MR, SA White, AF Fulcher, AV LeBude, GW Knox, J-JB Dubois. 2017. Assessing Impact of Coordinated Comprehensive Regional Extension Publications: A Case Study of the Southern Nursery IPM Working Group. HortTechnology, 27:765-771. DOI: 10.21273/HORTTECH03753-17

Fulcher, A., AV LeBude, SA White, MR Chappell, SC Marble, J-H Chong, W Dunwell, S Frank, F Hale, J Neal, A Windham, W Klingeman, G Knox, J Derr, J Williams-Woodward, SK Braman, A Dale, F Baysal-Gurel, J Del Castillo-Munera, F Peduto Hand, C Swett, N Gauthier, and E. Vafaie. 2017. Advancing IPM Adoption and Achieving Extension Impact: A Working Group Success Story. HortTechnology, 27:759-764. DOI:10.21273/HORTTECH03755-17

Lamm, AJ, LA Warner, MR Taylor, ET Martin, SA White, P Fisher. 2017. Diffusing water conservation and treatment technologies to nursery and greenhouse growers. Journal of International Agricultural and Extension Education. 24110:105-119. DOI 10.5191/jiaee.2017.24110

Majsztrik, JC, RT Fernandez, PR Fisher, DR Hitchcock, J Lea-Cox, JS Owen, Jr., LR Oki, SA White. 2017. Water use and treatment in containerized specialty crop production: A review. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 228:151 27pp.

Lamm, AJ, LA Warner, ET Martin, SA White, P Fisher. 2017. Enhancing Extension Programs by Discussing Water Conservation Technology Adoption with Growers. Journal of Agricultural Education. 58(1):251-266.

Fulcher, A, AV LeBude, JS Owen, SA White, AR Beeson. 2016. The Next Ten Years: Strategic Vision of Water Resources for Nursery Producers. HortTechnology, 26(2):121-132.

Fulcher, A., N. Ward Gauthier, W. Klingeman, F.A. Hale, S.A. White. 2015. Blueberry culture and pest, disease, and abiotic disorder management during nursery production in the southeastern U.S.: A Review and Research Update. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 33(1):33–47.

Klingeman, WE, SA White, AV LeBude, A Fulcher, NW Gauthier, F Hale. 2014. A Review of Arthropod Pests, Plant Diseases and Abiotic Disorders and their Management on Viburnum Species in the Southeastern U.S. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 32(2):84-102.

White, SA, WE Klingeman, Eds. 2014. IPM for Shrubs in Southeastern US Nursery Production. Clemson, SC: Southern Nursery IPM Working Group. Print ISBN: 978-0-9854998-2-2.

Park, DM, SA White, N Menchyk. 2014. Assessing Irrigation Water Quality for pH, Salts, & Alkalinity. Journal of Extension. 52(6): 6TOT8.

Nyberg, ET, SA White, SN Jeffers, WC Bridges. 2014. Removal of Zoospores of Phytophthora nicotianae from Irrigation Runoff using Slow Filtration Systems: Quantifying Physical and Biological Components. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution. 225:1999 11pp

Song, JY, J Naylor-Adelberg, SA White, DA Mann, J Adelberg. 2014. Establishing Clonal Micropropagation of Veratrum californicum- a Native Medicinal Species. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology – Plant. 50:337–344. DOI 10.1007/s11627-014-9603-7.

Ridge, GA, SN Jeffers, WC Bridges, Jr., SA White. 2014. In situ production of zoospores by five species of Phytophthora in aqueous environments for use as inocula. Plant Disease. 98(4): 501-508. doi.org/10.1094/PDIS-06-13-0591-RE.

White, SA and MM Cousins. 2013. Floating treatment wetland aided remediation of nitrogen and phosphorus from simulated stormwater runoff. Ecological Engineering, 61:207-215.

White, SA. 2013. Wetland Technologies for Nursery and Greenhouse Compliance with Nutrient Regulations. HortScience, 48(9): 1103-1108.

White, SA. 2013. Regulating Water Quality: Current Legislation, Future Impacts: Introduction to the Colloquium. HortScience, 48(9): 1095-1096.

Fulcher, AF, J-H Chong, SA White, J Neal, J Williams-Woodward, C Adkins, K Braman, M Chappell, J Derr, W Dunwell, S Frank, S Gill, F Hale, WE Klingeman, AV LeBude, K Rane, A Windham. 2013. Developing an App as an Extension Tool: A Case Study using IPMPro. HortTechnology, 23(4):402-406.

Fulcher, AF, SA White, J-H Chong, J Neal, J Williams-Woodward, C Adkins, K Braman, M Chappell, J Derr, W. Dunwell, S Frank, S Gill, F. Hale, WE Klingeman, AV LeBude, K Rane, A Windham. 2013. Testing, Promoting and Launching an App as an Extension Tool: A Case Study with IPMPro. HortTechnology, 23(4):407-410.

Sun, YP, SA White, D Mann, JA Adelberg. 2013. Photosynthetic Characteristics of Veratrum californicum in a Greenhouse Environment. Journal of Medicinally Active Plants, 1(4):134-142.

Frank, SD, WE Klingeman, SA White, and AF Fulcher. 2013. Biology, injury, and management of maple tree pests in nurseries and urban landscapes. Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 4(1):B1-B14.

Fulcher, AF, SA White, Eds. 2012. IPM for Select Deciduous Trees in Southeastern US Nursery Production. Knoxville, TN: Southern Nursery IPM Working Group. Print ISBN: 978-0-9854998-1-5.

Sun, YP, SA White, D Mann, JA Adelberg. 2012. Chilling Requirements to Break Dormancy of Veratrum californicum. HortScience, 47(12):1710-1713.

Fulcher, AF, WE.Klingeman, J-H.Chong, AV LeBude, GR Armel, MR Chappell, SD Frank, F Hale, J Neal, SA White, J Williams-Woodward, K Ivors, CR Adkins, A Senesac, and A Windham. 2012. Stakeholder vision of future direction and strategies for southeastern U.S. nursery pest research and Extension programming. Journal of Integrated Pest Management. 3(2):D1-D8(8).

White, SA, MD Taylor, DZ Damrel. 2012. Floral Colonization of a Free Water Surface Constructed Wetland System in Grady County, Georgia. Castanea. 77(2): 13-16. DOI 10.2179/11-045.

LeBude, AV, SA White, AF Fulcher, S Frank, J-H Chong, MR Chappell, A Windham, K Braman, WE Klingeman III, K Ivors, F Hale, W Dunwell, J Williams-Woodward, C Adkins, J Neal. 2012. Assessing the Integrated Pest Management Practices of Southeastern U.S. Nursery Operations. Pest Management Science. 68: 1278–1288. DOI 10.1002/ps.3295.

Glenn, JB, SA White, SJ Klaine. 2012. Interactions Of Gold Nanoparticles With Freshwater Aquatic Macrophytes Are Size And Species Dependent. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 31(1):194-201.

White, SA, MD Taylor, JP Albano, T Whitwell, SJ Klaine. 2011. Phosphorus retention in lab and field-scale subsurface-flow wetlands treating plant nursery runoff. Ecological Engineering. 37:1968-1976.

White, SA, MD Taylor, SL Chandler, SJ Klaine, T Whitwell. 2010. Remediation of nitrogen and phosphorus from nursery runoff during the spring via free water surface constructed wetlands. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 28(4):209-217.

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