Agriculture engineer receives Clemson University's top agriculture honor

Published: May 12, 2011

CLEMSON — Agricultural engineer Ahmad Khalilian has received Clemson University's highest agricultural honor: the Godley-Snell Award for Excellence in Agricultural Research. The 2011 recipient is internationally recognized for his work in precision agriculture and irrigation and a leader in zone management for nematodes in row crops.

Khalilian, professor in the biosystems engineering department, is the 25th faculty member recognized for agricultural research excellence and for making outstanding contributions to improving the lives of South Carolinians. During his 26 years at the Clemson University Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, Khalilian has focused on areas of vital importance to the state, the nation and the world as the need grows for sustainable, effective and profitable food and fiber production.

“Dr. Khalilian’s work is making South Carolina more competitive in a global economy,” said plant pathologist John Mueller, director of the Edisto center. “He created patentable tools and techniques to target pesticides and nutrients, saving millions of dollars for cotton and soybean growers.”

A pioneer in developing a precision agriculture program for Clemson, Khalilian developed the concept of variable rate nematicide application based on soil type. Using global positioning systems (GPS) linked to soil electrical conductivity meters,  this technology enables farmers to apply nematicides only where needed. The destructive microscopic worms cause more than $300 million in crop losses a year to cotton growers.

Khalilian knew that growers tended to have more nematode problems in sandy soils, so he also developed a variable-rate applicator to match nematicide rates to the damage potential, according to Edisto colleague entomologist Jay Chapin, who said that method now is used across the cotton belt states.

Khalilian’s career at Clemson got off to a modest start, Chapin recalled.

“When Dr. Khalilian arrived at Blackville in 1985, I wondered how he could possibly function as a research agricultural engineer with the assignment to work primarily on alfalfa production. He had no financial support, no equipment, no lab, no engineering colleagues to work with and no alfalfa,” Chapin said.

“His startup package consisted of an office and a section of a 1930s-era barn with no door and a dirt floor. He started his engineering lab "hands-on" by pouring some concrete, building a door and borrowing a computer. From that start he built a reputation as arguably the preeminent agricultural engineer in the Southeast.”

Khalilian's academic contributions have been notable. His research findings have been published in 37 peer-reviewed journal articles, nine abstracts, 55 conference proceedings and 40 technical papers in addition to numerous invited lectures and client presentations.

More importantly, his research emphasis has been on issues directly applicable to production agriculture, according to Chapin.

Khalilian’s major innovations include the “shotgun shaker” for citrus harvest; the Clemson interseeder; on-the-go draft adjustment for tillage equipment; “gear-up and throttle down” energy conservation guidelines; a hardpan detection system for energy savings; variable-rate irrigation systems; zone management of fertility and other inputs based on soil electrical conductivity; sensors for stink bug detection; sensor-based nitrogen application; and site-specific, variable-rate application of herbicides and growth regulators for cotton.

Khalilian's research grant support exceeds $7 million, including an award of $1.1 million in 2010.

Khalilian has been the major professor for 13 graduate students and is on the advisory committee of four other graduate students. Former students hold positions in industry and on university faculties in the United States, Turkey, India, Iran, Taiwan and Saudi Arabia.

Khalilian received a doctorate from Oklahoma State University, a master's degree from the University of California in Davis and his bachelor's degree from the University of Tehran.

“Dr. Khalilian has done a great deal to enhance public trust in Clemson University and science-based solutions through his exceptional commitment to outreach programs,” said George Askew, director of the Clemson University Experiment Station, which sponsors the Godley-Snell Award. “He has never been too busy to make time to speak to agricultural groups, ranging from statewide grower meetings to an individual farmer with a specific question about tillage, nematode control, horsepower requirements, equipment performance, irrigation systems or other ag-engineering concerns. Dr. Khalilian is a worthy recipient of this honor.”

The Godley-Snell Award is named in honor of the late W. Cecil Godley, former director of the South Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station, and Absalom W. Snell, former associate director. It is the largest annual agricultural research award given at the university and is allocated from earnings of a fund that was established in 1986 upon Godley’s retirement and increased in 1988 when Snell retired. The purpose of the fund is to stimulate excellence in agricultural research by making a personal award to faculty members involved in research through the Clemson Experiment Station.

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