Welcome to the McElrone USDA-ARS Plant Physiology Lab

Much of the western US suffers from water scarcity, where demand for water exceeds its supply. Changing climatic conditions and ever-increasing  municipal water demand will continue to exacerbate this situation. Improved water use efficiency is needed in all sectors. Research in the McElrone lab aims to develop sustainable water-use strategies for agricultural ecosystems through improved understanding of drought resistance, deficit irrigation strategies, and water use quantification.