Emmanuel Torres Quezada

Bio

Dr. Torres earned his Ph.D. (2017) and M.S. (2011) in Horticultural Sciences from the University of Florida, and a B.S. (2010) in Agronomic Engineering from Pedro Henríquez Ureña University in the Dominican Republic. Prior to joining NC State, he served as an Assistant Professor at Virginia Tech’s Eastern Shore AREC, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Florida, a faculty member at Zamorano University in Honduras, and a PI of multiple research grants in the Dominican Republic.

Dr. Torres has secured over $1 million in research funding from agencies such as USDA-NIFA, the NC Agricultural Foundation, and international ministries. He has published more than 15 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributed to multiple book chapters, and led international collaborations on climate-smart technologies, pest management, and protected cultivation systems.

He has received several honors, including multiple Outstanding Extension Communication Awards from the Southern Region American Society of Horticultural Sciences (2023–2025) and recognition as one of Vegetable Growers News’ “40 under 40” in 2024. His international and interdisciplinary experience continues to shape his work at the intersection of science, education, and applied innovation in horticultural systems.

Precision Horticulture Laboratory

Vision

To lead innovation in data-driven horticulture through research, teaching, and farmer-centered extension. The lab integrates precision agriculture tools, prototyping, and sustainable practices to advance automation, productivity, and resilience in vegetable systems.

Objectives

Research-Driven with an Educational Mission

To advance the science and application of precision horticulture by integrating high-resolution data, smart technologies, and machinery prototyping; and to prepare students and producers to address the challenges of modern horticulture through hands-on teaching, collaborative extension, and field-validated research.

Outreach-Centered

To establish the Precision Horticulture Lab as a leading hub that integrates research, teaching, and extension to generate practical, science-based solutions; train future professionals; and collaborate with growers and stakeholders to promote sustainable, resilient, and equitable horticultural systems.

Research

Our research centers on advancing vegetable production through innovative, data-driven solutions. Our work emphasizes the reduction of manual labor by developing and prototyping mechanized tools tailored to key horticultural tasks. We integrate photogrammetry and remote sensing technologies to improve crop monitoring and decision-making. A significant portion of our research also targets the optimization of water and nutrient management using precision agriculture tools, with the goal of enhancing yield, improving crop quality, and promoting sustainability across diverse vegetable production systems.

Extension

Our extension efforts are grounded in the belief that effective outreach must lead to meaningful, measurable changes in agricultural practices. Our philosophy goes beyond simply sharing research findings, it is about empowering growers through targeted, results-driven engagement. The program follows the SMART Objectives framework: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound.

The process begins by actively surveying farmers to identify pressing needs and barriers to adoption. Based on this input, the lab sets clear and practical goals designed to address real-world challenges. Extension activities are then implemented through hands-on demonstrations, tailored recommendations, and timely communication using both in-person and digital platforms. The lab integrates precision agriculture tools and technologies into extension programming to support crop surveying, improved water and nutrient management, mechanization, and crop quality.

Crucially, the team follows up with farmers to assess behavioral change and on-farm impact, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement. This approach ensures that extension from the Precision Horticulture Lab is not only informative but also transformative, supporting sustainable, efficient, and resilient vegetable production systems.

Teaching

Our teaching efforts are designed to equip the next generation of horticultural professionals with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience needed to thrive in modern vegetable production systems. Dr. Torres teaches the hybrid course HS431 – Vegetable Production every fall semester, which provides students with a comprehensive understanding of vegetable crop history, plant physiology, cultural practices, and water and nutrient management across a wide range of vegetable crops, including tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cucurbits, leafy greens, and brassicas.

The course emphasizes the integration of traditional knowledge with modern innovations, including comparisons between open-field and protected cultivation systems (greenhouses and tunnels), and the application of precision agriculture technologies for improved crop performance and sustainability. A strong focus is placed on hands-on learning and field-based experiences, ensuring that students are not only grounded in theory but also develop the practical competencies necessary for real-world problem-solving in vegetable systems. Through this approach, the teaching program fosters critical thinking, technical proficiency, and a deep appreciation for the complexity and potential of horticultural production.

Publications.

Referee pubs with links:

Paranhos, J., W. Foshee, T. Coolong, E.A. Torres-Quezada, A.L.B. Ribeiro da Silva. 2025. Impacts of nitrogen fertilizer application timing and rate on sweet corn production under subtropical environmental conditions. Nitrogen 6, 20. https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3129/6/2/20

Torres-Quezada, E.A., F. Fuentes-Peñailillo, K. Gutter, F. Rondon, J. Mancebo Marmolejos, W. Maurer, and A. Bisino. 2025. Remote Sensing and Soil Moisture Sensors for Irrigation Management in Avocado Orchards: A Practical Approach for Water Stress Assessment in Remote Agricultural Areas. Remote Sensing 17(4):708. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17040708.

Fuentes-Peñailillo, F., R. Vega, K. Gutter, H. Castro, E.A. Torres-Quezada, and G. Carrasco. 2024. Spatializing temperature data for climate-resilient biosystems engineering through adiabatic and topographic methods. IEEE 979-8-3503-7811-5. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10766812

Torres-Quezada, E.A. and R.J. Gandini-Taveras. 2023. Plant Density Recommendations and Plant Nutrient Status for High Tunnel Tomatoes in Virginia. Horticulturae 2023, 9(10),1063; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9101063.

Torres-Quezada, E.A., L. Zotarelli, D.D. Treadwell, and B.M. Santos. 2021. Growth Habit and In-row Distance Selection for Bell Pepper Production Under Protective Structures in Florida. International Journal of Vegetable Science. 27(6):561-573.       https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19315260.2021.1888840

Torres-Quezada, E.A. J.M. Marmolejos, A.R. Lara, W. Maurer, Y. Geraldo D., M. Iris Pilar, I. Torres-Quezada, J. Ariel Caro, and L. Lopez. 2021. Early Results of Kaolin Clay Application in the Dominican Republic. EC Agriculture 7(1):1-9. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/handle/10919/107578

Torres-Quezada, E.A., J.M. Marmolejos, A.R. Lara, W. Maurer, J.A. González Cuesta, S.M. Medrano Carreño, and L. Lopez. 2021. Yeast-based Lure Type and Renewal Frequency for Trapping Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae) in the Dominican Republic. The Florida Entomologist. 104(1):1-9.  https://bioone.org/journals/florida-entomologist/volume-104/issue-1/024.104.0104/Optimizing-Torula-Bait-for-Anastrepha-suspensa-Diptera–Tephritidae-Trapping/10.1653/024.104.0104.full

Torres-Quezada, E.A., L. Zotarelli, V.M. Whitaker, R.L. Darnell, and K. Morgan. 2020. Production Techniques for Strawberry Plugs in West-Central Florida. HortTechnology 30(2):238-247. https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/30/2/article-p238.xml

Torres-Quezada, E.A., L. Zotarelli, V.M. Whitaker, R.L. Darnell, and K. Morgan. 2018. Planting Dates and Transplant Establishment Methods on Early Yield Strawberry in West-Central Florida. HortTechnology 28(5):615-623. https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/28/5/article-p615.xml

Dominguez P.A., J. J. Medina, L. Miranda, J.M. López-Aranda, M.T. Ariza, C. Soriaa, B.M Santos, E.A.Torres-Quezada and I. Hernández-Ochoa. 2016. Effect of Planting and Harvesting Dates on Strawberry Fruit Quality under High Tunnels. International Journal of Fruit Science (16):228-238. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15538362.2016.1219291

Torres-Quezada, E.A., L. Zotarelli, V.M. Whitaker, B.M. Santos, and I. Hernandez-Ochoa. 2015.  Initial Crown Diameter of Strawberry Bare-root Transplants Affects Early and Total Fruit Yield. HortTechnology 25(2):203-208. https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/25/2/article-p203.xml

Torres-Quezada, E.A., B.M. Santos, L. Zotarelli, and D.D. Treadwell. 2014. Soilless Media and Containers for Bell Pepper Production. International Journal of Vegetable Science 21(2):177-187. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19315260.2013.859204

Santos, B.M., C.D. Stanley, A.J. Whidden, V.W. Whitaker, I. Hernández-Ochoa, P. Huang, and E.A. Torres-Quezada. 2012. Improved Sustainability through Novel Water Management Strategies for Strawberry Transplant Establishment in Florida, United States. Agronomy 2(4):312-320. https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/2/4/312

 

Extension pubs with links:

E.A. Torres Quezada. 2024. Foliar Analysis for Bell Pepper Production in North Carolina: A Guide for Growers. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/foliar-analysis-for-bell-pepper-production-in-north-carolina-a-guide-for-growers

E.A. Torres Quezada and J. Zhang. 2024. Fundamentals of Precision Agriculture for Vegetable Crops. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/fundamentals-of-precision-agriculture-for-vegetable-crops

E.A. Torres Quezada. 2024. Irrigation for Vegetables: Understanding Evapotranspiration and Its Importance. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/irrigation-for-vegetables-understanding-evapotranspiration-and-its-importance

E.A. Torres Quezada. 2024. The Importance of Iron in Vegetable Crop Nutrition in North Carolina. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/the-importance-of-iron-in-vegetable-crop-nutrition-in-north-carolina

E.A. Torres Quezada. 2024. The Importance of Zinc in Vegetable Crop Nutrition in North Carolina. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/the-importance-of-zinc-in-vegetable-crop-nutrition-in-north-carolina

E.A. Torres Quezada. 2024. The Importance of Boron in Vegetable Crop Nutrition in North Carolina. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/the-importance-of-boron-in-vegetable-crop-nutrition-in-north-carolina

E.A. Torres Quezada. 2024. Plastic Mulch Selection for Tomato Production in North Carolina. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/plastic-mulch-selection-for-tomato-production-in-north-carolina

E.A. Torres Quezada. 2024. The Importance of Manganese in Vegetable Crop Nutrition in North Carolina. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/the-importance-of-manganese-in-vegetable-crop-nutrition-in-north-carolina

E.A. Torres Quezada. 2024. Basics of broccoli production. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/basics-of-broccoli-production

 E.A. Torres Quezada, and A. da Silva. 2025. Plasticulture for commercial vegetables. AG-489. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/plasticulture-for-commercial-vegetables

E.A. Torres Quezada, A. Suero, U. Deitch, and T.L. Pittman. 2023. 2022 Potato Industry Status at the Eastern Shore of Virginia. SPES-522. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/SPES/spes-522/spes-522.html#:~:text=2022%20Industry%20Status,process%20for%20farmers%20each%20season.

 E.A. Torres Quezada, and R. Arancibia. 2023. Micro Tunnels in Vegetable Crops: Beyond Season Extension. HORT-291 https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/HORT/HORT-291/HORT-291.html

 E.A. Torres Quezada, A. Suero, and J.A. Mendoza. 2023. 2023 Potato Variety Evaluation for the Eastern Shore of Virginia. SPES-521. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/SPES/spes-521/spes-521.html

 E.A. Torres Quezada. 2023. Basic melon (Cucumis melo L.) physiology and morphology. SPES-507. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/SPES/spes-507/spes-507.html

 E.A. Torres Quezada, R. Gandini Taveras, S. Perlaza Cruz. 2023. Basic Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Physiology and Morphology. SPES-508NP. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/SPES/spes-508/spes-508.html

Larsson, N., J. Shortridge, E.A. Torres Quezada. 2023. Managing Irrigation with Saline Water. BSE-348P. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/BSE/bse-348/bse-348.html

 Torres Quezada, E.A., L. Lopez, and D. Higgins. 2023. Protective Agriculture Production Series: Plant density recommendations. SPES-474NP. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/SPES/spes-474/spes-474.html

Jadrnicek, S. and E.A. Torres-Quezada. 2022. How to develop a planting plan for vegetables in Virginia: A sample spreadsheet. Virginia Cooperative Extension. SPES-401NP. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/SPES/spes-401/spes-401.html

Torres-Quezada, E.A. 2021. Protective Agriculture Series: Fundamentals. Virginia Cooperative Extension. SPES-355NP. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/pubs_ext_vt_edu/en/SPES/SPES-355/SPES-355.html

Torres-Quezada, E.A., L. Zotarelli, V.M. Whitaker, and S. Agehara. 2020. Methods for Strawberry Transplant Establishment in Florida. (English and Spanish). EDIS. IFAS, University of Florida. HS1376.   https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1376