Station Identification:

Physical Location: 2310 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70820

Distance/Context: Approximately 2 miles south of the LSU Baton Rouge campus

Contacts:

Resident Coordinator: Glen T Gentry, Jr.; (225) 765-2876; ggentry@agcenter.lsu.edu

Farm Manager: Chris Roider; (225) 765-2876; croider@agcenter.lsu.edu

Greenhouse Manager: Calvin Glaspie; (225) 765-2876

Station Overview:

The Doyle Chambers – Central Research Station (DC‑CRS) is a Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station (LAES) facility serving as a core hub for animal, plant, and environmental research for the LSU AgCenter. The station provides land, animal units, greenhouses, and operational support essential for applied and field‑based agricultural research that supports Louisiana producers, industry, and communities. The station is a 3,000-acre research facility supporting 61 researchers from 13 AgCenter departments and 6 non AgCenter departments.

Key Commodities and Production Systems Served:

Primary systems supported include row crops (corn, soybean, wheat, oats), forage systems, beef cattle, equine, poultry, sheep and goats, and controlled‑environment plant production systems. The station is also an active participant in the LSU AgCenter’s variety testing programs for soybeans, wheat, and grain sorghum.

Research Programs and Disciplines:

The DC‑CRS facility supports a multidisciplinary portfolio of agricultural research programs designed to address priority needs of Louisiana producers, enhance the sustainability and profitability of agricultural systems, and advance applied science relevant to the state’s diverse production environments. Research conducted at Doyle Chambers spans basic, applied, and translational disciplines, with an emphasis on real-world adoption and measurable impact in the following areas.

• Animal Science and Livestock Systems
• Forage and Pasture Management
• Crop Production and Agronomic Systems
• Soil Health and Nutrient Management
• Integrated Pest and Disease Management
• Sustainability, Resilience, and Environmental Stewardship
• Applied Research and Producer Engagement

Physical Resources and Infrastructure:

The DC‑CRS’s infrastructure and resources are strategically configured to support multidisciplinary research, provide reliable data collection, and facilitate collaboration among scientists, extension personnel, and industry partners. Together, these assets ensure the station remains vital for addressing regional and statewide agricultural challenges. The station is composed of the following individual units:

1. Horse, Sheep, and Goat Unit

a. 135 acres – herd includes 45 horses and 45 sheep/goats

2. Poultry Unit

a. 3,500 chickens; 7 houses; on site feed mill, egg processing, and incubators

3. Plant Sciences Unit

a. 700 acres – 400 acres in research plots, 300 acres in crop production.

b. Fee-based plot maintenance and harvest support.

c. Fee-based land usage for research trials.

4. Seed Processing Building

a. Seven cold storage units

b. Four 100 sq. ft. tray equipped forage dryers (Fee-based)

c. Two large walk-in forage dryers (Fee-based)

5. Beef Unit

a. 1,000 acres – 300 beef cows

b. Maintains three distinct herds: Crossbred, Brahman, Wagyu

6. USDA UV B Monitoring and Research Program (UVMRP; Colorado State Collaboration)

a. The nation’s only network providing continental-scale UV B irradiance monitoring

b. Established in 1992; one of 41 sites across 27 U.S. states, Canada, and New Zealand

c. Equipped with four primary solar radiation sensor systems:

i. Ultraviolet multi-filter rotating shadow band radiometer

ii. Visible multi-filter rotating shadow band radiometer

iii. UVB 1 broadband pyranometer

iv. PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) sensor

v. UV A biometer, upward-facing photometer, and barometer

7. Greenhouse Complex – Ben Hur & Gourrier

a. The Ben Hur and Gourrier Greenhouse Complex serve as one of the AgCenter’s largest controlled environment research hubs, supporting multi disciplinary plant science programs across the LSU campus and includes 32 Greenhouses, 10 High tunnels, Can Yard and large autoclave.

b. Each greenhouse bay (Fee-based) is equipped with:

i. Automated climate control systems with heating, evaporative cooling, and ventilation

ii. High intensity and LED supplemental lighting for photoperiod manipulation

iii. Programmable irrigation and fertigation systems

iv. Benching systems designed for experimental replication and treatment separation

v. Pest exclusion and biosecurity measures to protect sensitive research trials

vi. Monthly invoicing

c. The complex also includes:

i. Headhouse workspace for potting, media preparation, and experiment setup

ii. Storage for soil media, fertilizers, and research supplies (Fee-based)

iii. Irrigation infrastructure with controlled water quality

iv. Designated zones for long term perennial or specialty crop trials

v. Hoop houses (Fee-based)

vi. Can yard (Fee-based)

8. Reproductive Biology Center – (5995 LSU Ag Road, Saint Gabriel, LA 70776) 8.5 miles south of DC-CRS

a. 1,000 acres – includes a 700 acre Land Mitigation Bank (Forested Wetlands Observatory)

b. 40 cows, and 30 horses

c. Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory

i. AAALAC accredited

ii. Indoor Bovine and Equine Procedure Rooms

iii. Small-animal surgical suite

iv. 7 laboratory spaces

Analysis Capabilities and Impact:

The DC‑CRS provides space, logistical support, and short‑term sample handling for field trials. Analytical processing is conducted by collaborating with LSU researchers and external laboratories. Research conducted on this station supports multidisciplinary investigations in agriculture, natural resources, and environmental sciences through soil, plant, and production system analyses, managed research plots, and data collection infrastructure. Its impact extends across the state by generating science-based findings that inform production practices, enhance sustainability, support faculty and graduate research, and translate directly into Extension recommendations that benefit Louisiana producers and communities.

Agricultural Applications:

The DC‑CRS supports a broad range of applied agricultural research by providing field and analytical resources for studying crop production systems, soil health, nutrient and water management, and integrated pest and disease control. Research conducted at the station includes work on row and field crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and grain sorghum, as well as forage systems that support livestock production. Animal-related research activities commonly focus on beef cattle, horses and small ruminants, including pasture management, forage utilization, and environmental interactions. The station is also used to evaluate emerging production technologies and management practices under Louisiana conditions, linking field-scale trials with laboratory analysis to support faculty, students, and AgCenter research programs.

Collaboration and Partnerships:

The station supports collaborative research with LSU AgCenter departments, non‑AgCenter academic units, federal partners, and industry stakeholders, strengthening multidisciplinary agricultural research capacity.