Teng Yang
Assistant Professor of Controlled Environment Agriculture
Biography
Dr. Teng Yang received her Ph.D. in horticultural science from Purdue University. Her research focuses on advancing sustainable crop production in controlled environment agriculture, with an emphasis on water, nutrient and substrate optimization in hydroponic and aquaponic systems. She investigates nutrient recycling and innovative substrate solutions to enhance resource efficiency, crop yield and nutritional quality. Yang has led and collaborated on projects funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture, state and university programs, addressing sustainable hydroponics, organic nutrient management and resilient food systems. Her work bridges plant physiology with applied horticultural practices, integrating nutrient management, lighting technologies and substrate innovations to develop practical solutions that improve crop performance while reducing environmental impact. She also serves as associate editor for the New Zealand Journal of Crop and Horticultural Science. In addition to research, Yang is dedicated to teaching horticulture and controlled environment agriculture food production and mentoring the next generation of professionals in the field.
Education
- Ph.D. in horticultural science | Purdue University | 2019
- M.S. in silviculture | Beijing Forestry University | 2014
- B.S. in forestry | Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Shangsha, China | 2011
Academic and Professional Experience
Academic Interests
- Hydroponics and aquaponics
- Sustainable horticulture and urban food systems
- Plant physiology under controlled environments
- Substrate and fertilizer innovations
- Food safety and quality in soilless systems
Academic Responsibilities
- HO 111/111L: Introduction to Horticulture
- HO 311/311L: Herbaceous Plants
- HO/PS 413/413L: Greenhouse and High Tunnel Management
- HO 475: Senior Capstone
Committees and Professional Memberships
- Faculty Senate representing the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences
Work Experience
- Teaching assistant professor, Kansas State University
- Postdoctoral researcher, Ohio State University
Research and Scholarly Work
Areas of Research
- Develop resource-efficient strategies for hydroponic and aquaponic systems by refining nutrient delivery, improving substrate selection, and enhancing water use efficiency to improve crop yield, quality and sustainability.
- Investigate nutrient recycling, organic nutrient management and circular economy approaches to reduce environmental impact and support resilient urban and rural food production systems.
- Evaluate how nutrient regimes, substrates and environmental controls influence plant physiology, nutritional composition and phytochemical accumulation while mitigating risks of microbial contamination.
- Bridge plant physiology with applied horticulture by designing scalable, sustainable controlled environment agriculture practices that address food security challenges and reduce environmental footprints in diverse production contexts.
Publications
- Yang, T., Samarakoon, U. and Altland, J. (2025). Modified nutrient management protocol for optimum Biomass Production, Nutritional Quality and Flavor-Related Phytochemical Properties of Hydroponic-Grown Kale (Brassica oleracea). Frontiers in Plant Science (accepted).
- Moore, M., Yang, T., Douraki, M. J., Rivard, C., Pliakoni, E., Nwadike, L. and Bhullar, M. (2025). Effect of Ultraviolet Water Treatment on Survival and Growth of E. coli in Recirculating Hydroponic Systems. Journal of Food Protection, 100575.
- Yang, T., Samarakoon, U., Altland, J. and Ling, P. (2024). Influence of Electrical Conductivity on Plant Growth, Nutritional Quality, and Phytochemical Properties of Kale (Brassica napus) and Collard (Brassica oleracea) Grown Using Hydroponics. Agronomy, 14(11), 2704.
- Yang, T., Samarakoon, U. and Altland, J. (2024). Growth, phytochemical concentration, nutrient uptake, and water consumption of butterhead lettuce in response to hydroponic system design and growing season. Scientia Horticulturae, 332, 113201.
- Chowdhury, M., Espinoza-Ayala, A., Samarakoon, U.C., Altland, J. E. and Yang, T. (2024). Substrate comparison for tomato propagation under different fertigation protocols. Agriculture, 14(3), 382.
- Yang, T., Altland, J.E. and Samarakoon, U.C. (2023). Evaluation of substrates for cucumber production in the Dutch bucket hydroponic system. Scientia Horticulturae, 308, 111578.
- Wang, Y. J., Yang, T. and Kim, H.J. (2023). pH Dynamics in aquaponic systems: implications for plant and fish crop productivity and yield. Sustainability, 15(9), 7137.
- Yang, T., Samarakoon, U.C. and Altland, J.E. (2022, August). Comparison of growth, phytochemical content, nutrient uptake and water consumption of lettuce under two hydroponic system designs: nutrient film technique and deep-water culture. In XXXI International Horticultural Congress (IHC2022): International Symposium on Innovative Technologies and Production 1377 (pp. 747-754).
- Li, M., Liu, T., Yang, T., Zhu, J., Zhou, Y., Wang, M. and Wang, Q. (2022). Gut microbiota dysbiosis involves in host non-alcoholic fatty liver disease upon pyrethroid pesticide exposure. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology, 11, 100185.
- Yang, T., Altland, J. and Samarakoon, U.C. (August 2021). Evaluation of organic substrates as an alternative to perlite for cucumber production in the Dutch bucket hydroponic system. In II International Symposium on Growing Media, Soilless Cultivation, and Compost Utilization in Horticulture 1317 (pp. 319-326).
- Yang, T., Samarakoon, U.C., Altland, J. and Ling, P. (2021). Photosynthesis, biomass production, nutritional quality and flavor-Related phytochemical properties of hydroponic-grown arugula (Eruca sativa Mill.) "Standard" under Different Electrical Conductivities of Nutrient Solution. Agronomy, 11(7), 1340.
- Yang, T. and Kim, H.J. Nutrient management regime affects water quality, crop growth, and nitrogen use efficiency of aquaponic systems. Scientia Horticulturae 256 (2019): 108619.
- Yang, T. and Kim, H.J. Comparisons of nitrogen and phosphorus mass balance for tomato-, basil- and lettuce-based aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production 274 (2020): 122619.
- Yang, T. and Kim, H.J. Characterizing nutrient composition and concentration in tomato-, basil- and lettuce-based aquaponic and hydroponic systems. Water 12, No. 5 (2020): 1259.
- Yang, T. and Kim, H.J. Effects of hydraulic loading rate on spatial and temporal water quality characteristics and crop growth and yield in aquaponic systems. Horticulturae 6, No. 1 (2020): 9.
- Kim, H.J., Yang, T., Choi, S., Wang, Y.J., Lin, M.Y. and Liceaga, A.M. Supplemental intracanopy far-red radiation to red LED light improves fruit quality attributes of greenhouse tomatoes. Scientia Horticulturae 261 (2020): 108985.
- Kim, H.J., Yang, T., Lin, M.Y. and Langenhoven, P. (2017, January). Plant propagation for successful hydroponic production. In Proceedings of the 2017 Annual Meeting of the International Plant Propagators' Society 1212 (pp. 109-115).
- Yang, T., Ma, L., Duan, J., et al. Dry matter accumulation and root growth of Xanthoceras sorbifolia seedlings (Chinese), Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2014, 50 (6): 82- 89.
- Yang, T., Duan, J., Ma, L., et al. Effects of N application rates on growth, nutrient accumulation and translocation of Xanthoceras sorbifolia (Chinese). Journal of Beijing Forestry University. 2014, 36 (3): 59- 64.
Associated Areas
