Education

• Ph.D. 2015, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Purdue University
• M.S. 2011, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University
• B.S. 2008, Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University

Certifications

  • Ph.D.

Funding

"Precision Management of Water, Insects, and Diseases in Newly Established Grapevines in Nebraska". Nebraska Dept of Agriculture. 2025-2026. PI: Liang, W.-Z., Co-PI: Qiao, X., Lai, P-C. $24,749.

"Grassroots Conservation: Engaging Communities in WaterSmart Lawn Care Practices". USGS-104b. 2024-2025. PI: Liang, W.-Z., Co-PI: Qiao, X. $19,374.

"An Image and Sensor-based White Mold Alert System for Dry Edible Beans". Wyoming Bean Commission. 2025-2026. PI: Liang, W.-Z., Co-PI: Qiao, X. $16082.

"Growing Precision Engineering Systems for Nebraska Grape Vineyards and Water Management". Richard P. Kimmel and Laurine Kimmel Charitable Foundation Grant. 2024-2026. PI: Liang, W.-Z., Co-PI: Qiao, X., Shi, Y. $69,773

“Building Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning Capacity for Digital Agriculture and Plant Phenotyping Technologies Research, Education, and Extension at Florida A&M University”.  USDA-CBG. 2024-2027. PI: Chen, J.; Co-PIs: Liang, W.-Z. (UNL lead), Qiao, X, and Jin, J. (Purdue). Amount: $750,000. UNL: $180,000.
 

“Partnership: Growing Precision Engineering Systems for Muscadine Grape Vineyard and Water Management”.  USDA-AFRI. 2023-2026. PI: Chen, J.; Co-PIs, Liang, W.-Z. (UNL lead), Qiao, X. Amount: $760,000. UNL: $372,333. 
 

 “Beginnings: Experiential Learning on Digital Agriculture and Plant Phenotyping Technologies (DAPPT)”. NSF-ExLENT. 2023-2026. PI: Chen, J.; Co-PIs: Liang, W.-Z. (UNL lead), Qiao, X., and Jin, J. (Purdue). Amount: $1,000,000, UNL: $272,597.

“Developing Education, Research, and Extension Training on Precision Agriculture Phenotyping Tool at HBCU”. Agricultural Genome to Phenome Initiative (AG2PI). 2022 – 2023. PI: Chen, J.; CO-PIs: Liang, W.-Z. (UNL), and Jin, J. (Purdue). Amount: $100,000. UNL: $20,000.

Selected Publications

Yang, Z., Liang, W.-Z.*, Lawrence, N., Qiao, X., Riggan, B.S, Harveson, R., Chiang, C.-E., Oboamah, J., and Diwenitissiou, P.A. (2025). WeedCAM: An edge-computing camera system for multi-species weed detection in sugar beet production fields. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 244, 111498. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2026.111498

Chiang, C-E., Liang, W.-Z.*, Chen, J.; Qiao, X.; Tsolova, V.; Yang, Z.; Oboamah, J. (2025).  BudCAM: An Edge Computing Camera System for Bud Detection in Muscadine Grapevines. Agriculture 15, 2220. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15212220

Fernandes, P. H. J., Davies-Jenkins, S.L., Liang, W.-Z., Drewnoski, M.E. and Xiong, Y. Assessing forage mass using smartphone imagery for cereal rye under grazing conditions in Nebraska. (2025). Crop, Forage & Turfgrass Management: accepted. Doi: 10.1002/cft2.70101

Gradiz, A., Qiao, X., Taghvaeian, S., Liang, W.-Z., Rudnick, D., Katimbo, A., Wang, J., & Palle, S. (2025). Responses of dry edible bean crop growth and water productivities under different irrigation scenarios in the U.S. high plains. Agricultural Water Management, 308, 109280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2024.109280

Nosh, B., Katimbo, A., DeJone, K.C., Liang, W.-Z., Ge, Y., Heeren, G., Shi, Y., Qiao, X., Rudnick, D.R., Nakabuye, H.M. Birru, G., Kabenge, I., and Wanyama, J. (2025). Crop2Cloud platform: Real-time data integration for agricultural water monitoring. Smart Agricultural Technology, 12:101166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atech.2025.101166

Liang, W.-Z., Kirk, K.R., Thomas, J.S. and Warner, A.C. (2024). Estimation of peanut maturity using color image. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 15(8):617-635. https://10.4236/ajps.2024.158042 

Nababuye, H.N., Rudnick, D.R., Dejone, K.C., Ascough, K., Liang, W.-Z., Lo, T.-H., Franz, T.E., Qiao, X., Katimbo, A., Duan, J. (2024). Weather data-centric prediction of maize non-stressed canopy temperature in semi-arid climates for irrigation management. Irrigation Science, 42(2):229-248. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-023-00863-w

Liang, W.-Z., Oboamah, J., Qiao, X., Ge, Y., Harveson, B., Heeren, D., Rudnick, D.R., Wang, J. (2023). CanopyCAM-an edge-computing sensing unit for continuous measurement of canopy cover percentage of dry edible beans. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 204:107498.

Liu, L, Qiao, X., Liang, W.-Z., Oboamah, J., Wang, J., Rudnick, D.R., Yang, H., Katimbo, A., and Shi, Y. (2023). An Edge-computing flow meter reading recognition algorithm optimized for agricultural IoT network, Smart Agricultural Technology, 5:100236.

Nakabuye, H. N., Rudnick, D. R., DeJonge, K. C., Ascough, K., Liang, W.-Z., Lo, T. H., Franz, T. E., Qiao, X., Katimbo, A., & Duan, J. (2023). Weather data-centric prediction of maize non-stressed canopy temperature in semi-arid climates for irrigation management. Irrigation Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-023-00863-w 

Katimbo, A., Rudnick, D.R., Zhang, J., Ge, Y., DeJonge, K.C., Franz, T.E., Shi, Y., Liang, W.-Z.,  Qiao, X., Heeren, D.M., Kabenge, I., Nakabuye, H., and Duan, J. (2023). Evaluation of artificial intelligence algorithms with sensor data assimilation in estimating crop evapotranspiration and crop water stress index for irrigation water management. Smart Agriculture Technology 4.

Katimbo, A., Rudnick, E.R., Liang, W.-Z., DeJonge, K.C., Lo, T.-Z., Franz, T.E., Ge, Y., Qiao, X., Kabenge, I., Nakabuye, H.N., Duan, J. (2022). Two source energy balance maize evapotranspiration estimates using close-canopy mobile infrared sensors and upscaling methods under variable water stress conditions. Agricultural Water Management, 274:107972.

Liang, W.-Z., X. Qiao, I. Possignolo, K. DeJonge, S. Irmak, D. Heeren, and D. Rudnick. (2021). Utilizing digital image processing and two source energy balance model for the estimation of evapotranspiration of dry edible beans in western Nebraska. Irrigation Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00271-021-00721-7

Rudnick, D.R., M. Stockton, S. Taghvaeian, J. Warren, M.D. Dukes, A. Kremen, C.G. Henry, J. Aguilar, B. Ortiz, A. Andales, C.A. Burr, X. Qiao, W.-Z. Liang, S. Walthour, and S.H. Amosson. (2020). Innovative extension methods in the US to promote irrigation water management. Transaction of ASABE, 63(5): 1549-1558.

Liu, S, Ni, J.-Q. Heber, A.J., and Liang, W.-Z. (2019). Modeling of dynamic ammonia concentrations in two commercial layer hen houses. Environmental Informatics, 33(1):56-67.

Liang, W.-Z., Kirk, K.R., and Greene, J.K. (2018). Soybean leaf area, edge, and defoliation estimation using color image analysis. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 150:41-51.

Li, B., Pales, A.R., Clifford, H.M., Kupis, S., Hennessy, S., Liang, W.-Z., Moysey, S., Powell, B., Finneran, K.T., and Darnault, C.J.G. (2017). Preferential flow in the vadose zone and interface dynamics: impact of microbial exudates. Journal of Hydrology, 558:72-89.

Pales, A.R., Li, B., Clifford, H.M., Kupis, S., Edayilam, N., Montgometry, D., Liang. W.-Z., Dogan, M., Tharayil, N., Martinez, N., Moysey, S., Powell, B., and Darnault, C.J.G. 2017. Preferential flow systems amended with biogeochemical components: Imaging of a two-dimensional study. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 22:2487-2509. https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-22-2487-2018

Bai, L., Li, C., Korte, C., Huibers, B.M.J., Pales, A.R., Mu, L., Liang, W.-Z., Ladner, D., Daigle, H., and Darnult, C.J.G. 2017. Effects of silica-based nanofluids and surfactant on the interfacial befavior of light, medium, and heavy cuide oils at oil-aqueous interfaces. Applied Nanoscience, 7(8):947-972. https://10.1007/s13204-017-0630-7

Li, B., Liang, W.-Z., Mu, L., Bridges, W.C., Jacobson, A.R., and Darnault,C.J.G. 2017. Influence of cerium oxide nanoparticles on the soil enzyme activities in a soil-grass microcosm system. Geoderma, 299:54-62. https://.1016/J.GEODERMA.2017.03.027

Wang, K.-Y., Li, Q.F., Wang-Li, L., Cortus, E., Bogan, B.W., Kilic, I., Liang, W.-Z., Xiao, C.-H., Chai, L.-L., Ni, J.-Q., and Heber, A.J. 2016. National air emission monitoring study’s southeast layer site: part V. Hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic compounds. Transactions of ASABE, 59(2):681-693. 

Liang, W.-Z., S.B. Shah, J.J. Classen, and R.R. Sharma-Shivappa. (2014). Drying temperature-duration impacts on moisture, carbon, and nitrogen losses from broiler litter. CIGR Journal, 16(4).

Liang, W.-Z., J.J. Classen, S.B. Shah, and R.R. Sharma-Shivappa. (2013). Ammonia fate and transport mechanisms in broiler litter. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 225:1812.

Liang, W.-Z., S.B. Shah, J.J. Classen, and R.R. Sharma-Shivappa. (2013). Modeling ammonium adsorption on broiler litter and cake. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 224:1405.

Professional Memberships:

• American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers