David’s areas of research in peanut include: evaluation of plant growth regulators; develop and refine integrated pest management strategies in cooperation with colleagues in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; develop weed management strategies with emphasis on new weed control technologies; evaluate irrigation systems that include subsurface drip and overhead sprinkler irrigation; evaluate interactions among planting patterns, seeding rates, and cultivars; evaluate interactions among agrichemicals; evaluate relationships of soil fertility and pod yield and quality characteristics; evaluate carryover potential of herbicides applied to rotation crops; evaluate economic and biological implications of peanut-based cropping systems; evaluate tillage systems; and evaluation of components of precision agriculture.  David also was involved in developing management strategies for efficient kenaf production in North Carolina (2002-2006).  In recent years (2008-2010) his responsibilities included management of various weed science projects associated with vacant positions in the Department of Crop Science.  In soybean, current responsibilities include conducting applied research to develop recommendations for weed management strategies in North Carolina.

David has been involved in undergraduate and graduate instruction including CS 052 (Weed Control in Field Crops) (1999-2009), CS 063 (Peanut Production) (1996-present), CS 414 (Weed Science) (2009), CS 590B/795B (Cotton, Peanut, and Tobacco Production Systems) (2002-present), and CS/SSC 462 (Soil-Crop Management Systems) (2008-present).  He has been a guest lecturer in graduate level (CS/HS 717, CS 620C, MLS 501) and undergraduate (CS 213, CS 411, CS 415, STS 323, STS 323Q) courses; advisor or co-advisor of 6 MS and 7 PhD graduate students; and member of 17 MS, 17 PhD, and 5 MA graduate committees.

David’s involvement in extension include: direct statewide educational programs related to weed management and production principles of peanut; assist Cooperative Extension field faculty with their county programs as related to peanut production and pest management issues; present pertinent findings and recommendations at county production meetings, plot tours, and field days; establish on-farm tests, provide updated resources on production and pest management practices, and assisting with problem solving situations; coordinate publication of Peanut Information (AG-331) and other appropriate Extension publications; contribute to production and pest management issues related to kenaf production; develop weed management recommendations for soybean; and serve as the agronomist and weed scientist on USAID Peanut CRSP projects in West Africa.  Additional responsibilities include updating herbicide and weed management recommendations for corn, cotton, grain sorghum, sunflower, and small grains for the North Carolina Agricultural Chemicals Manual (2009-2010) and 2010 Cotton Information series and coordinating educational sessions for Cooperative Extension field faculty and other clientele groups in the discipline of weed science.