Crop physiology · Smart agriculture · Sustainable production

Bring research to the field.
Grow resilience in agriculture.

I am Yun-Yang Chao, an agronomy researcher and educator.
From the physiology of a plant to the management of a field,
I explore connections between technology, nature, and agriculture.

Explore my research

The rich lands under the Dawu Mountains, the golden ears of rice are bred, and layers of rice waves are set off when the breeze rises. — ROOTED IN THE FIELDThinking with the land, from Pingtung.Field illustration · AI generated

PINGTUNG, TAIWAN

Rice / Feed maize / Djulis

RESEARCH WITH PURPOSE

ABOUT

Start with the crop.
Find answers in the field.

The next step in agriculture
requires understanding life and reading data.

I am a professor in the Department of Plant Industry at National Pingtung University of Science and Technology. My expertise includes crop science, plant physiology, seed physiology, and plant stress physiology. I study how crops respond to their environment and how cultivation and management can strengthen production resilience.

My work extends from rice and djulis physiology to beneficial microbes, precision fertilization, and smart agriculture. In teaching, I connect the classroom, laboratory, and field, helping students turn observations into questions and questions into practical investigations.

ACADEMIC ROLENational Pingtung University of Science and Technology

Department of Plant Industry · Professor

TRAININGNational Taiwan University

Ph.D. in Agronomy

University profile

02 RESEARCH

One field. Many possibilities.

Grounded in agronomy, connecting physiology, data, and resource cycles.
Every research question returns to crops and the land.

01 / FIELD INTELLIGENCE From observation to decisions

AI × IoT × Precision management

Research concept

Understand crops. Make better decisions.

Integrate image recognition, field sensing and agronomic knowledge, and explore the precise fertilization and monitoring of pests and diseases of rice and feed corn.

02 / PLANT × MICROBEGrowth has unseen partners.

Beneficial microbes × Sustainable cultivation

Related publications

Explore resilience through microbes.

Studying interactions between photosynthetic bacteria and crops, linking physiology, field yield, crop rotation, and soil nutrient management.

03 / CROP RESILIENCEFinding resilience in a changing environment.

Djulis × Stress physiology

Related publications

Understand stress. Discover crop potential.

Exploring drought tolerance, salt tolerance, and physiological regulation in djulis, with possible links to rice rotation and regional climate adaptation.

04 / CIRCULAR AGRICULTUREA new beginning for resources.

Agricultural by-products × Black soldier fly × Fermentation

Research concept

Give by-products a new purpose.

Exploring fermentation of djulis and other by-products, resource conversion by black soldier flies, and potential biological preparations.

These directions draw on existing work and ideas under discussion. Each card indicates its status; published findings are listed under Selected Publications.

03 TEACHING

The best classroom
can also be a field.

Start with observation. Learn to question, experiment, and interpret.
Turn textbook knowledge into practical skills.

Explore the course map

LEARNING IN THE FIELD

From “how much has it grown?”
to “why does it grow this way?”

Use rice growth stages to connect phenology, the environment, and crop management. Develop a habit of continuous observation and learn which questions to ask at each stage.

Recognize the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth.
Record growth stages, weather, and management events together.
Compare differences between fields and propose testable hypotheses.

Try the field observation tool

A SMALL TOOL FOR BIG QUESTIONS

Field observation notebook

Choose a rice growth stage to begin observing.

TODAY'S OBSERVATION

Establish a seedling baseline

Record seedling height, leaf color, and uniformity. Note recovery after transplanting, the observation date, and the field.

Ask: are initial seedling conditions comparable between treatments?

CSV format · 10 observation columns

04 SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Research you can trace.

View all publications

2024

AGRICULTURE

Crop rotation · Photosynthetic bacteria · Soil nutrients

Utilization of Rhodopseudomonas palustris in Crop Rotation Practice Boosts Rice Productivity and Soil Nutrient Dynamics

Agriculture, 14(5), 758 · DOI: 10.3390/agriculture14050758

2022

PLANTS

Rice · Foliar application · Photosynthetic bacteria

Foliar Application of Rhodopseudomonas palustris Enhances the Rice Crop Growth and Yield under Field Conditions

Plants, 11(19), 2452 · DOI: 10.3390/plants11192452

2021

PLANTS

Djulis · Quinoa · Drought physiology

Different Drought-Tolerant Mechanisms in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) Based on Physiological Analysis

Plants, 10(11), 2279 · DOI: 10.3390/plants10112279

A selection of published research. Use the original bibliographic details for formal citations.

05 AWARDS & HONORS

Awards & Honors

Recognition for teaching, research, and team achievements, and the work behind each milestone.

2026

silver prize

In 2026, the Ministry of Education held the Climate Change Creative Competition and won the silver award

Presented by: Ministry of Education
Recipient / team: Daochengjing

The Ministry of Education held the award ceremony of the Climate Change Creative Competition at the Kaohsiung Science and Technology Museum

2026

Coronary

2026 Central District New Masters won the championship

Presented by: Central Science Park Administration
Recipient / team: Daochengjing

Award ceremony Team members took a group photo with Director Xu Maoxin (Director) of the China Science and Technology Administration

06 FIELD CONVERSATIONS

Good questions deserve a conversation.

Share field observations, research methods, and cultivation experience.
Everyone can read. Sign in to join the conversation.

Start with a real question from the field.

Describe the crop, environment, and observations so others can compare experiences in context. Research ideas and field experience are both welcome.

GROW IDEAS TOGETHER

Loading discussions…

Keep conversations constructive.Respect different perspectives and cite sources for research claims. Your display name, posts, and timestamps are public; your email is private. You can delete your own contributions, and the site owner can moderate all discussions.

07 CONNECT

The next good question
might begin with
a conversation.

I welcome conversations about crop research, field trials, smart agriculture,
practical teaching, and circular resource use.

chaoyy@mail.npust.edu.tw

Department of Plant Industry · National Pingtung University of Science and Technology
1, Shuefu Road, Neipu, Pingtung County, Taiwan

Tell me about your idea.

Let us start with a specific question.

Bring research to the field.
Grow resilience in agriculture.

Start with the crop.
Find answers in the field.

One field. Many possibilities.

Understand crops. Make better decisions.

Explore resilience through microbes.

Understand stress. Discover crop potential.

Give by-products a new purpose.

The best classroom
can also be a field.

From “how much has it grown?”
to “why does it grow this way?”

The quality of a grain
has more than one answer.

The value of technology
starts with an agronomic question.

Field observation notebook

Establish a seedling baseline

Research you can trace.

Utilization of Rhodopseudomonas palustris in Crop Rotation Practice Boosts Rice Productivity and Soil Nutrient Dynamics

Foliar Application of Rhodopseudomonas palustris Enhances the Rice Crop Growth and Yield under Field Conditions

Different Drought-Tolerant Mechanisms in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) Based on Physiological Analysis

Awards & Honors

In 2026, the Ministry of Education held the Climate Change Creative Competition and won the silver award

2026 Central District New Masters won the championship

Good questions deserve a conversation.

The next good question
might begin with
a conversation.

Tell me about your idea.

Research questions

Research approach

Your observation may spark a new idea.

Discussion

Join the conversation

Bring research to the field.Grow resilience in agriculture.

Start with the crop.Find answers in the field.

One field. Many possibilities.

Understand crops. Make better decisions.

Explore resilience through microbes.

Understand stress. Discover crop potential.

Give by-products a new purpose.

The best classroomcan also be a field.

From “how much has it grown?”to “why does it grow this way?”

The quality of a grainhas more than one answer.

The value of technologystarts with an agronomic question.

Field observation notebook

Establish a seedling baseline

Research you can trace.

Utilization of Rhodopseudomonas palustris in Crop Rotation Practice Boosts Rice Productivity and Soil Nutrient Dynamics

Foliar Application of Rhodopseudomonas palustris Enhances the Rice Crop Growth and Yield under Field Conditions

Different Drought-Tolerant Mechanisms in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) and Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) Based on Physiological Analysis

Awards & Honors

In 2026, the Ministry of Education held the Climate Change Creative Competition and won the silver award

2026 Central District New Masters won the championship

Good questions deserve a conversation.

The next good questionmight begin witha conversation.

Tell me about your idea.

Bring research to the field.
Grow resilience in agriculture.

Start with the crop.
Find answers in the field.

The best classroom
can also be a field.

From “how much has it grown?”
to “why does it grow this way?”

The quality of a grain
has more than one answer.

The value of technology
starts with an agronomic question.

The next good question
might begin with
a conversation.