Agricultural Management

Human management of agricultural systems has important impacts on crop productivity, soil fertility, and ecosystem biogeochemical cycling. We are interested in understanding the effects of agricultural management practices on ecosystem carbon and nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions.

Current Agricultural Management Projects

We are currently investigating the relationship between compost application rate and greenhouse gas emissions on organic farm in Santa Barbara County. This work is in progress.

Past Agricultural Management Projects

Impacts of Agricultural Management on Trace Gas Fluxes and Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics

We investigated the impacts of alternative management strategies on greenhouse gas exchange (CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes) at a long-term field experiment site located at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center of the University of Minnesota (SWROC). Using 13C- and 15N-labeled plant residue inputs, we traced the turnover and fate of organic matter in soils under different management systems. Our overall objective was to advance our understanding of the impacts of crop management on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling and soil-atmosphere exchange of greenhouse gases (see Van Vleck and King, 2011).

Collaborators: Harriet Van Vleck (Ph.D., 2011, University of Minnesota), Karina Fabrizzi (Postdoctoral Associate), Deborah Allan, Jay Bell, Jeff Strock, (University of Minnesota). Project supported by the USDA-NRI Managed Ecosystems Program.

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