I grew up on a strawberry, squash, and pumpkin farm in central Minnesota, which fueled my interest in all things related to plants and soils. I graduated from University of Wisconsin (UW)- River Falls in 2008 with a B.Sc. in Horticulture and Biology and UW-Madison with a Master’s degree in Horticulture (2012) and Ph.D. in Soil Science (2015). My interests in soils led me to a Post-doctoral Associate position at University of Nebraska (2016) where I was promoted to Research Assistant Professor in 2020. During my time at Nebraska, my research involved understanding how different soil management practices (i.e., cover crops and their management, crop residue management through grazing or baling, tillage systems, and others) affected soil physical, chemical, and biological properties as indicators of soil health. I joined NLAE in Ames as a Research Soil Scientist in January 2023. My research seeks to understand how soil management practices (cover crops, organic farming, tillage, and others) affect soil C and N cycling and soil health. Outside of work, I love spending time with my two cats, crocheting, cross-stitching, photography, reading, hiking and exploring, and growing a variety of houseplants.

• Publications

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  • The LTAR Cropland Common Experiment at Upper Mississippi River Basin-Ames -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Kovar, J.L., Papanicolaou, A.N., Busch, D., Chatterjee, A., Cole, K.J., Dalzell, B.J., Emmett, B.D., Johnson, J.M., Malone, R.W., Morrow, A.J., Nowatzke, L.W., O'Brien, P.L., Prueger, J.H., Rogovska, N.P., Ruis, S.J., Todey, D.P., Wacha, K.M. 2024. The LTAR Croplands Common Experiment at Upper Mississippi River Basin - Ames. Journal of Environmental Quality. 53(6):978-988. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20646.
    
  • Thermal time and precipitation dictate cereal rye shoot biomass production -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Crespo, C., O'Brien, P.L., Ruis, S.J., Kovar, J.L., Kaspar, T.C. 2024. Weather factors affecting cereal rye shoot biomass production and its implication on corn silage and soybean yields. Field Crops Research. 315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2024.109473.
    
  • How does no-till affect soil-profile distribution of roots?-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    
    
  • Contrasting soil management systems had limited effects on soil health and crop yields in a North Central US Mollisol -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Crespo, C., O'Brien, P.L., Nunes, M.R., Ruis, S.J., Emmett, B.D., Rogovska, N.P., Malone, R.W., Cambardella, C., Kovar, J.L. 2024. Contrasting soil management systems had limited effects on soil health and crop yields in a North Central U.S. Mollisol. Soil Science Society of America Journal. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20716.
    
  • Do organic farming practices improve soil physical properties? -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Blanco-Canqui, H., Ruis, S.J., Francis, C.A. 2023. Do organic farming practices improve soil physical properties? Soil Use and Management. 40. https://doi.org/10.1111/sum.12999.
    
  • How does winter cover crop harvest impact soils?-(Abstract Only)
    Ruis, S.J. 2023. How does winter cover crop harvest impact soils?[abstract]. Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm Conference.
    
  • Winter camelina as an alternative cover crop for central Iowa corn-soybean systems-(Abstract Only)
    Kovar, J.L., O'Brien, P.L., Ruis, S.J., Emmett, B.D., Malone, R.W., Rogovska, N.P. 2023. Winter camelina as an alternative cover crop for central Iowa corn-soybean systems [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting.
    
  • Nutrient leaching from an artificially drained Midwestern Mollisol across various conservation practices-(Abstract Only)
    Rogovska, N.P., Kovar, J.L., Malone, R.W., O'Brien, P.L., Emmett, B.D., Ruis, S.J. 2023. Nutrient leaching from an artificially drained Midwestern Mollisol across various conservation practices [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting.
    
  • Does organic farming improve soil health indicators relative to conventional farming in the U.S. Midwest?-(Abstract Only)
    Ruis, S.J., Kovar, J.L., Wacha, K.M., Cambardella, C.A. 2023. Does organic farming improve soil health indicators relative to conventional farming in the U.S. Midwest? {abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts.
    
  • Increasing rye cover crop biomass production after corn residue removal to balance economics and soil health -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Ruis, S.J., Blanco-Canqui, H., Jasa, P.J., Slater, G., Ferguson, R.B. 2023. Increasing rye cover crop biomass production after corn residue removal to balance economics and soil health. Field Crops Research. 302. Article 109076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2023.109076.
    
  • Cover crops and soil health in rainfed and irrigated corn: what did we learn after 8 years? -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Blanco-Canqui, H., Ruis, S.J., Koehler-Cole, K., Elmore, R.W., Francis, C.A., Shapiro, C.A., Proctor, C.A., Ferguson, R.B. 2023. Cover crops and soil health in rainfed and irrigated corn: what did we learn after 8 years? Soil Science Society of America Journal. 87(5):1174-1190. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20566.
    
  • Maximizing cover crop biomass production in corn-based systems: case studies and modeling-(Abstract Only)
    Ruis, S.J., Blanco, H. 2023. Maximizing cover crop biomass production in corn-based systems: case studies and modeling [abstract]. 78th SWCS International Annual Conference.
    

• Projects

  Managing Nutrient, Carbon, and Water Fluxes to Provide Sustainable and Resilient Cropping Systems for Midwestern Landscapes In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:443545

  Croplands Emissions - Midwest Area - Ames, IA Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:446988

  Quantifying Soil Health in the Des Moines Lobe Under a Wide Range of Management Scenarios Using the Oklahoma Mobile Kits Non-Funded Cooperative Agreement (N)   Accession Number:444166

• ARS News Articles

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