Position Description

I have been a Research Soil Scientist at the Soil Drainage Research Unit since 2019. My research interests include understanding how agricultural practices influence soil nutrient and carbon dynamics, and the ultimate consequences for the economic viability and environmental impact of agricultural systems, particularly in relation to water quality. I am currently investigating the role of direct fertilizer and soil incidental phosphorus losses from agricultural landscapes, as well as soil health impacts of conventional and alternative agricultural systems. I provide soils expertise to the LTAR and CEAP efforts of the SDRU.

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• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Phosphorus lability across diverse agricultural contexts with legacy sources-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    
    
  • Characterizing Legacy P and simulating mitigation strategies as part of the USDA Legacy P Project-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • New phosphorus losses via tile drainage depend on fertilizer form, placement, and timing -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Simpson, Z.P., Williams, M.R., Shedekar, V., Penn, C.J., King, K.W. 2024. New phosphorus losses via tile drainage depend on fertilizer form, placement, and timing. Journal of Environmental Quality. 53:241-252. https://DOI.org/10.1002/jeq2.20549.
    
  • Characterizing and quantifying legacy phosphorus impacts within CEAP watersheds-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Interseeded alfalfa N fixation and transfer to maize are reduced by N fertilizer -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Ruark, M.D., Renz, M.J., Grabber, J.H. 2023. Interseeded alfalfa N fixation and transfer to maize are reduced by N fertilizer. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 126:67-79. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-023-10276-y.
    
  • Intercropping alfalfa with corn silage-(Proceedings)
    Grabber, J.H., Osterholz, W.R., Bjorneberg, D.L., Riday, H., Dias, J., Patel, S., Smit, D.L., Ruark, M.D., Cassida, K.A., Burns, E.E., Lauer, J.G., Renz, M.J. 2022. Intercropping alfalfa with corn silage. Proceedings of the World Alfalfa Congress. World Alfalfa Congress, November 16, 2022.
    
  • Resolving new and old phosphorus source contributions to subsurface tile drainage with weighted regressions on discharge and season -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Shedekar, V., Simpson, Z., King, K.W. 2022. Resolving new and old phosphorus source contributions to subsurface tile drainage with weighted regressions on discharge and season. Journal of Environmental Quality. 52:100–112. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20426.
    
  • Enhancing the soil health-watershed health nexus: introduction -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Fortuna, A., Lewandowski, A.M., Osterholz, W.R. 2023. Enhancing the soil health-watershed health nexus: introduction. Journal of Environmental Quality. 52(3):407-411. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20420.
    
  • Representing soil health practice effects on soil properties and nutrient loss in a watershed-scale hydrologic model -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Evenson, G.R., Osterholz, W.R., Shedekar, V.S., King, K.W., Mehan, S., Kalcic, M.M. 2022. Representing soil health practice effects on soil properties and nutrient loss in a watershed-scale hydrologic model. Journal of Environmental Quality. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20338.
    
  • Connecting soil characteristics to edge-of-field water quality in Ohio -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Schwab, E.R., Duncan, E.W., Smith, D.R., King, K.W. 2021. Connecting soil characteristics to edge-of-field water quality in Ohio. Journal of Environmental Quality. Article 20308. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20308.
    
  • Establishment and first year yield of interseeded alfalfa as influenced by corn plant density and treatment with prohexadione, fungicide and insecticide -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Grabber, J.H., Smith, D., Osterholz, W.R., Renz, M.J. 2021. Establishment and first year yield of interseeded alfalfa as influenced by corn plant density and treatment with prohexadione, fungicide and insecticide. Agronomy. 11(11). Article 2343. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11112343.
    
  • Benefits of alfalfa interseeding include reduced residual soil nitrate following corn production -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Ruark, M.D., Renz, M.J., Grabber, J.H. 2021. Benefits of alfalfa interseeding include reduced residual soil nitrate following corn production. Agricultural and Environmental Letters. 6(3). Article e20053. https://doi.org/10.1002/ael2.20053.
    
  • Interseeding alfalfa into corn silage increases corn N fertilizer demand and increases system yield -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Ruark, M.D., Renz, M.J., Grabber, J.H. 2021. Interseeding alfalfa into corn silage increases corn N fertilizer demand and increases system yield. Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 41. Article 58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-021-00711-1.
    
  • Interseeding alfalfa into silage corn: current recommendations-(Abstract Only)
    
    
  • Differential survival of alfalfa varieties interseeded into corn silage -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Grabber, J.H., Osterholz, W.R., Riday, H., Cassida, K.A., Williamson, J.A., Renz, M.J. 2021. Differential survival of alfalfa varieties interseeded into corn silage. Crop Science. 61(3): 1797-1808. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.20465.
    
  • Interseeding alfalfa into silage corn: current recommendations-(Experiment Station)
    Grabber, J.H., Osterholz, W.R., Smith, D., Renz, M. 2021. Interseeding alfalfa into silage corn: current recommendations. Electronic Publication. #1.
    
  • Stratified soil sampling improves predictions of P concentration in surface runoff and tile discharge -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., King, K.W., Williams, M.R., Hanrahan, B.R., Duncan, E.W. 2020. Stratified soil sampling improves predictions of P concentration in surface runoff and tile discharge. Soil Systems. 4(4). Article 67. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems4040067.
    
  • Pre- and post-applied herbicides options for alfalfa interseeded with corn silage -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Dias, J.L.C.S., Grabber, J.H., Renz, M.J. 2020. Pre- and post-applied herbicides options for alfalfa interseeded with corn silage. Weed Technology. 35(2):263-270. https://doi.org/10.1017/wet.2020.104.
    
  • Knowledge gaps in organic research: understanding interactions of cover crops and tillage for weed control and soil health -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Culman, S.W., Herman, C., Joaquim De Oliveira, F., Penate, A., Doohan, D. 2020. Knowledge gaps in organic research: understanding interactions of cover crops and tillage for weed control and soil health. Organic Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-020-00313-3.
    
  • Alfalfa establishment by interseeding with silage corn projected to increase profitability of corn silage-alfalfa rotations -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Renz, M.J., Grabber, J.H. 2020. Alfalfa establishment by interseeding with silage corn projected to increase profitability of corn silage-alfalfa rotations. Agronomy Journal. 112(5):4120-4132. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20312.
    
  • Legacy phosphorus concentration-discharge relationships in surface runoff and tile drainage from Ohio crop fields -(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Osterholz, W.R., Hanrahan, B.R., King, K.W. 2020. Legacy phosphorus concentration-discharge relationships in surface runoff and tile drainage from Ohio crop fields. Journal of Environmental Quality. 49(3):675-687. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20070.
    

• Projects

  Practices and Technologies for Sustainable Production in Midwestern Tile Drained Agroecosystems In-House Appropriated (D)   Accession Number:441770

  FY 2022 Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) - Benchmark Watershed Assessment Studies (on croplands), SDU Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:443182

  Using Edge-of-field Data to Inform Water and Soil Quality Practices in Ohio (FY24 CEAP) Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:447161

  A Multi-Scale and Regional Approach to Cold Season Hydrology and Nutrient Dynamics in Agroecosystems for Water Quality Protection Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement (R)   Accession Number:442429

  Healthy Soils, Healthy Waters: Will Soil Health Improvements Mitigate Nutrient Loading to the Great Lakes? Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement (R)   Accession Number:438245

  Soil Health and Water Quality Nexus in Sustainable Agroecosystems Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement (R)   Accession Number:439618

  Soil Health Assessment Across the Ohio Edge-of-Field Network Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:440243