Research Agronomist
Brett L. Allen
Research Agronomist
www.ars.usda.gov/pa/nparl/ballen
Phone: 406.433.9402
Fax: 406.433.5038
• Education • Current Research • Research Experience • Publications •
Additional Pages: Research Projects,*Publications*
*Taken from the Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) database.
B.S. Agronomy | 1998 | Brigham Young University, Provo, UT |
M.S. Soil Science | 2000 | Brigham Young University, Provo, UT |
Ph.D. Soil Science & Water Resources |
2004 | Iowa State University, Ames, IA |
CURRENT RESEARCH
Brett joined NPARL in March 2007 and serves as a research agronomist for dryland cropping systems. Working collaboratively with other scientists, his research program focuses on diversified dryland cropping systems that enhance soil and water quality, conserve natural resources, reduce dependence on agrochemicals, and maintain sustainable economic returns to producers.
Before joining the USDA-ARS, Brett worked as a post-doctoral research associate at Iowa State University. He made important contributions to better understand manure management impacts on crop growth and on environmental soil and surface water quality in corn-soybean cropping systems that currently predominate in the Midwest. Much of this research employed the use of an outdoor rainfall simulation technique that induced runoff following various rates, timing, and incorporation of manure from swine (liquid), poultry, or beef.
Brett's Ph.D. work at Iowa State focused on alternatives to improve agronomic and environmental phosphorus management following application of fertilizer or manure. A portion of the work from Brett's post-doc and doctoral research programs is being used to validate the Iowa Phosphorus Index, which is a voluntary assessment tool for the purpose of evaluating the potential of off site phosphorus movement under various management practices. During this period of time, Brett also conducted collaborative research with federal and state agencies on the row crop component of the National Phosphorus Runoff Project, which is a multi-state effort to improve water quality by quantifying relationships between phosphorus levels in surface runoff and those in soil.
While working on his M.S. degree at Brigham Young University, Brett was presented with the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at the USDA-ARS facility in Kimberly, ID, where he investigated mechanisms of nutrient uptake in sweet corn and dry bean as affected by previous cropping to wheat or fallow on exposed subsoil amended with dairy manure.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Please note: The most recent publications by this scientist may not yet be listed here. Please check the ARIS "Publications" page for possible new titles.
- Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B., Iversen, W.M., Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L. 2023. Saturated hydraulic conductivity of a sandy loam under no-till and intensive tillage in a corn-soybean rotation. Soil Systems. 7,79. https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7030079.
- Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Lenssen, A.W. 2023. Soil total carbon and nitrogen under long-term perennial bioenergy crops receiving various nitrogen fertilization rates. Agronomy Journal. 2023:1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21422.
- Klopp, H.W., Jabro, J.D., Allen, B.L., Sainju, U.M., Stevens, W.B., Rana Dangi, S. 2023. Does increasing diversity of small grain cropping systems improve aggregate stability and soil hydraulic properties? Agronomy. 13. Article 1567. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy13061567.
- Johnsrude, L.M., Scheffel, A.J., Allen, B.L., Wettstein, S.G. 2023. Composition analysis of canola and intermediate wheatgrass biomass and the effects of extraction. BioResources. 18(1):1653-1663. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.18.1.1653-1663.
- Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L. 2022. Carbon footprint of perennial bioenergy crop production receiving various nitrogen fertilization rates. Science of the Total Environment. 861. Article 16063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160663.
- Rand, T.A., Allen, B.L., Campbell, J.W., Jabro, J.D., Rana Dangi, S. 2022. Pests associated with two brassicaceous oilseeds and a cover crop mix under evaluation as fallow replacements in dryland production systems of the northern Great Plains. The Canadian Entomologist. 154(1). Article e27. https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2022.14.
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Allen, B.L., Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B. 2021. Crop water and nitrogen productivity in response to long-term diversified crop rotations and management systems. Agricultural Water Management. 257. Article 107149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2021.107149.
- Allen, B.L., Lenssen, A.W., Sainju, U.M., Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B. 2021. Nitrogen use in spring wheat affected by crop diversification, management, and tillage. Agronomy Journal. 113(3):2437-2449. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20686.
- Sainju, U.M., Liptzin, D., Allen, B.L., Rana Dangi, S. 2021. Soil health indicators and crop yield in a long-term cropping system experiment. Agronomy Journal. 113(4):3675-3687. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20673.
- Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B., Iversen, W.M., Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L. 2021. Soil cone index and bulk density of a sandy loam under no-till and conventional tillage in a corn-soybean rotation. Soil & Tillage Research. 206:Article e104842. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2020.104842.
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Allen, B.L., Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B., Iversen, W.M. 2020. Soil water and water-use efficiency with diversified crop rotations and cultural practices. Agronomy Journal. 112(5):3306-3321. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20332.
- Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B. 2020. Soil inorganic carbon under no-till dryland crop rotations. Agricultural and Environmental Letters. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20073.
- Lenssen, A.W., Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Stevens, W.B., Jabro, J.D. 2020. Diversified crop rotation and management system influence durum yield and quality. Agronomy Journal. 2020:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20311.
- Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B., Iversen, W.M., Allen, B.L., Sainju, U.M. 2020. Irrigation scheduling based on wireless sensors output and soil-water characteristic curve in two soils. Sensors. 20(5):1336. DOI: 10.3390/s20051336.
- Gesch, R.W., Long, D.S., Palmquist, D.E., Allen, B.L., Archer, D.W., Brown, J., Davis, J.B., Hatfield, J.L., Jabro, J.D., Kiniry, J.R., Vigil, M.F., Oblath, E.A., Isbell, T. 2019. Agronomic performance of Brassicaceae oilseeds in multiple environments across the Western United States. BioEnergy Research. 12(3):509-523.
DOI: 10.1007/s12155-019-09998-1. - Jabro, J.D., Iversen, W.M., Stevens, W.B., Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L. 2019. Tillage effects on drainage fluxes and nitrate leaching through unsaturated zone under irrigated corn-soybean rotation. Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 35(3):293-300. DOI: 10.13031/aea.13127.
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Allen, B.L., Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B. 2019. Pea growth, yield, and quality in different crop rotations and cultural practices. Agrosystems,
Geosciences & Environment. 2:180041. DOI: 10.1007/s10705-018-9909-7.
Lenssen, A.W., Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B. 2018. Dryland corn production and water use affected by tillage and crop management intensity. Agronomy Journal. 110:2439-2446. DOI: 10.2134/agronj2018.04.0267. - Lenssen, A.W., Sainju, U.M., Jabro, J.D., Allen, B.L., Stevens, W.B. 2018. Dryland pea production and water use responses to tillage, crop rotation, and weed management practice. Agronomy Journal. 110(5):1843-1853. DOI: 10.2134/agronj2018.03.0182.
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Allen, B.L., Stevens, W.B., Jabro, J.D. 2018. Nitrogen balance in dryland agroecosystem in response to tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 110:467-483. DOI: 10.1007/s10705-018-9909-7
- Hunter, K.M., Archer, D.W., Gesch, R.W., Vigil, M.F., Hatfield, J.L., Allen, B.L., Jabro, J.D., Kim, S., Meki, M.N., Kiniry, J.R. 2017. Degree days to 50% flowering for 12 cultivars of spring canola-like mustard. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International. 11(4):1-8. DOI : 10.9734/JAERI/2017/33158
- Jabro, J.D., Iversen, W.M., Stevens, W.B., Allen, B.L., Sainju, U.M. 2017. A new automated passive capillary lysimeter for logging real-time drainage water fluxes.
Applied Engineering in Agriculture. 33(6):849-857. DOI: 10.13031/aea.12433. - Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Lenssen, A.W., Mikha, M.M. 2017. Root and soil total carbon and nitrogen under bioenergy perennial grasses with various nitrogen rates. Biomass and
Bioenergy. 107(12):326-334. DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.10.021. - Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Lenssen, A.W., Ghimire, R.P. 2017. Root biomass, root/shoot ratio, and soil water content under perennial grasses with different nitrogen rates. Field Crops Research. 210:183-191. DOI: 10.1016/j.fcr.2017.05.029.
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Allen, B.L., Stevens, W.B., Jabro, J.D. 2017. Soil residual nitrogen under various crop rotations and cultural practices. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science. 180(2):187–198. DOI: 10.1002/jpln.201600496.
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Allen, B.L., Stevens, W.B., Jabro, J.D. 2017. Soil total carbon and nitrogen and crop yields after eight years of tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice. Heliyon. 3:e00481. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2017.e00481.
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Allen, B.L., Stevens, W.B., Jabro, J.D. 2016. Nitrogen balance in response to dryland crop rotations and cultural practices. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 233:25-32. DOI:10.1016/j.agee.2016.08.023.
- Jabro, J.D., Iversen, W.M., Stevens, W.B., Evans, R.G., Mikha, M.M., Allen, B.L. 2016. Physical and hydraulic properties of a sandy loam soil under zero, shallow and deep tillage practices. Soil & Tillage Research. 159: 67–72.
- Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B., Iversen, W.M., Allen, B.L., Sainju, U.M. 2016. Suction cup samplers for estimating nitrate-nitrogen in soil water in irrigated sugarbeet production. Soil Science. 7(10):1342-1354. DOI:10.4236/jep.2016.710117.
- Long, D.S., Young, F.L., Schillinger, W.F., Reardon, C.L., Williams, J.D., Allen, B.L., Pan, W., Wysocki, D.J. 2016. Development of dryland oilseed production systems in northwestern region of the USA. BioEnergy Research. 9:412-429.
- Oblath, E.A., Isbell, T.A., Berhow, M.A., Allen, B., Archer, D., Brown, J., Gesch, R.W., Hatfield, J.L., Jabro, J.D., Kiniry, J.R., Long, D.S. 2016. Development of nearinfrared spectroscopy calibrations to measure quality characteristics in intact Brassicaceae germplasm. Industrial Crops and Products. 89:52-58.
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Allen, B.L., Stevens, W.B., Jabro, J.D. 2016. Soil total carbon and crop yield affected by crop rotation and cultural practice. Agronomy Journal. 109(1):1-9. DOI: 10.2134/agronj2016.07.0402
- Gesch, R.W., Isbell, T., Oblath, E.A., Allen, B.L., Archer, D.W., Brown, J., Hatfield, J.L., Jabro, J.D., Kiniry, J.R., Long, D.S., Vigil, M.F. 2015. Comparison of several Brassica species in the north central U.S. for potential jet fuel feedstock. Industrial Crops and Products. 75(B):2-7.
- Jabro, J.D., Iversen, W.M., Stevens, W.B., Evans, R.G., Mikha, M.M., Allen, B.L. 2015. Effect of three tillage depths on sugarbeet response and soil penetrability resistance. Agronomy Journal. 107(4):1481-1488. DOI: 10.2134/agronj14.0561.
- Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Caesar, T., Lenssen, A.W. 2015. Better long-term management enhances soil C and N stocks. Crop, Soils, and Agronomy News. 60(9):16.
- Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Caesar, T., Lenssen, A.W. 2015. Dryland soil carbon and nitrogen after thirty years of tillage and cropping sequence. Agronomy Journal. 107(5):1822–1830. DOI: 10.2134/agronj15.0106.
- Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L., Caesar, T., Lenssen, A.W. 2015. Dryland soil chemical properties and crop yields affected by long-term tillage and cropping sequence. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 4:230. DOI: 10.1186/s40064-015-1122-4.
- Lenssen, A., Sainju, U.M., Jabro, J.D., Allen, B.L., Evans, R.G. 2015. Management and tillage system influence forage barley productivity and water use in dryland cropping systems. Agronomy Journal. 107(2):551-557. (PDF)
- Stevens, W.B., Evans, R.G., Iversen, W.M., Jabro, J.D., Sainju, U.M., Allen, B.L. 2015. Strip tillage and high-efficiency irrigation applied to a sugarbeet- barley rotation. Agronomy Journal. DOI: 10.2134/agronj14.0525.
- Allen, B.L., Lenssen, A.W., Sainju, U.M., Caesar, T., Evans, R.G. 2014. Nitrogen use in durum and selected Brassicaceae oilseeds in two-year rotations. Agronomy Journal. 106(3):821-830. (PDF)
- Allen, B.L., Vigil, M.F., Jabro, J.D. 2014. Camelina growing degree hour and basetemperature requirements. Agronomy Journal. 106(3):940-944. (PDF)
- Jabro, J.D., Iversen, W.M., Evans, R.G., Allen, B.L., Stevens, W.B. 2014. Repeated freeze-thaw cycle effects on soil compaction in a clay loam in northeastern Montana. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 78(3): 737-744. DOI: 10.2136/sssaj2013.07.0280. (PDF)
- Jabro, J.D., Stevens, W.B., Iversen, W.M., Evans, R.G., Allen, B.L. 2014. Crop water productivity of sugarbeet as affected by tillage. Agronomy Journal. 106(6):2280-2286. (PDF)
- Lenssen, A., Sainju, U.M., Jabro, J.D., Allen, B.L., Evans, R.G. 2015. Management and tillage system influence forage barley productivity and water use in dryland cropping systems. Agronomy Journal. 107(2):551-557. (PDF)
- Lenssen, A.W., Sainju, U.M., Jabro, J.D., Iversen, W.M., Allen, B.L., Evans, R.G. 2014. Crop diversification, tillage, and management system influences on spring wheat yield and soil water use. Agronomy Journal. 106(4):1445-1454. DOI: 10.2134/agronj14.0119. (PDF)
- Qi, Z., Bartling, P.N., Jabro, J.D., Lenssen, A.W., Iversen, W.M., Ahuja, L.R., Ma, L., Allen, B.L., Evans, R.G. 2013. Simulating dryland water availability and spring wheat production under various management practices in the Northern Great Plains. Agronomy Journal. 105:37-50. (PDF; 1763 KB)
- Allen, B.L., Mallarino, A.P., Lore, J.F., Baker, J.L., Haq, M.U. 2012. Phosphorus lateral movement through subsoil to subsurface tile drains. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 76(2):710-717. (PDF; 1242 KB)
- Hansen, N.C., Allen, B.L., Baumhardt, R.L., Lyon, D.J. 2012. Research achievements and adoption of no-till, dryland cropping in the semi-arid US Great Plains. Field Crops Research. 132:196-203. (PDF; 758 KB)
- Lenssen, A.W., Iversen, W.M., Sainju, U.M., Caesar, T., Blodgett, S.L., Allen, B.L., Evans, R.G. 2012. Crop yield and quality, weeds, insects, and water use of durum and selected brassicaceae oilseeds in two-year rotations. Agronomy Journal. 104:1295-1304. (PDF; 613 KB)
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Caesar, T., Jabro, J.D., Lartey, R.T., Evans, R.G., Allen, B.L. 2012. Dryland soil nitrogen cycling influenced by tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 93(3):309-322. (PDF; 226 KB)
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Caesar, T., Jabro, J.D., Lartey, R.T., Evans, R.G., Allen, B.L. 2012. Tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice effects on dryland soil carbon fractions. Open Journal of Soil Science. 2(3):242-255. (PDF; 234 KB)
- Allen, B.L., Cochran, V.L., Caesar, T., Tanaka, D.L. 2011. Long-term Effects of Topsoil Removal on Soil Productivity Factors, Wheat Yield and Protein Content. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science. 57(3):293-303. (PDF; 277KB)
- Allen, B.L., Pikul Jr, J.L., Cochran, V.L., Waddell, J.T. 2011. Long-term Lentil Green-manure Replacement for Fallow in the Semiarid Northern Great Plains. Agronomy Journal. 103:1292-1298. (PDF; 549 KB)
- Sainju, U.M., Lenssen, A.W., Caesar, T., Jabro, J.D., Lartey, R.T., Evans, R.G., Allen, B.L. 2011. Dryland residue and soil orgranic matter as influenced by tillage, crop rotation, and cultural practice. Plant and Soil Journal. 338:27-41. (PDF, 213 KB)
- Kaiser, D.E., Mallarino, A.P., Haq, M.U., Allen, B.L. 2009. Runoff Phosphorus Loss Immediately after Poultry Manure Application as Influenced by the Application Rate and Tillage. Journal of Environmental Quality. 38: 299-308. (PDF; 804 KB)
- Allen, B.L., Mallarino, A.P. 2008. Effect of liquid swine manure rate, incorporation, and timing of simulated rainfall on phosphorus loss with surface runoff. Journal of Environmental Quality. 37:125-137.
- Allen, B.L. and A.P. Mallarino. 2006. Relationships between extractable soil phosphorus and phosphorus saturation after long-term fertilizer and manure application. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70:454-463.
- Allen, B.L., A.P. Mallarino, and M.U. Haq. 2006. Relationship between soil and runoff phosphorus for three typical soils. In 2006 Agriculture and the Environment Conference Proceedings. Ames, IA.
- Haq, M.U., A.P. Mallarino, and B.L. Allen. 2006. Runoff Phosphorus Loss Immediately After Surface Application of Fertilizer and Swine, Poultry, or Beef Manure. Agron. Abs. CD-ROM. ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI.
- Allen, B.L., A.P. Mallarino, J.G. Klatt, J.L. Baker, and M. Camara. 2006. Soil and surface Runoff Phosphorus Relationships For Five Typical USA Midwest Soils. J. Environ. Qual. 35:599-610.
- Mallarino, A.P., J.E. Sawyer, D.E. Kaiser, D. Ruiz-Diaz, D. Barker, D. Wittry, and B.L. Allen. 2006. Agronomic and environmentally sound utilization of nutrients in poultry manure: overview of an ongoing project. In 2006 Agriculture and the Environment Conference Proceedings. Ames, IA.
- Allen, B.L., A.P. Mallarino, and J.L. Baker. 2005. Evaluation of phosphorus loss through tile drainage. In 2005 Agriculture and the Environment Conference Proceedings. Ames, IA.
- Allen, B.L., A.P. Mallarino and M.U. Haq. 2005. Relationship between Soil and Runoff Phosphorus for Three Typical Iowa Soils: a Component of the National Phosphorus Runoff Project. Agron. Abs. CD-ROM. ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI.
- Mallarino, A.P., B.L. Allen, and M.U. Haq. 2005. Manure management impacts on phosphorus loss with surface runoff and on-farm phosphorus index implementation. An overview of ongoing research. In Agriculture and the Environment Conf. Proceedings [CD-ROM]. March 8-9, 2005. Iowa State Univ. Extension. Ames, IA.
- Haq, M.U., A.P. Mallarino, and B.L. Allen. 2004. Runoff phosphorus loss as affected by tillage and swine manure management in corn-soybean production systems. Agron. Abs. CD-ROM. ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI.
- Allen, B.L., A.P. Mallarino, J.L. Baker, and J.F. Lore. 2004. Lateral phosphorus movement through subsoil to tile drains. Agron. Abs. CD-ROM. ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI.
- Allen, B.L., A.P. Mallarino, J.L. Baker, J.G. Klatt, M.U. Haq, and C.H. Pedersen. 2003. Swine manure rate and tillage effects on phosphorus loss with surface runoff. Agron. Abs. CD-ROM. ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI.
- Haq, M.U., A.P. Mallarino, J.G. Klatt, J.C. Lorimor, R.S. Kanwar, C.H. Pedersen, and B.L. Allen. 2003. Impact of poultry manure application on phosphorus loss with surface runoff and tile drainage. Agron. Abs. CD-ROM. ASA-CSSA-SSSA, Madison, WI.
- Klatt, J.G., A.P. Mallarino, and B.L. Allen. 2002. Relationships between soil phosphorus and phosphorus in surface runoff and subsurface drainage. An overview of ongoing research. p. 183-189. In North-Central Extension-Industry Soil Fertility Conf. Proceedings. Vol. 18. Des Moines, IA.
- Allen, B.L., V.D. Jolley, C.W. Robbins, and L.L. Freeborn. 2001. Fallow versus wheat cropping of unamended and manure-amended soils related to mycorrhizal colonization, yield, and plant nutrition of dry bean and sweet corn. J. Plant Nutr. 24:921-944.