Research Project: Evaluating Management Strategies to Increase Agroecosystem Productivity, Resilience, and Viability

Location: Agroecosystem Management Research

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Optimizing cover crop management in Eastern Nebraska: Insights from crop simulation modeling - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Shiferaw, A., Birru, G.A., Tadesse, T., Schmer, M.R., Awada, T., Jin, V.L., Wardlow, B., Iqbal, J., Freidenreich, A.S., Kharel, T.P., Khorchani, M., Mersha, Z., Begna, S., Sohoulande Djebou, D.C. 2024. Optimizing cover crop management in Eastern Nebraska: Insights from crop simulation modeling. Agronomy Journal. 14(7). Article 1561. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14071561.

Poultry-based amendments and cover crops enhance nutrient cycling and soil health in greenhouse conditions mimicking organic vegetable production - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Freidenreich, A.S., Pelegrina, G., Victores, S., Maltais-Landry, G. 2024. Poultry-based amendments and cover crops enhance nutrient cycling and soil health in greenhouse conditions mimicking organic vegetable production. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10060594.

Perennializing marginal croplands: Going back to the future to mitigate climate change with resilient biobased feedstocks - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ramirez II, S., Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Mitchell, R., Stewart, C.E., Parsons, J., Redfearn, D.D., Quinn, J., Varvel, G.E., Vogel, K.P., Follett, R.F. 2024. Perennializing marginal croplands: Going back to the future to mitigate climate change with resilient biobased feedstocks. Frontiers in Energy Research. 11:1-9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2023.1272877.

Long-term croplands water productivity in response to management and climate, in Western US corn belt - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Khorchani, M., Awada, T., Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Birru, G.A., Dangal, S.R., Suyker, A., Freidenreich, A.S. 2023. Long-term croplands water productivity in response to management and climate, in Western US corn belt. Agricultural Water Management. 291. Article 108460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2023.108640.

Assessing impacts of climate change and long-term conservation practices on greenhouse gas emissions and crop growth in continuous corn systems - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Cover crop performance under a changing climate in continuous corn system over Nebraska - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Birru, G.A., Shiferaw, A., Tadesse, T., Wardlow, B., Jin, V.L., Schmer, M.R., Awada, T., Kharel, T.P., Iqbal, J. 2023. Cover crop performance under a changing climate in continuous corn system over Nebraska. Environmental Quality. 53(1):66-67. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20526.

Adding cover crops and animal manure after corn residue removal for 10 years: did it maintain soil mechanical properties? - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Klopp, H.W., Blanco-Canqui, H., Sindelar, M., Jin, V.L., Schmer, M.R., Ferguson, R.B. 2023. Adding cover crops and animal manure after corn residue removal for 10 years: did it maintain soil mechanical properties?. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research. 14. Article 100802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100802.

No-till marginally mitigates the impact of harvesting stover on soil microbial parameters - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ramirez II, S., Jin, V.L., Gunderson, L., Schmer, M.R., Hanford, K., Jeske, E., Drijber, R. 2023. No-till marginally mitigates the impact of harvesting stover on soil microbial parameters. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 87(6):348-1364. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20592.

Tillage and stover removal impacts on irrigated corn production and soil carbon: a twenty year assessment - (Abstract Only)

Near-term effects of perennial grasses on soil carbon and nitrogen in eastern Nebraska - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ramirez II, S., Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Mitchell, R., Eskridge, K. 2023. Near-term effects of perennial grasses on soil carbon and nitrogen in eastern Nebraska. Environments. 10(5). Article 80. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10050080.

A new Revolutio-N: radically rethinking nitrogen use in agriculture - (Abstract Only)

Measured and simulated effects of residue removal and amelioration practices in no-till irrigated corn (Zea mays L.) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, L., Ma, L., Qi, Z., Fang, Q., Harmel, R.D., Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L. 2023. Measured and simulated effects of residue removal and amelioration practices in no-till irrigated corn (Zea mays L.). European Journal of Agronomy. 146. Article 126807. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2023.126807.

Water use efficiency of croplands as affected by cropping systems and climate in a long-term study in the midwestern of United States - (Abstract Only)

Synergistic use of optical and biophysical traits to assess Bromus inermis pasture performance and quality under different management strategies in Eastern Nebraska, US - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mazis, A., Awada, T., Erickson, G., Wienhold, B.J., Jin, V.L., Schmer, M.R., Suyker, A., Zhou, Y., Hiller, J. 2023. Synergistic use of optical and biophysical traits to assess Bromus inermis pasture performance and quality under different management strategies in Eastern Nebraska, US. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 348. Article 108400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2023.108400.

Simulated impacts of winter rye cover crop on continuous maize yield and soil parameters - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Birru, G.A., Shiferaw, A., Tadesse, T., Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Wardlow, B., Koehler-Cole, K., Awad, T., Beebout, S.E., Tsegaye, T.D., Kharel, T.P. 2023. Simulated impacts of winter rye cover crop on continuous maize yield and soil parameters. Agronomy Journal. 115(3):1114-1130. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21291.

Light and electron microscopy studies elucidating mechanisms of tomato leaf infection by Pseudocercospora fuligena - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mersha, Z., Birru, G.A., Hau, B. 2023. Light and electron microscopy studies elucidating mechanisms of tomato leaf infection by Pseudocercospora fuligena. Plant Pathology. 39(2):181-190. https://doi.org/10.5423/PPJ.OA.06.2022.0082.

Complex crop rotations improve organic nitrogen cycling - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Breza, L.C., Mooshammer, M., Bowles, T.M., Jin, V.L., Schmer, M.R., Thompson, B., Grandy, S.A. 2022. Complex crop rotations improve organic nitrogen cycling. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 177. Article 108911. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108911.

Comparing corn and switchgrass as a bioenergy crop for twenty-five growing seasons—lessons learned and future prospects. - (Abstract Only)

Positive effects of cover crop mixtures on soil hydro-physical properties are partially offset by grazing in short-term integrated croplivestock system - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

No-till farming and greenhouse gas fluxes: Insights from literature and experimental data - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Ruis, S.J., Blacno-Canqui, H., Jasa, P.J., Jin, V.L. 2022. No-till farming and greenhouse gas fluxes: Insights from literature and experimental data. Soil and Tillage Research. 220. Article 105359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2022.105359.

Microbial feedbacks on soil organic matter dynamics underlying the legacy effect of diversified cropping systems - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mooshammer, M., Grandy, S.A., Calderon, F., Culman, S., Deen, B., Drijber, R.A., Dunfield, K., Jin, V.L., Lehman, R.M., Osborne, S.L., Schmer, M.R., Bowles, T. 2022. Microbial feedbacks on soil organic matter dynamics underlying the legacy effect of diversified cropping systems . Soil Biology and Biochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2022.108584.

Biochar and coal char mitigate nutrient and dissolved organic carbon loss from liquid manure amended soils - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cooper, J.A., Drijber, R., Malakar, A., Jin, V.L., Miller, D.N., Kaiser, M. 2022. Biochar and coal char mitigate nutrient and dissolved organic carbon loss from liquid manure amended soils. Environmental Quality. 51(2):272-287. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20327.

Increased rainfall may place saline/sodic soils on the tipping point of sustainability - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mehmet, B.E., Clay, D.E., Resse, C.L., Westhoff, S., Ownes, R., Birru, G.A., Wang, Z. 2022. Increased rainfall may place saline/sodic soils on the tipping point of sustainability. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Society. 77(4):418-425. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2022.00131.

Decreased land use intensity improves surface soil quality on marginal lands - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, L., Jin, V.L., Kettler, T.A., Karlen, D.L., Nunes, M., Lehman, R.M., Johnson, J.M., Mikha, M.M. 2021. Decreased land use intensity improves surface soil quality on marginal lands. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 4(4). Article e20226. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20226.

More diverse crop rotations improve yield, yield stability, and soil health - (Experiment Station)

More diverse crop rotations improve yield, yield stability, and soil health - (Experiment Station)
Wagner, S.E., Jin, V.L., Schmer, M.R. 2021. More diverse crop rotations improve yield, yield stability, and soil health. Experiment Station Bulletins. Available: https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2021/more-diverse-crop-rotations-improve-yield-yield-stability-and-soil-health.

Soil health report: FDC023, FDC025 - (Other)

Soil health report: FDC085 - (Other)

Nitrogen fertilization and native C4 grass species alter abundance, activity and diversity of soil diazotrophic communities - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hu, J., Richwine, J., Keyser, P., Li, L., Yao, F., Jagadamma, S., Debruyn, J.M. 2021. Nitrogen fertilization and native C4 grass species alter abundance, activity and diversity of soil diazotrophic communities. Frontiers in Microbiology. 12. Article 675693. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2021.675693.

Soil greenhouse gas responses to biomass removal in the annual and perennial cropping phases of an integrated crop livestock system - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Christenson, E., Jin, V.L., Schmer, M.R., Mitchell, R., Redfearn, D.D. 2021. Soil greenhouse gas responses to biomass removal in the annual and perennial cropping phases of an integrated crop livestock system. Agronomy. 11(7). Article 1416. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11071416.

Detecting variability in saline-sodic soil using remote sensing methods in the Northern Great Plain - (Abstract Only)

Rhizosphere microbiomes in a historical maize/soybean rotation system respond to host species and nitrogen fertilization at genus and sub-genus Levels - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Meier, M., Yang, J., Lopez-Guerrero, M., Guo, M., Schmer, M.R., Herr, J.R., Schnable, J., Alfano, J.R. 2021. Rhizosphere microbiomes in a historical maize/soybean rotation system respond to host species and nitrogen fertilization at genus and sub-genus Levels. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 87(12). https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.03132-20.

Environmentally conscious least cost multi-criteria decision making for modeling railway network for Eritrea - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Mengeste, M., Gala, T., Birru, G.A. 2021. Environmentally conscious least cost multi-criteria decision making for modeling railway network for Eritrea. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning. 16(3):427-436. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijsdp.160303.

Seasonal variation in the effects of urban environmental factors on land surface temperature in a winter city - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Wu, W., Li, L., Li, C. 2021. Seasonal variation in the effects of urban environmental factors on land surface temperature in a winter city. Journal of Cleaner Production. 299. Article 126897. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126897.

Conservation management improves agroecosystem function and resilience of soil nitrogen cycling in response to seasonal changes in climate - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Li, L., Konkel, J., Jin, V.L., Schaeffer, S.M. 2021. Conservation management improves agroecosystem function and resilience of soil nitrogen cycling in response to seasonal changes in climate. Science of the Total Environment. 779. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146457.

Cropping system partially offsets tillage-related degradation of soil organic carbon and aggregate properties in a 30-yr rainfed agroecosystem - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Jin, V.L., Wienhold, B.J., Mikha, M.M., Schmer, M.R. 2021. Cropping system partially offsets tillage-related degradation of soil organic carbon and aggregate properties in a 30-yr rainfed agroecosystem. Soil and Tillage Research. 209. Article e104968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.104968.

Effects of residue removal and tillage on greenhouse gas emissions in continuous corn systems as simulated with RZWQM2 - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cheng, H., Shu, K., Qi, Z., Ma, L., Jin, V.L., Li, Y., Schmer, M.R., Wienhold, B.J., Feng, S. 2021. Effects of residue removal and tillage on greenhouse gas emissions in continuous corn systems as simulated with RZWQM2. Journal of Environmental Management. 285. Article e112097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112097.

Soil health management enhances microbial nitrogen cycling capacity and activity - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hu, J., Konkel, J., Jin, V.L., Scheider, L., Schaeffer, S., Debruyn, J. 2021. Soil health management enhances microbial nitrogen cycling capacity and activity. mSphere. 6(1). Article e01237-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSphere.01237-20.

Stabilization Mechanisms of Isotope Labeled Carbon in Soil Under Moisture Pulses and Conservation Agricultural Management - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Long-term crop rotation effects on soil carbon changes - (Abstract Only)

USDA-ARS scientists study carbon sequestration - (Other)

Long-term rotation diversity and nitrogen effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Wienhold, B.J., Becker, S.M., Varvel, G.E. 2020. Long-term rotation diversity and nitrogen effects on soil organic carbon and nitrogen stocks. Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment. 3(1):e20055. https://doi.org/10.1002/agg2.20055.

Accelerated organic N cycling in complex crop rotations is suppressed by fertilization - (Abstract Only)

Irrigation, carbon amelioration, nitrogen, and stover removal effects on continuous corn - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Ferguson, R.B., Wienhold, B.J. 2020. Irrigation, carbon amelioration, nitrogen, and stover removal effects on continuous corn.. Agronomy Journal. 112:2506-2518. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.20192.

Long-Term Crop Rotation Diversity Effects On Soil C and N - (Proceedings)
Schmer, M.R., Jin, V.L., Wienhold, B.J., Varvel, G.E. 2020. Long-Term Crop Rotation Diversity Effects On Soil C and N. Proceedings Great Plains Soil Fertility Conference. Vol 18 pp. 34-40. March 2020 (proceedings)

Crop management to reduced soil nitrous oxide emissions in Nebraska - (Experiment Station)
Bijesh, M., Jin, V.L., Puntel, L., Iqbal, J., Williams, T., Blanco-Canqui, H., Wortman, C. 2020. Crop management to reduced soil nitrous oxide emissions in Nebraska. Extension Publications. G2322. p.1-6 Available: http://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g2322.pdf.

Management controls the net greenhouse gas outcomes of growing bioenergy feedstocks on marginally productive croplands - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Jin, V.L., Schmer, M.R., Stewart, C.E., Mitchell, R., Williams, C.O., Wienhold, B.J., Varvel, G.E., Follett, R.F., Vogel, K.P., Kimble, J. 2019. Management controls the net greenhouse gas outcomes of growing bioenergy feedstocks on marginally productive croplands. Science Advances. 5(12):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav9318.

Limited effects of irrigation on 7-year soil nitrous oxide emissions from no-till continuous corn - (Abstract Only)

Harvest timing and amount affect bioenergy crop water use on marginally-productive cropland - (Abstract Only)

Soil health - expectations and evidence - (Proceedings)

Management effects on long-term crop yield stability in central and eastern Nebraska - (Abstract Only)

Diggin' in: Cover crops - (Popular Publication)

Diggin' in: Cover crops - (Popular Publication)