Research
Soil and Crop Research Focus
Our research programs reflect Coloradoan’s concerns on food production and livestock feed growth and utilization. Our work prioritizes efficient land and water resource use while maintaining high-quality agricultural, residential, industrial, and natural environments.
To meet our broad-based objectives, we work in cooperation with other segments of the University, state, federal and private agencies.
Seminar Series
We conduct weekly seminar presentations on our most current research and issues in soil and crop sciences. Email Jeanie Roberts for more information.
State-Wide Research Locations
Our department coordinates research programs in four of the College’s research centers. Each center is located in distinct agro-climatic areas throughout Colorado. We ensure our programs are designed to meet specific needs of farmers and ranchers in their respective areas and ensure our students get unique off-campus learning and research opportunities.
Prospective Graduate Students
We encourage our prospective graduate students to reach out to our research faculty and discuss your research interests. Our graduate program is unique in that our department requires our graduate students to have confirmed a faculty advisor prior to being accepted to our graduate program. Please browse our research areas and learn more about our faculty to find the right fit for your interests.
Agroecosystems Research
We emphasize the need to incorporate solutions for climate change with every research project we develop. Our work focuses on efficient soil and crop development, carbon and nutrient cycling, and innovating biofuels and biosolids.
Research Facilities and Partnerships
- Southwest Colorado Research Center
- Western Colorado Research Center
- Irrigation Innovation Consortium
- COMET-Farm
Plant Breeding and Genetics
We focus on understanding how climate change will affect crops and how we can enhance nutrition and hardiness in important crop varieties.
Research Facilities and Partnerships
- Agricultural Research, Development, and Education Center
- CSU Extension Crops Testing
- Wheat Breeding and Genetics Program
Soil Science
Colorado is rich in diverse soil systems and landscapes giving us a unique lens to view our research. We work in agricultural, forest, and rangelands. Being situated on the Colorado Front Range also allows us to study the effects of urbanization on rural soil and water environments.
Research Facilities and Partnerships
Soil and Crop Sciences Affiliated Research Centers
Agricultural Research, Development and Education Center
The collaborative hub in northern Colorado for large-scale, integrated agricultural research.
Southwestern Colorado Research Center
High-elevation crop productivity, irrigation and harvest techniques, and soil development and preservation are our primary focus areas.
Plainsman Research Center
Focused research optimizing limited water resources and optimizing grain and seed crops for our regional growing conditions.
Western Colorado Research Center
Our faculty investigate soil development and preservation, optimizing irrigation, cropping systems, and high-elevation growing.
Soil and Crop Sciences Faculty Laboratories
Mike Wilkins Lab
Geomicrobiology
Steven Fonte Lab
Agroecosystems Ecology
Sally Jones-Diamond Lab
Crops Testing
Francesca Cotrufo Lab
Ecosystems Ecology
Geoff Morris Lab
Crop Quantitative Genomics
Jessica Davis Lab
Pulse Agronomy
Kelly Wrighton Lab
Soil Microbiomes
Thomas Borch Lab
Environmental and Agricultural Chemistry
Allan Andales Lab
WISE Irrigation
Jim Ippolito Lab
Soil Health and Environmental Quality
Nathan Mueller Lab
Agricultural Sustainability and Climate Change Impacts
Jane Zelikova
Soil Carbon Solutions
Meagan Schipanski Lab
Cropping Systems
Jay Ham Lab
Micrometerology
Esten Mason Lab
Wheat Breeding and Genetics
Keith Paustian Lab
Soil Ecology, COMET-Farm
Joe Brummer Lab
Forage Science