Agroecosystems Research
Local Studies for Global Scale
We integrate our local studies for global scale. We always incorporate global climate change and carbon cycling as part of our work. We emphasize processes and mechanisms controlling the interaction of soils, plants, nutrients, and climate. Our faculty and students are combining field studies, with our analytical laboratories, computer simulation modeling, and novel technology innovations to inform our most pressing research questions.
Agroecosystems Management
Graduate Research Opportunities
Our graduate students work on various projects related to agroecosystems management. We prioritize a systems approach to incorporate ecosystem interactions with soil and crop management. We have graduate research programs in all the major Colorado ecosystems including:
- Prairie and mountain environments
- Dry-land and irrigated agroecosystems in semi-arid plains
- Rangelands
Agroecosystem Emphasis Areas
Major research emphases are
- Precision crop and nutrient management
- Management systems improving crop water use efficiency
- Soil carbon and nutrient dynamics in cropping systems
- Beneficial use of manures, biosolids, and other wastes
- Crop variety development
- Forage management
- Biofuel development and alternative crops
Agroecosystems Faculty
Take a moment to browse our faculty based on their research interests and current projects.
- Forage Production and Range Management- Joe Brummer
- Cropping Systems and Nutrient Cycling- Meagan Schipanski
- Soil Ecology and Climate Change- Francesca Cotrufo, Keith Paustian
- Agroecosystem Ecology- Steve Fonte
- Soil Health- Jim Ippolito
- Agricultural Climatology- Jay Ham
- Ecology, evolution, and genetics – John McKay
- Irrigation and Water Science- Allan Andales
- Pedology and Forest/Range Soils- Suellen Melzer
Agroecosystems Graduate Programs
Specialization in Agroecosystems Ecology
This degree is a M.S. in Soil and Crop Science with an emphasis on agroecosystems management.
We have specific application requirements for our graduate programs. We only accept students who have already found a faculty advisor. Take a moment to browse our graduate program application requirements.
