Our ultimate objective is to maximize sustainable productivity of agricultural systems.  We have particular interest in nitrogen because nitrogen frequently limits production but is easily lost from agricultural systems to the surrounding environment where it becomes an economic loss to farmers that can diminish air and water quality. Minimizing nitrogen limitation on crop production while maximizing nitrogen retention within agricultural systems is among the most important global research priorities of the 21st century.  We work towards these goals by applying agronomic, ecological, and biogeochemical principles to advance our basic understanding of element cycling and improve ecosystem management.  

NEW: See our Forecast and Assessment of Cropping sysTemS (FACTS) web tool that predicts yield, water and nitrogen dynamics! Do you have enough water to get 200 bushels? Should you plant a cover crop to retain residual N? Check it out: http://crops.extension.iastate.edu/facts/