The spring 2025 Iowa Nutrient Research Center seminar series will showcase “Insights from Next Gen Water Researchers” with presentations by current and recent Iowa State University graduate students, discussing studies they are or have been involved in and how water quality research is helping inform their careers.
Cover Cropping and Application Strategies for Water Quality and High Yields
Philip Rockson, PhD student, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
This presentation will delve into research looking at the combined effect of manure management and cover cropping to enhance water quality, minimize soil erosion and boost crop yields. By exploring innovative application strategies and the optimal timing for cereal rye establishment, the study reveals practical solutions that balance environmental sustainability with agricultural productivity. The presentation will showcase real-world farm workflows and share surprising results from experiments with perennial ground cover systems and diverse cover cropping methods.
Leveraging Microbial Communities to Enhance Woodchip and Corncob Bioreactor Design and Performance
Taylor Vroman, PhD student, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Microbial communities within woodchip and corncob bioreactors are key to managing system performance. This presentation will focus on lab studies showing notable differences in microbial communities across woodchip and corncob column bioreactors, potentially tied to differences in greenhouse gas production and nitrate removal.
Recordings from water quality research seminars and other INRC videos are available at the INRC website under Resources and Publications.