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Drinkwater, Laurie E
Cornell Faculty Member
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Positions
- Associate Professor, Horticulture (HORT), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
I have a broad interest in using science to develop sustainable societies that provide for all people while preserving natural resources and biosphere integrity for future generations. Achieving this goal requires an understanding of the fundamental nature of managed ecosystems and the mechanisms that govern human-environmental interactions. The prospect of developing food production systems that enhance ecological processes while contributing to sustainability is a key idea guiding all facets of my work.
Research Areas
- biocomplexity
- biogeochemistry
- crop management or crop science
- ecology
- environmental sciences
- microbiology
- nutrient management
- organic agriculture
- resource policy and management
- sustainable agriculture
- watershed science
Websites
- Affiliations
- Extension
- Research
- Publications
- Teaching
- Service
- Background
- Other
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Affiliations
other Cornell affiliations
member of
- David R. Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future (ACSF) Faculty Fellow
Extension
has primary specialization area
Research
research overview
- My research group conducts studies of soil nutrient cycling processes in agroecosystems at scales ranging from the rhizosphere to farm and watershed scales. We investigate mechanisms within the plant-soil-microbial continuum that control ecosystem processes such as energy flows and nutrient cycling. Current research projects are focused on achieving a better understanding of the biotic and abiotic mechanisms regulating linkages between carbon and nitrogen cycles, with particular emphasis on the following processes: 1) symbiotic biological N-fixation, 2) decomposition and mineralization and 3) microbially-mediated N transformations such as nitrification, denitrification. Our work is also geared toward the development of management practices that improve soil quality while optimizing carbon and nitrogen cycling in intensive horticultural systems. Most of our research involves some degree of interdisciplinary collaboration. We are currently working with colleagues from molecular microbial ecology, resource economics, environmental sociology, biogeochemical modeling and weed ecology.
principal investigator on
- BUILDING ON SUCCESS: A RESEARCH AND EXTENSION INITIATIVE TO INCREASE THE PROSPERITY OF ORGANIC GRAIN AND VEGETABLE FARMS awarded by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE-USDA 2009 - 2013
- MICROBIAL DIVERSITY AND FUNCTION INTERACTIONS WITH AGRICULTURAL MANAGEMENT REGIMES IN UPSTATE NEW YORK awarded by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE-USDA 2012 - 2014
co-principal investigator on
keywords
- agroecology
- biogeochemistry
- nutrient management
- plant-microbial interactions
- soil ecology
- sustainability
Publications
individual publications
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academic article
- Nitrogen fixation in annual and perennial legume-grass mixtures across a fertility gradient. Plant and Soil. 357:147-159. 2012
- Permanganate oxidizable carbon reflects a processed soil fraction that is sensitive to management. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 76:494-504. 2012
- A spatial analysis of phosphorus in the Mississippi River Basin. Journal of Environmental Quality. 40:931-941. 2011
- Assessing socio-ecological coupling: Agriculture and hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Global Environmental Change. Special Issue: The Politics and Policy of Carbon Capture and Storage. 21:530-539. 2011
- Diversity of rhizobia nodulating soybean [Glycine max (Vinton)] varies under organic and conventional management. Applied Soil Ecology. 50:14-20. 2011
- Nitrogen fixation of red clover interseeded with winter cereals across a management-induced fertility gradient. Nutrient Cycling and Agroecosystems. 90:105-119. 2011
- Application of the DNDC model to the Rodale Institute Farming Systems Trial: Challenges for the validation of drainage and nitrate leaching in agroecosystem models.. Nutrient Cycling and Agroecosystems. 8:483-494. 2010
- Enhancing Undergraduate Agro-Ecological Laboratory Employment through Experiential Learning. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education. 39:31-39. 2010
- Short-term plant species impact on microbial community structure in soils with long-term agricultural history. Plant and Soil. 330:369-382. 2010
- Sources of Nitrate Yields in the Mississippi River Basin. Journal of Environmental Quality. 39:1657-1667. 2010
- Understanding the variability in soybean nitrogen fixation across agroecosystems. Plant and Soil. 329:379-397. 2010
- Modeling N2O flux from an Illinois agroecosystem using Monte Carlo sampling of field observations. Biogeochemistry. 93:31-48. 2009
- Nutrient Imbalances in Agricultural Development. Science. 324:1519-1520. 2009
- Nutrient Imbalances: Pollution Remains, Response. Science. 326:665-666. 2009
- The fate of nitrogen in grain cropping systems: a meta-analysis of N-15 field experiments. Ecological Applications. 19:2167-2184. 2009
- Long-term agricultural research: A research, education, and extension imperative. BioScience. 58:640-645. 2008
- Application of the DNDC model to tile-drained Illinois agroecosystems: model calibration, validation, and uncertainty analysis, Nutrient Cycling. Agroecosystems. 78:51-63. 2007
- Application of the DNDC model to tile-drained Illinois agroecosystems: model comparison of conventional and diversified rotations, Nutrient Cycling. Agroecosystems. 78:65-81. 2007
- Nutrients in agriculture: Rethinking the management paradigm. Advances in Agronomy. 92:163-186. 2007
- Response of crop yields and soil N to diversified rotations: A meta-analysis. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 112:58-72. 2006
- Fertilizer: Complex issue calls for informed debate. Nature. 427:99. 2004
- Cropping Systems Research: Reconsidering agricultural experimental design. HortScience. 12:355-361. 2002
- Short-term dynamics of root and shoot-derived carbon from a leguminous green manure. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 65:771-779. 2001
- Effects of reduced tillage intensities on nitrogen dynamics and crop productivity in legume-based cropping systems. Plant and Soil. 227:99-113. 2000
- Fostering soil stewardship in the U.S. through soil quality assessment. Applied Soil Ecology. 15:61-73. 2000
- Yields and nutrient budgets under composts, raw dairy manure and mineral fertilizer. Compost Science and Utilization. 8:328-339. 2000
- Sources of productivity growth during the transition to alternative cropping systems. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review. 1999:169-181. 1999
- Legume-based systems have reduced losses of nitrogen and carbon. Nature. 396:262-265. 1998
- Comparison of substrate utilization assay and fatty acid analysis of soil microbial communities. Journal of Microbiological Methods. 30:3-11. 1997
- Effect of compost addition and crop rotation upon VAM fungi. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 65:257-266. 1997
- Short-term effects of cover crop incorporation on soil carbon pools and nitrogen availability. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 61:901-911. 1997
- Free-living nitrogen- fixing bacteria in temperate cropping systems: Influence of nitrogen source. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 23:140-144. 1996
- Soil management effects on crop quality and insect damage in commercial organic and conventional tomato fields. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 57:179-187. 1996
- An overwintering cover crop increases innoculum of VAM fungi in agricultural soil. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture. 10:152-156. 1995
- Fundamental differences in organic and conventional agroecosystems in California. Ecological Applications. 5:1098-1112. 1995
- The metabolic status of diapause embryos of Artemia franciscana (SFB). Physiological Zoology. 69:49-66. 1995
- Relationships between soil variables and corky root and Phytophthora root rot of tomatoes in organic and conventional farms. Phytopathology. 83:581-580. 1993
- Hydration state, metabolism and hatching in Mono Lake Artemia cysts. Biological Bulletin. 180:432-439. 1991
- Regulation of embryonic diapause in Artemia: Environmental and physiological signals. Journal of Experimental Zoology. 241:297-307. 1987
- Separation of tricarboxylic acid cycle acids and other related organic acids in insect hemolymph by high-performance liquid chromatography. J. Chromatog.. 318:112-116. 1984
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article
- A Holistic View: Leguminous cover crop management in organic farming systems 2011
- An Interview with Eric Nordell: Cover crops to suppress weeds, boost biomass, and fix nitrogen 2011
- Dear Vicki Vetch: Reviving a Depleted Field. Organic Farms, Folks, and Foods 2011
- In the Mix: Effective inoculation pairs active rhizobia with symbiotic legumes 2011
- It’s Elemental—How Legumes Bridge the Nitrogen Gap 2011
- Perennial Favorite: Legumes boost fertility and smother weeds in asparagus 2011
- The Word: key terms for understanding the science of cover cropping to boost nitrogen 2011
- Dear Vicki Vetch: Cover Crops for the Home Gardener 2010
- Dear Vicki Vetch: New Varieties of Hairy Vetch. Small Farms Quarterly. Winter. 2009
- Dear Vicki Vetch: Nutrient Budgeting and Cover Crops 2009
- Dear Vicki Vetch: Nutrient Budgeting and Cover Crops. Small Farms Quarterly. Spring. 2009
- Dear Vicki Vetch: Red clover vs clover-grass mix for a cover crop in winter grains. Small Farms Quarterly. Summer. 2009
- The Ins and Outs of Nutrient Budgeting 2009
- Dear Vicki Vetch: Interseeding Cover Crops 2008
- Dear Vicki Vetch: New Varieties of Hairy Vetch 2008
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booksection
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chapter
- Ecological Knowledge: Foundation for Sustainable Organic Agriculture. Organic Farming: The Ecological System. 19-50. 2009
- Ecosystem services – Human- dominated systems: agroecosystems. Princeton Guide to Ecology. 597-605. 2009
- Ecologically based nutrient management. : Agricultural Systems: Agroecology and Rural Innovation. 159-209. 2008
- System Approaches for Improving Soil Quality. Managing Soil Quality-Challenges in Modern Agriculture. 261-281. 2004
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conference paper
- New tools for monitoring soil biological health. Proceedings: Empire State Fruit & Vegetable Expo 2004. 37-38. 2004
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document part
- Soil microbial community structure and nitrogen cycling responses to agroecosystem management and carbon substrate addition 2011
- Weed species common in organic and conventional corn fields in Yates County, NY. 3. 2010
- A Spatial Analysis of Phosphorus in the Mississippi River Basin 2009
- Agroecosystem Management and Nitrogen Balance On Grain Farms in the Midwestern United States. 2009
- Changes in weed vigor and growth in response to carbon: nitrogen ratio manipulation.. 47. 2009
- Hypoxia and the Mississippi River Basin as a model system: What can we learn about the social-ecological interface? 2009
- Nitrogen in the Mississippi River Basin: How Do Inputs and Balances Relate to Riverine Export of Nitrate?. 2009
- Nutrient Mass Balances and Agroecosystem Management in New York State 2009
- What barriers prevent the application of soil ecology to agricultural systems? 2009
- Managing biological nitrogen fixation: Plant species and soil fertility interactions 2007
- Sustainable Nutrient Management in Organic Agriculture 2007
- Agricultural systems research: From multiple origins to a unified theory 2006
- Denitrification in Illinois Grain System: Assessment using the DNDC model 2006
- Legume nitrogen fixation as an internal regulator of nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems 2006
- Microbial Community succession on plant litter from the phyllosphere to the rhizosphere 2006
- Plant organic matter deposition into fast and slow cycling soil pools 2006
- Understanding human impacts on the nitrogen cycle, using a mass balance approach 2006
- Understanding linkages between social systems and biogeochemical processes in agricultural landscapes of the Mississippi River Basin 2006
- Understanding linkages between social systems and biogeochemical processes in agricultural landscapes of the Mississippi River Basin 2006
- Diversified Agricultural Systems: Balancing Ecosystem Services with Economic Viability 2005
- Effect of management history and SOM pool composition on microbially mediated N transformations 2005
- Glomalin: an Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) protein that has direct effects on ecosystem cycling of C, N, P & S 2005
- Nitrogen Management in Agroecosystems: Applying Models and Data in Policy Development 2005
- Shifts in soybean nitrogen fixation across a management-induced soil fertility gradient 2005
- Effect of diversified rotations on yield and nitrate leaching: A meta-analysis 2004
- Plant legacy effects on rhizosphere microbial community structure 2004
- Response of crop yields and soil N to diversified rotations: a meta-analysis 2004
- Shifts in biological nitrogen fixation of perennial and annual legumes across a fertility gradient 2004
- Simulation of yield and N dynamics in corn-soy and alternative corn-soy-wheat-red clover rotations using the DNDC model 2004
- Managing biodiversity to restore ecosystem function in intensive agricultural systems 2003
- Plant species and rhizosphere community effects on soil carbon cycling processes 2002
- Fate of root-derived carbon in annual cropping systems 2001
- Short-term carbon dynamics of maize residue in organically and conventionally-managed agroecosystems 2001
- Carbon losses and changes in litter quality in aboveground and belowground maize residues following senescence and harvest 1999
- Contribution of green manure to soil carbon: How much is left two years after incorporation? 1999
- A logical link: using carbon management to reduce nutrient losses from agricultural systems 1998
- Evaluation of food-grade soybean varieties under organic production in Pennsylvania 1998
- Fate of carbon of a leguminous cover crop: Distinction between root and shoot origins 1998
- Nitrate leaching from compost, manure and mineral Fertilizer: nutrient source, crop and climate effects 1998
- Research methods for compost and manure utilization experiments using farm-scale equipment: Pitfalls and solutions 1998
- The fate of root-derived and shoot-derived carbon from hairy vetch (Vicia villosa). 215. 1998
- A simple method for assessing substrate utilization potential 1997
- Management history and residue quality effects on microbial community dynamics 1997
- A comparison of corn/soybean cropping systems under conventional and organic management for fifteen years 1996
- Breeding intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium) for use as a perennial grain 1996
- Effects of management history and residue quality on microbial community structure 1996
- Nitrogen balance and carbon sequestration in organic and conventional maize/soybean cropping systems 1996
- Yield and nutrient budgets under composts, raw dairy manure and mineral fertilizer 1996
- Effect of compost quality on nitrogen dynamics 1995
- Long-term effects of plant production and residue quality on belowground processes in agroecosystems. 158. 1995
- Long-term yield stability in a comparative study of conventional and alternative cropping systems 1994
- Effect of soil management history on the outcome of competition in a grass/legume intercrop 1993
- Arthropod community profiles in agroecosystems: conservation through habitat restoration. 248. 1992
- Soil nitrogen transformations and carbon partitioning in organic and conventional tomato production systems. 161. 1992
- Use of multivariate statistics for on-farm research 1992
- Influence of soil and plant parameters on corky root of tomatoes in organic and conventional production systems 1991
- Influence of soil and plant parameters on corky root of tomatoes in organic and conventional production systems 1991
- Comparative study of established organic and conventional tomato production systems in California 1990
- Soil fertility and tilth on established organic and conventional farms: The effect of management on farming system ecology 1990
- Soil fertility and tilth on established organic and conventional farms: The effect of management on farming system ecology 1990
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manual
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report
- Handbook of Agricultural Systems Research 2007
- Ecoagriculture: A Review and Assessment of its Scientific Foundations. Working Paper No 1, Ecoagriculture Partners, Cornell University and Virginia Tech 2004
- “Wean US from pesticide dependency”, In response to editorial by Dennis Avery 1999
- Edible soybean production and marketing 1998
- Soil Health Slide Show 1998
- Organic soil amendments and fertilizers 1993
featured in archived article
- Cornell's Drinkwater and Wolf head up federal study on how responses to agricultural pollution target the problem
- Farm drainage partly to blame for dead zones in Gulf of Mexico
- From fruit-eating fish to ice storm damage in forest streams, Cornell researchers explore ecological issues at annual meeting
- World use of fertilizer varies wildly and threatens environment, says professor
Teaching
teaching overview
- The graduate and undergraduate courses I teach integrate ecological and agricultural knowledge. My over-arching goal in teaching and mentoring students is to contribute to the development of scientists who will be equipped to address the global challenges we face in agriculture and environmental management. In my classes we engage in participatory, independent and collaborative learning and work to improve key life skills including critical and synthetic thinking, verbal and written communication. Graduate seminars that I have offered include 1) Decomposition, 2) Sustainability: Ethical, socioeconomic and biophysical dimensions, 3) Agroecosystems: Research and design.
teaching activities
- BIOEE-9990: Ph.D. Dissertation Research - Spring 2013
- CSS-7900: Graduate-Level Dissertation Research in Soil Science - Spring 2013
- HORT-5900: Master of Professional Studies (Agriculture) Project - Spring 2013
- HORT-8900: Thesis Research, Master of Science - Spring 2013
- HORT-9900: Thesis Research, Doctor of Philosophy - Spring 2013
- AGSCI-4960: Internship in Agricultural Sciences - Fall 2012
- BIOEE-4730: Ecology of Agricultural Systems - Fall 2012
- BIOEE-9990: Ph.D. Dissertation Research - Fall 2012
- CSS-7900: Graduate-Level Dissertation Research in Soil Science - Fall 2012
- CSS-9900: Doctoral-Level Dissertation Research in Soil Science - Fall 2012
- HORT-4730: Ecology of Agricultural Systems - Fall 2012
- HORT-5900: Master of Professional Studies (Agriculture) Project - Fall 2012
- HORT-6970: Graduate Individual Study in Horticulture - Fall 2012
- HORT-7000: Graduate Teaching Experience - Fall 2012
- HORT-8900: Thesis Research, Master of Science - Fall 2012
- HORT-9900: Thesis Research, Doctor of Philosophy - Fall 2012
- BIOEE-9990: Ph.D. Dissertation Research - Spring 2012
- CSS-7900: Graduate-Level Dissertation Research in Soil Science - Spring 2012
- HORT-5900: Master of Professional Studies (Agriculture) Project - Spring 2012
- HORT-6940: Special Topics in Horticulture - Spring 2012
- HORT-8900: Thesis Research, Master of Science - Spring 2012
- HORT-9900: Thesis Research, Doctor of Philosophy - Spring 2012
- AGSCI-4960: Internship in Agricultural Sciences - Fall 2011
- BIOEE-9990: Ph.D. Dissertation Research - Fall 2011
- CSS-7900: Graduate-Level Dissertation Research in Soil Science - Fall 2011
- CSS-9900: Doctoral-Level Dissertation Research in Soil Science - Fall 2011
- HORT-2200: Practicing Sustainable Landcare - Fall 2011
- HORT-5900: Master of Professional Studies (Agriculture) Project - Fall 2011
- HORT-6940: Special Topics in Horticulture - Fall 2011
- HORT-6970: Graduate Individual Study in Horticulture - Fall 2011
- HORT-7000: Graduate Teaching Experience - Fall 2011
- HORT-8900: Thesis Research, Master of Science - Fall 2011
- HORT-9900: Thesis Research, Doctor of Philosophy - Fall 2011
Service
outreach overview
- I place a high value on my interactions with farmers and other practitioners. Over the years, these interactions have had considerable influence on the research that I have undertaken. My lab group carries out extension and outreach activities in conjunction with research through partnerships that entail the active participation of farmers. Currently we are engaged in on-farm research that addresses soil and nutrient management problems. Our educational activities are aimed at farmers who rely on green manures as nitrogen sources or who are interested in using cover crops in their farming system.
service to the profession
- Ecological Society of America, Science Committee Committee Member 2004 -
- Steering Committee for the Scientific Congress on Organic Agricultural Research Committee Member 1999 -
- Ecological Society of America, Agroecology Section Chairperson 2003 - 2004
Background
education and training
- Ph.D. in Physiological ecology, University of California, Davis 1986
- B.A. in Biology, University of South Florida 1978
awards and honors
- Affinito-Stewart Award, 2001
Other
college
- CALS
research keyword
- agroecology
- biogeochemistry
- nutrient management
- plant-microbial interactions
- soil ecology
- sustainability
name prefix
- Professor