Theses and Dissertations, 2020–2021
January 1, 2023
For many decades, ASA, CSSA, and SSSA have published thesis and dissertation titles of graduates in the agronomic, crop, soil, and related environmental science disciplines. This year, we received 165 submissions representing 62 universities. Congratulations to all of our master’s and Ph.D. graduates.
We encourage you to take full advantage of membership in the Societies as you pursue your professional careers. Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance has paid off, and an exciting career in our sciences now begins. ASA, CSSA, and SSSA are here for you every step of the way!
Name | Institution | Graduation | Advisers | Thesis/Dissertation Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Doctorate Degrees in Agronomic Science Fields | ||||
ASA Land Management and Conservation Section | ||||
| Benalcazar, Paul Gonzalo | Lakehead Univ. | 6/3/2022 | B. McLaren, R. Kolka, A. Diochion | Assessment and Evolution of Soil Health Indicators with Changes from Boreal Forest to Agriculture in Thunder Bay, Ontario. |
ASA Agronomic Production Systems Section | ||||
| Champagne, Rebecca J. | Univ. of Maine | 5/7/2022 | E. Gallandt | Evaluating Physical and Cultural Methods to Improve Weed Management in Organic Vegetables. |
| Essman, Alyssa I. | Ohio State Univ. | 5/8/2022 | M. Loux, A. Lindsey | The Impacts and Management of Herbicide-Resistant Weeds in Ohio Agronomic Crop Production. |
| McGlinch, Greg J. | Ohio State Univ. | 12/15/2021 | L. Lindsey | Management of Two-Row Winter Malting Barley to Meet Yield and Quality Requirements. |
| Nichols, Virginia Anne | Iowa State Univ. | 9/14/2021 | M. Liebman, S. Archontoulis | Anything but Simple: Using Models and Field Studies to Explore the Effects of Cropping System Diversification in the Upper Midwestern US. |
Name | Institution | Graduation | Advisers | Thesis/Dissertation Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singh, Bhupinder | Mississippi State Univ. | 5/1/2020 | D. Chastain, K.R. Reddy | Agronomic and Physiological Responses of Resistant and Susceptible Cotton Genotypes to Reniform Nematode Severity and Soil Fertility. |
ASA Environmental Quality Section | ||||
| Mosesso, Lauren | Univ. of Delaware | 6/17/2022 | A. Shober | Characterization of Legacy Soil P and Quantification of Subsurface Losses Under Artificial Drainage. |
| Sedghi, Nathan | Univ. of Maryland | 12/21/2021 | R. Weil | Extending the Cover Crop Growing Season to Reduce Nitrogen Pollution. |
Doctorate Degrees in Crop Science Fields | ||||
CSSA Crop Breeding and Genetics Division (C-1) | ||||
| Hershberger, Jenna | Cornell Univ. | 8/31/2021 | M.A. Gore | Quality Trait Prediction in Cassava and Sweet Corn. |
| Hislop, Lillian | Univ. of Wisconsin- Madison | 1/22/2022 | W. Tracy | Genetic Associations of Endosperm Carbohydrate Composition and Sugarcane Mosaic Virus Resistance in Sweet Corn (Zeamays.). |
| Mangat, Puneet Kaur | Texas Tech Univ. | 12/11/2021 | R. Shim | Exploring Natural Variation in Solanum Lycopersicoides Towards Introgressive Breeding for Target Trait Improvement in Tomato (S. |
| Ravelombola, Francia Seconde | Univ. of Arkansas | 5/15/2022 | L. Mozzoni, E. Shabika | Breeding Soybean (Glycine Max L.) Under Reduction Irrigation. |
| Sandhu, Karansher Singh | Washington State Univ. | 10/26/2021 | A. Carter | Enhancing Genetic Gain in a Wheat Breeding Program using Genomics, Phenomics, Machine and Deep Learning Algorithms. |
CSSA Crop Physiology & Metabolism Division (C-2) | ||||
| Kim, Jinwook | Univ. of Lleida | 1/27/2022 | G. Slafer, R. Savin | Physiology of Genotypic Differences in Wheat Grain Weight Among Elite Cultivars of Contrasting Grain Number. |
CSSA Crop Ecology, Management & Quality Division (C-3) | ||||
| Sible, Connor Nelson | Univ. of Illinois | 5/15/2022 | F. E. Below | Characterizing Plant Biostimulants and Their Impact on the Soil Microbiome and Productivity of Maize. |
CSSA Turfgrass Science Division (C-5) | ||||
| Carlson, Michael | Univ. of Nebraska- Lincoln | 5/14/2022 | L. Puntel, B. Kreuser | Precision Nitrogen Management for Golf Course Fairways. |
| Carroll, Devon Elizabeth | Univ. of Tennessee | 5/19/2022 | J. Brosnan | Poa annua: An Annual Species? |
| Hutchens, Wendell Joseph | Virginia Tech | 5/14/2022 | D. McCall | Biology, Epidemiology, and Management of Spring Dead Spot of Bermudagrass. |
Name | Institution | Graduation | Advisers | Thesis/Dissertation Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kim, Kyungmin | Michigan State Univ. | 12/17/2021 | A. Kravchenko, P. Robertson, A. Guber | Change of Soil Micro-Environments During Plant Decomposition and its Effect on Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics. |
| McGrail, Rebecca Kay | Univ. of Kentucky | 8/11/2021 | D.H. McNear, Jr. | Enhancing Agroecosystem Phosphorus Management: Root Phenotyping and Decomposition for Improved Phosphorus Cycling. |
| Nevins, Clayton James | Univ. of Florida | 8/9/2021 | P. Inglett, S. Strauss | Biological Soil Crusts Impact Nutrient Cycling and Soil Microbiome in Agroecosystems. |
| Nunez, Agustin | Colorado State Univ. | 8/4/2021 | M. Schipanski | When the Wells Run Dry: Soil Organic Carbon Dynamics During the Transition from Irrigated to Dryland Cropping Systems. |
| Thapa, Vesh Raj | New Mexico State Univ. | 8/4/2021 | R. Ghimire | Cover Crops Affect Soil Health And Crop Production Under Limited-Irrigation Winter Wheat-Sorghum-Fallow. |
| SSSA Soil Chemistry Division | ||||
| Sun, Fajun | Florida State Univ. | 7/31/2021 | Y. Wang | Geochemical Proxies Preserved in Fossils and Lake Sediments: New Insights into Ancient Diets and Environments in South China and Storm Activity in South Florida. |
| SSSA Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition Division | ||||
| Bohman, Brian Joseph | Univ. of Minneso- ta-Twin Cities | 8/31/2021 | D. Mulla, C. Rosen | Investigating Nitrogen and Irrigation Management Strategies to Improve Agronomic and Environmental Outcomes for Potato Production. |
| Cruz, Jayvee Adriano | Louisiana State Univ. | 8/4/2021 | B. Tubana | Silicate-Solubilizing Bacteria in Louisiana Soils: Identification, Profiling, and Functions in Crop Production. |
| Svedin, Jeffrey David | Univ. of Missouri | 5/17/2022 | N. Kitchen, K. Veum, S. Anderson | Utilization and Limitations of Soil Health Metrics for Missouri Corn Production. |
| SSSA Soil Physics and Hydrology Division | ||||
| Weber, Peter | Aarhus Univ. | 6/16/2022 | L. Wollesen de Jonge, P. Moldrup, M.H. Greve | Greenlandic Soils: Their Functional Properties and the Effects of Glacial Rock Flour Application. |
| SSSA Soils & Environmental Quality Division | ||||
| Ansari, Jamshid | Univ. of Missouri | 5/15/2022 | S. H. Anderson | Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Soil Microbial Activity for Selected Land Use Systems in Floodplains. |
| Perrone, Sharon | Univ. of Minnesota- Twin Cities | 8/30/2021 | J. Grossman | Sensitivity, Variability, and Statistical Evaluation of Soil Health Indicators in a Silt Loam Soil in Mower County, MN. |
Name | Institution | Graduation | Advisers | Thesis/Dissertation Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Master’s Degrees in Argonomic Science Fields | ||||
ASA Agronomic Production Systems Section | ||||
| Arinaitwe, Unius | South Dakota State Univ. | 8/22/2021 | T. Nleya | Evaluating Canola Genotypes for Growth and Yield Under Different Environmental Conditions in South Dakota. |
| Ellison, Elora- Danam | West Texas A & M Univ. | 5/7/2022 | B. Blaser, M. Darapuneni, M. Rhoades | Evaluating Forage Sorghum- Cowpea and Pearl Millet-Cowpea Production and Quality in the Texas High Plains. |
| Munoz, Sonia Rebecca | Texas A&M Univ.-Kingsville | 8/15/2021 | G. Schuster, M. Setamou | Non-Thesis. |
| Sullivan, Tina Marie | Utah State Univ. | 5/17/2022 | M. Yost | 4R Nitrogen and Water Optimization Combinations for Intermountain West Field Crops. |
Master’s Degrees in Crop Science Fields | ||||
CSSA Crop Physiology & Metabolism Division (C-2) | ||||
| Hull, Ashley Marie | Appalachian State Univ. | 5/16/2022 | H. Neufeld | Photosynthetic Physiology of Fraser fir (Abies fraseri) Christmas Trees. |
| Ortmeier-Clarke, Haleigh Jo | Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison | 8/20/2021 | S.P. Conley, R. Werle | Considerations for Growing Industrial Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in Wisconsin. |
| CSSA Turfgrass Science Division (C-5) | ||||
| Burgin, Hanna Renae | Brigham Young Univ. | 12/17/2021 | B. Hopkins | Hybrid Bermudagrass and Kentucky Bluegrass Response Under Deficit Irrigation in a Semi-Arid, Cool Season Climate. |
| Kaur, Charanpreet | Oklahoma State Univ. | 7/30/2021 | J.Q. Moss | Evaluation of Turf-Type Bermudagrass Cultivars and Experimental Genotypes for Rooting Characteristics and Drought Performance. |
| McNally, Brandon | Rutgers Univ. | 1/2/2022 | M. Elmore | Phosphorus and Soil pH Affect Annual Bluegrass (Poa annua L.) Competitiveness in Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.). |
CSSA Forage & Grazing Lands Division (C-6) | ||||
| Dantas Queiroz, Luana M | Univ. of Florida | 8/5/2021 | J.C.B. Dubeux Jr. | Performance and Nitrogen Dynamics in Grass-Legume Systems in Florida. |
| Hall, Alyssa K. | Univ. of Nebraska- Lincoln | 12/17/2021 | D. Redfearn | Livestock Grazing Impacts on Crop and Soil Responses for Two Cropping Systems. |
| Mosqueda, Haley Malyn | West Texas A & M Univ. | 5/10/2022 | B. Blaser | Forage Production and Quality of Forage Sorghum and Sunnhemp Intercropped at Different Seeding Rates. |
Master’s Degrees in Soil Science Fields | ||||
SSSA Forest, Range & Wildland Soils Division | ||||
| McCool, Katherine | Oregon State Univ. | 6/11/2022 | J. Hatten | Quantifying Impacts of Forest Fire on Soil Carbon in a Young, Intensively Managed Tree Farm in the Western Oregon Cascades. |
Name | Institution | Graduation | Advisers | Thesis/Dissertation Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
SSSA Soil & Water Management & Conservation Division | ||||
| Kruger, Kelsey | Univ. of Wisconsin- Madison | 8/30/2021 | M. Ruark, A. Thompson | An Exploratory Analysis of Edge-of-Field Phosphorus Losses. |
SSSA Soil Biology & Biochemistry Division | ||||
| Epps, Annalee Carol | Texas A&M Univ. College Station | 5/20/2022 | J. Howe, A.P. Smith | Effects of Long-Term Agricultural Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Organic Carbon Cycling. |
| Judd, Tanner | Oklahoma State Univ. | 5/6/2022 | A. Jilling | Soil Nitrogen Storage and Mineralization Potential in a Winter Wheat System Under Long-Term Nitrogen Fertilization. |
SSSA Soil Fertility & Plant Nutrition Division | ||||
| Ankomah, Godfred | Illinois State Univ. | 8/5/2021 | C. Robinson | Phosphorus and Zinc Effects on Soybean Yield and Agronomic Efficiency. |
| Orjuela Diaz, Daniela | Purdue Univ. | 8/5/2021 | J. Camberato, R. Nielsen | Corn Growth and Yield Response to Starter Fertilizer. |
SSSA Soil Physics and Hydrology Division | ||||
| Coffman, Sarah Elizabeth | Texas A&M Univ. College Station | 8/12/2021 | C.L.S. Morgan, J.A. Howe | Assessing the Utility of the VisNIR-Mounted Penetrometer. |
| Wardrup, Jocelyn Lee | Univ. of Delaware | 8/16/2021 | R. Vargas | Soil Organic Carbon in Tidal Wetlands of the Northeast United States. |
SSSA Soil Chemistry Division | ||||
| Mumbi, Rose Caroline Kirigo | Tennessee State Univ. | 7/14/2021 | S. Rakshit | Probing the Influence of Veterinary Antibiotics on Boron Retention/ Release Mechanism at the Mineral/Water Interface. |
| Nel, Teneille | Univ. of Stellenbosch | 12/10/2021 | A. Hardie | Conversion of Soil pH Values and Exchangeable Base Cation Quantities Determined by Different Methods. |
SSSA Soils & Environmental Quality Division | ||||
| Brehm, Theresa | Ohio State Univ. | 5/8/2022 | S. Culman | Evaluating the Effects of Underground Pipeline Installation on Soil and Crop Characteristics Throughout Ohio, USA. |
| Fordyce, Simon Isaac | Montana State Univ. | 5/12/2022 | C. Jones, P. Carr | Spatial Patterns in Soil Depth and Implications for Offseason Nitrogen Dynamics in Dryland Wheat Systems of Central Montana. |
| Hight, Christopher Michael | California State Polytechnic Univ. | 6/12/2022 | C. Decock, A. Tubeileh, M. Grieshop | Predictive Indicators of Nitrogen Mineralization and Availability in Organic Fields on the Central Coast. |
| Sharry, Raedan Lane | Oklahoma State Univ. | 7/31/2021 | D.B. Arnall | Influence of Soil pH on Cotton Morphology, Lint Yield and Lint Quality. |
No Section or Division Specified | ||||
| Schuler, Jordan | Univ. of Wisconsin- Madison | 4/5/2022 | J. Colquhoun | Alternative Specialty Crops and Innovative Production Systems in Wisconsin Vegetable Production. |
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