Soil Health and Intensification of Agroecosystems

Dr. Mahdi M. Al-Kaisi is a professor of Soil Physics at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA. He obtained his B.S. degree in Soil Science from the University of Baghdad, Iraq, in 1974, and M.S. and Ph.D. in Soil Physics from North Dakota State University in 1983 and 1986. Professor Al-Kaisi held positions as a Water Quality Specialist at Colorado State University, 1990-2000 and Assistant, Associate, and full Professor from 2000 to present at Iowa State University, where his research focus is in the area of applied soil physics that includes research on the effects of cropping and tillage systems, crop residue management, and nitrogen application on soil physical properties, soil carbon dynamics, greenhouse gas emissions, soil temperature, water quality, and other ecosystem services. Professor Al-Kaisi and his graduate students, along with colleagues, published research findings in a wide range of national and international journals, proceedings, and popular press. His research led to the development of extension bulletins, and online management tools such as, residue and erosion calculators and the development of a soil carbon index for soils in Iowa. He served as Associate Editor for many journals and review panels. Professor Al-Kaisi is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, USA. Birl Lowery is an Emeritus Professor of Soil Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison). He held positions ranging from Assistant Professor to Professor from 1980 to 2014 at UW-Madison, and Senior Associate Dean in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences from 2010 to 2013. In 1973 he obtained a B.S. degree in Agricultural Education from Alcorn University, an M.A. degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1975 from Mississippi State University, and Ph.D. in Soil Physics in 1980 from Oregon State University. His area of research was applied soil physics, which included research on soil temperature and water regimes, erosion, compaction, contaminant flow in soil, and groundwater quality. He and his students and colleagues published their research findings extensively in a wide range of journals, proceedings, popular press, and book chapters. He has served as Associate Editor for numerous journals over his career.

1. Fundamentals and Functions of Soil Environment 2. Climate Variability Effects on Agriculture Land Use and Soil Services 3. Soil Health Concerns Facing Dryland Agroecosystems 4. Conservation Agriculture Systems to Mitigate Climate Variability Effects on Soil Health 5. Conventional Agricultural Production Systems and Soil Functions 6. Integration of Annual and Perennial Cover Crops for Improving Soil Health 7. Perennial-Based Agricultural Systems and Livestock Impact on Soil and Ecological Services 8. Intensified Agroecosystems and Their Effects on Soil Biodiversity and Soil Functions 9. Intensified Agroecosystems and Changes in Soil Carbon Dynamics 10. Agroecosystem Net Primary Productivity and Carbon Footprint 11. Nutrient Cycling and Soil Biology in Row Crop Systems under Intensive Tillage 12. Row-Crop Production Practices Effects on Greenhouse Gas Emissions 13. Low-Input and Intensified Crop Production Systems Effects on Soil Health and Environment 14. Agroforestry Practices and Soil Ecosystem Services 15. Targeted Use of Perennial Grass Biomass Crops in and Around Annual Crop Production Fields to Improve Soil Health 16. Biotechnology Impacts on Soil and Environmental Services