Environmental Quality Section | American Society of Agronomy
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Environmental Quality Section

Agriculture covers roughly 30% of the earth and is inextricably linked to the quality of our environment. Understanding how agriculture affects our environment and improving the management of agriculture to promote air, soil and water quality is the central focus of the Environmental Quality Section. We have seven communities that have formed in the section, with most activities occurring at this level.

The Environmental Quality Section is committed to representing its members to ensure that emerging issues of agronomy and the environment are effectively communicated and that division activities reflect member interest. If you would like to highlight a topic of importance on this web page or play a role in section activities, contact the presiding chair.

Our Communities

Animal Agriculture and the Environment

Members | Community Leaders | Donate | Discussion Board

This community encourages scientific exchanges among scientists, educators, extension practitioners, regulators, policy makers, and producers. Members focus on solutions to environmental issues associated with animal agriculture.

Cows lying in field

Biochar: Agronomic and Environmental Uses

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This Community will fill the need for a scientific organization focused on the environmental and agronomic impacts and uses of biochar, particularly related to soil application. Environmental impacts could entail the use of biochar as a sorbent for metals, microbes, and other agrochemicals.

Prescribed burning on a farm

Managing Denitrification in Agronomic Systems

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This Community brings together members interested in methods to reduce nitrate loss from agricultural systems through enhanced denitrification.

Close up of crop stems

Beneficial Reuse By-Products in Agriculture

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This community will provide a forum to share research and results of gypsum and additional by-product materials used in agricultural systems, excluding biochar and products likely to be covered in the Nutrients and Environmental Quality Community. Community members assess the environmental and plant productive effects of gypsum and additional by-products.

Young crops growing

Nutrients and Environmental Quality

Members | Community Leaders | Donate | Discussion Board

Community members develop and promote solutions to prevent nutrient losses and water quality degradation from both urban and agriculture land uses.

Moisture added to field

Soil Carbon and Greenhouse Gas Emission

Members | Community Leaders | Donate | Discussion Board

This community examines how management of agronomic systems can influence soil carbon accumulation and greenhouse gas emissions, while providing a forum for sharing these research results.

Close up of plant material

Sustainable Intensification

Members | Community Leaders | Donate | Discussion Board

Community members examine challenges of current agricultural systems and develop solutions to increase crop yields and reduce negative environmental impacts.

Farm land
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Section Awards

Inspiring Early Career Scientist Award
These awards recognize inspiring early-career scientists who have made creative and impactful contributions toward sustaining agriculture through Environmental Quality research, teaching, extension/public service or industry activity within seven years of completing their terminal degree.

Inspiring Early Career Scientist Award Nomination Form

Environmental Quality Outstanding Graduate Student Awards
This award is to recognize graduate students who have made, or who have the potential to make, significant contributions to the field of environmental quality and to encourage their involvement in the American Society of Agronomy.  Recipients will receive a certificate of recognition and $250.

Environmental Quality Outstanding Graduate Student Award

Update Your ASA Communities

Com·mu·ni·ty: noun a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.

View the complete list of ASA Communities and join.

View Section Officers

Corporate Sponsorship

If you represent a company that would like to be a sponsor, please contact Alex Priester.

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ASA Environmental Quality Section Inspiring Early Career Scientist Award Recipients

Andrea Diane Basche, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in Cropping Systems
Department of Agronomy and Horticulture
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Biswanath Dari, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor & Natural Resources Specialist
Cooperative Extension at North Carolina A&T State University

Tyler Groh, Ph.D.
Assistant Research Professor & Watershed Management Extension Specialist
Ecosystem Science and Management Department
The Pennsylvania State University

Joao Antonangelo, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Oklahoma State University

Grace Miner, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Soil Management and Sugarbeet Research
USDA-ARS

Rishi Prasad, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist - Animal Systems Environmental Specialist
Auburn University

Virginia Sykes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Plant Sciences
University of Tennessee

Ryan Stewart, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Virginia Polytechnic Institute

Amanda Ashworth, Ph.D.
Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit
USDA-ARS

Davie M. Kadyampakeni, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
UF-Citrus REC

Cameron Pittelkow, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Land, Air and Water Resources
University of California, Davis

Laura Christianson, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Illinois Drainage Research and Outreach Program (I-DROP Lab)
University of Illinois

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