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Gerald A. Nielsen

Professor Post Retirement
Land Resources & Environmental Sciences
Montana State University

Address:
PO Box 173120, MSU

Phone Number: 406-994-5075
Fax Number: 406-994-3933
EMAIL: Nielsen@montana.edu
 Go to the University Page Investigator Photo
Gerald "Jerry" Nielsen is a Professor (post retirement) in the Department of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University. He received his Ph.D. in 1963, M.S. in 1960, and B.S. in 1958, all from the University of Wisconsin. His research interests are soil genesis, morphology and classification research including land and climate evaluation systems for management of agricultural and natural resources; recognizing and mapping biologically significant soil attributes and processes; applying soil and climatic data bases in field-scale geographic information systems using global positioning systems, remote sensing and expert system technologies.

CASMGS Research
"How is soil carbon sequestration affected by the quantity, quality and spatial distribution of biomass additions? Our work in the 1960s indicated that root biomass production under tall-grass prairie vegetation had more effect on carbon sequestration and A-horizon formation than did aboveground biomass (litter). Our hypothesis is that soil organic carbon distribution in grasslands and untilled agricultural soils is a 'fossil record' primarily of root biomass distribution where erosion has not caused significant soil redistribution; and furthermore, that biomass deposited on top of soil profiles, without physical incorporation, is either decomposed rapidly with carbon returned to the atmosphere or it accumulates as a litter layer (O-horizon) that changes soil micro-climate, ecosystem function, and productivity. We will test these ideas with grain and legume crops grown in the long-term cropping system study described in this web site by Engel and Miller. Effects of changing aboveground and below-ground biomass quantity and quality will be measured in terms of C-sequestration, litter accumulation and microclimate change. If we determine that aboveground biomass (e.g., straw) has little benefit for long-term soil carbon sequestration, then amounts beyond what is needed to prevent erosion could be removed from fields and used for feed, fuel or other beneficial purposes."
 CASMGS Research
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