Kelsie M Ferin

My research focuses on quantifying the implications of land use change on water quality, specifically by converting annual row crops (i.e. corn and soybean) to biofuel perennials (i.e. miscanthus and switchgrass) in areas of high nitrate leaching and low profitability. To do this, I run an agro-ecosystem model (Agro-IBIS) and a terrestrial hydrological model (THMB) to assess the energy, water, and nitrogen balances, nitrate leaching at a subfield scale, and streamflow rates for both small watersheds within Iowa and all of the Mississippi River Basin. These projects take into account the strategies suggested within the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy to better understand how different land use changes and management practices will affect the water quality and ecosystem productivity, especially under a changing climate.