Graduate Students
Current Students
Meet some of the graduate students who are currently involved in CEFS research:
Suzanne O’Connell Suzanne's research topic is "Soil Ecology and Nitrogen Fixation Related to Summer Cover Crops in Organic Production Systems." Her dissertation research will focus on the use of cover crops in farming systems with an emphasis on nutrient release patterns and biological soil indicators. Suzanne earned an M.S. in Horticultural Science at N.C. State (Dr. Mary Peet, advisor), in 2009. Her thesis work focused on the nutrient uptake and performance of grafted heirloom tomatoes in organic production systems. http://www4.ncsu.edu/~soconne/ |
Chris Bordeaux In recent years, the market for "naturally" raised pork products has increased dramatically. The higher value of these products has led many to develop their own outdoor or "pasture-raised" swine operations, but most have had very little guidance, resulting in ammonium and nitrate contamination and leaching. Chris' research is aimed at providing documentation of the soil nutrient loading associated with pastured-raise swine operations as well as proposing improved, realistic management practices for such operations. |
Student Work
Read about graduate and doctoral students' work:
- Cover Crop Mulches for No-till Organic Onion Production, by Emily Volmer
- Grafting & High Tunnels Heirloom Tomato Production, by Cary Rivard & Suzanne O'Connell
- Grafted Tomato Performance in Organic Production Systems: Nutrient Uptake, Plant Growth and Yield, by Suzanne O'Connell (M.S. thesis)
- Dung Beetles of Central and Eastern North Carolina Cattle Pastures (.pdf), by Matt Bertone
- The Contribution of Tunneling Dung Beetles to Pasture Soil Nutrition (.pdf), by Matt Bertone
- More graduate students and student research
Student Awards & Grants
O'Connell, Suzanne. Potential of Grafting to Improve Nutrient Management of Heirloom Tomatoes on Organic Farms. April 2007 to March 2009. Southern Region SARE Graduate Student Grant, Award #GS07-060. $10,000. Avail from: http://www.sare.org/reporting/report_viewer.asp?pn=GS07-060&ry=2009&rf=1
O'Connell, Suzanne*, Mary M. Peet, Frank J. Louws, Cary L. Rivard, and Chris D. Harlow. The Performance of Grafted Heirloom Tomatoes in Two Organic Production Systems: High Tunnels & the Open Field. 1st place, American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) National Graduate Student Poster Competition. July 2008.
O'Connell, Suzanne* and Mary M. Peet. Nutrient Uptake Efficiency & Plant Growth Indicators of Grafted Tomatoes. 1st place, American Society of Horticultural Science, Southern Region (S-ASHS) Graduate Student Poster Competition. February 2008.