2013 Apr-Jun Newsletter - Department of Crop & Soil Environmental ...

News
Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
Greetings
Warm spring weather has finally come to Blacksburg, the spring
semester is over, and most undergraduate students have
left town. Recently, we celebrated 46 May 2013 graduates —
more graduates than last year. Participation of CSES faculty in
graduation ceremonies was much higher than last year, and I
hope this will continue to increase because it is very meaningful
for our graduates and their families.
Faculty, staff, and graduate students in CSES are as busy
(if not busier) during the summer as during the academic
year. Harvesting small grains, corn and soybean planting and
management, field sampling, and lab research will keep many
of us busy at work — not to mention keeping up with that lawn at
home! However, there is no denying that life on campus has taken
on a quieter pace during the past few weeks. I think most of us
enjoy this change of pace, though we know it can’t go on for long.
Fall will be here before we know it. In the meantime, important
things continue to happen in the department. Interviews for
our new Critical Zone Physics
faculty position are continuing
this week, and soon we hope
to announce new hires for this
position and for the Landscape
Ecosystem Processes position.
We were not successful in
hiring an Assistant Professor
of Computational Genetics and
Bioinformatics, so this search
will start again — expect to hear
more about this soon.
Tom Thompson
Your summer will probably be
busy, but I hope that each of you can take some time to enjoy the
outdoors, family, friends, and the slower pace of life that summer
can bring.
CSES Environmental Science major celebrates 20 years
Contributed by Zeke Barlow, Communications Manager, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
In 1988, professors in the Department of Crop and Soil Environmental
Sciences began to create a new major that would explore
the many environmental issues facing the world. But unlike other
majors that focused on policy or politics or social issues, this was
to be a course of study that looked at the science behind environmental
problems such as the chemistry behind soil contamination,
the physics of chemical fate, and the microbiology of pollutants in
water.
When the major was officially created in the 1992-93 academic
year, it not only became one of the first environmental science majors
ever offered at a U.S. university, it also helped spawn a new
generation of environmental scientists tackling some of the most
pressing issues on the planet. Now, as the department celebrates
the 20th anniversary of the environmental science major, it is not
only looking back on the many accomplishments of its graduates
and faculty, it is preparing its current students for careers in an array
of fields dealing with emerging environmental issues concerning
the land, water, and air.
“When we created this major two decades ago, there was an
increasing need for people who had a solid scientific background
in environmental fields,” said Dave Parrish, a professor emeritus
who helped start the major. “These are skills that are needed now
more than ever.”
Numbers, both in the university and in the job market, reiterate
that fact. Figures from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecast
that the employment of environmental scientist and specialists
is expected to increase by 28 percent between 2008 and 2018,
a much faster growth rate than the average for all occupations.
Continued on page 3
April-May-June 2013 Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences 1

New CSES faculty spotlight
Bo Zhang
Bo Zhang grew up in a mountain town in Northeastern China,
so Blacksburg makes her feel at home. Before joining our
department, Zhang had been the lead scientist in charge of
the soybean breeding and genetics program at Virginia State
University since April 2011. Her program at VSU was the top
vegetable soybean (edamame) breeding program in the U.S.,
with long-breeding and abundant edamame germplasm.
Before moving to Virginia, Zhang also had three-year industry
experience with Bayer Crop Science as a molecular lab supervisor
responsible for molecular marker-assisted selection in herbicide
tolerant and disease resistant soybeans in De Witt, Ark.
Zhang received her Ph.D. in 2006 in cell and molecular biology
from University of Arkansas under Pengyin Chen, a former Hokie.
She continued to work at the university as a postdoctoral research
associate for another year and she was trained as a modern
plant breeder with experiences on field selection and molecular
technique application.
Zhang’s research will focus on developing new, improved, and
market-needed soybean cultivars adapted to Virginia and mid-
Atlantic region. All elite varieties are selected through extensive
testing in diverse locations in Virginia with the Eastern Virginia
Agricultural Research and Extension Center in Warsaw, Va., as the
main location. The specific interests of the soybean breeding team
are:
• Develop new and improved, conventional, and herbicidetolerant
soybean varieties adapted to various production
systems in Virginia and mid-Atlantic region.
• Incorporate value-added traits to specialty soybeans to
reinforce Virginia soybean growers’ competitive ability in
various market.
• Develop diverse soybean germplasm in yield, maturity, pest
resistance, stress tolerance, value added traits, etc. to broad
genetic background of soybean.
• Utilize molecular techniques to modify seed compositions for
seed quality improvement.
Zhang moved to
Blacksburg with her
husband, Long, and
their 4-year-old son,
Youyou. Hiking is their
favorite activity. She also
likes practicing yoga for
stress relief and overall
health improvement,
and she enjoys the
boneless feeling after
each yoga practice.
Bo Zhang
Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences
2013 graduates
CSES is proud of its 46 spring 2013 graduates. The graduates
were celebrated at a picnic in their honor on May 9.
Graduate students:
M.S. degrees: Aaron Bradner, Derik Cataldi, Jonathan Dickerson,
Cristie Edwards, Amber Hickman, Gordon Jones, Justin Jones,
Xiaojun Liu, John Parker, Nathaniel Reams, Julie Reimer, Devin
Rippner, Karin Stretchko, Nicole Troyer
Ph.D. degrees: Catherine Fleming, Jinling Li
Crop and Soil Science undergraduates:
Dalton Bennett, Austin Gardner, Jacob Heizer, Hayden Lyons***,
Nicholas Polera, Kevin Steele, Wayne Webb Jr., Benjamin Williams*
Environmental science undergraduates:
Dana Bakirtjy, Mark Condron, Stephen Dix, Kathryn Gaasch, Emily
Gorman, Lucie Law, James Linton, Jacqueline Mattingly, Jacob
McGaughey, Matthew Medders, Reid Nebergall, Lana Parker,
Joshua Ribelin**, Hillary Schmitthenner, Spencer Shanholtz***,
Devon Taylor, Rachel Thomas, Benjamin Watson**
Outstanding undergraduates:
Spencer Shanholtz – ENSC and Hayden Lyons - CSS
*Cum Laude; **Magna Cum Laude; ***Summa Cum Laude
Visit our Facebook page at: Crop and Soil Environmental Science at Virginia Tech
CSES News is produced by the Office of Communications and Marketing in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
VT/0613/CSES-58NP
2 Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences April-May-June 2013

CSES Continued from page 1
The number of students enrolled in the major has grown from a
handful of students in 1992 to 150 today.
“We have continued to grow because of the premium we place
on the science behind human-caused impacts to our planet,”
said Tom Thompson, head of the Department of Crop and Soil
Environmental Sciences. “This is a major for students who are
passionate about science and realize the value of such an
education.”
From the coalfields of Virginia to the hills of Haiti’s Central Plateau,
faculty are researching and teaching how to reclaim damaged
land for agricultural, urban, and wildland purposes. Others are
examining the sources and spread of water-borne pollutants and
the best ways to mitigate damage to water bodies. And some are
exploring the impact of climate change on crops that are going
to become more stressed at a time when more food is needed to
feed a growing population.
I’ve always had a passion for the
environment and I felt that this was
the best way for me to contribute to
the preservation of the health and
integrity of the planet.
—Kathryn Gaasch, 2013 Environmental Science graduate
“There isn’t a subject in the arena of environmental science that
we aren’t involved with today,” Thompson said. “We are preparing
students for some of the most pressing problems out there.”
Students like Kathryn Gaasch of Ellicott City, Md., got into the
major because they have an equal interest in science and the
environment.
“I’ve always had a passion for the environment and I felt that this
was the best way for me to contribute to the preservation of the
health and integrity of the planet,” said Gaasch, a recent graduate.
Publications
Christopher, Mark D., Shuyu Liu, Marla D. Hall, David S. Marshall,
Myron O. Fountain, Jerry W. Johnson, Eugene A. Milus, Kimberly
A. Garland-Campbell, Xianming Chen, and Carl A. Griffey. 2013.
Identification and mapping of adult plant stripe rust resistance in
soft red winter wheat VA00W-38. Crop Sci. 52:1-9. doi: 10.2135/
cropsci2012.02.0086.
Berger, G., A. Green, W. Brooks, M. Vaughn, R. Pitman, W. Thomason,
and C. Griffey. 2012. Yield potential of hulless versus hulled
full-sib genotypes in four winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) populations.
Crop Sci. doi: 10.2135/cropsci2012.10.0603.
Renne, I.J., B.F. Tracy. 2013. Disturbance intensity, timing and land
use history interact to affect pasture weed invasion. Basic and Applied
Ecology 14:44-53.
Zipper, C.E., J.A. Burger, C.D. Barton, J.G. Skousen. 2013. Rebuilding
soils on mined land for native forests in Appalachia, USA. Soil
Science Society of America Journal 77:337-349.
Taylor, L.L., A.X. Niemiera, R.D. Wright, R. Harris, G. Evanylo, and W.
Thomason. 2012. Nitrification in Pine Tree Substrate is Influenced
by Storage Time and Amendments. HortScience 48(1):115-122.
Li, J., and Evanylo, G.K., 2013. The effects of long-term application
of organic residuals on carbon sequestration. Soil Science Society
of America Journal 77: (In press).
Li, J. G.K. Evanylo, X. Zhong, and EH. Ervin. 2013. Effects of biosolids
treatment processes on nitrogen cycling and carbon accumulation
under various tillage practices. J. Residuals Science and
Technology 10:29-40.
Awards
Tiffany Sikes, M.S. candidate in the Small Grains Breeding and
Genetics Program, received the second-place award for her poster,
“Validation of Loci Conferring Adult Plant Resistance to Powdery
Mildew in Wheat Cultivar Massey and Identification of Diagnostic
Molecular Markers,” presented at the 59th Annual Research Review
in Wooster, Ohio, on March 20. The poster competition is hosted
by The USDA-ARS Soft Wheat Quality Laboratory and the American
Association of Cereal Chemists.
New Funded Grants
Abaye, O. Educational Program. $2,500, April 1, 2013 - June 30,
2014. Virginia Corn Board.
Daniels, W.L. Soil Stabilization Research Support. $33,000, April
30, 2013 - Sept. 23, 2013. Luna Innovations, Inc.
Ervin, E.H. and D. McCall. IPM for Putting Greens in Virginia: Using
Iron Sulfate to Control Poa annua, Moss, and Dollar Spot, while Reducing
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Pesticide. $8,400, July 1, 2013
– June 30, 2014. Virginia Agricultural Council.
Evanylo, G.K., D. Sample, T.W. Thompson, W.L. Daniels, and L.J. Fox.
Strategies for reducing stormwater pollution by improved bioretention
design and performance assessment. $30,000. (CALS Internal
Award)
Goatley, J.M. and D.J. Sample. Chesapeake Bay Watershed
Implementation. $109,000, Jan. 1, 2013 - Jan. 9, 2014. Virginia
Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Continued on page 4
April-May-June 2013 Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences 3

Recognition
Ronnie Gill, (Agronomy ’82), received the CALS 2013 Alumni
Leadership Award. Ronnie has been employed by Colonial Farm
Credit since graduating with a degree in agronomy in 1982, rising
through the ranks to successively more responsible positions. He
now serves as executive vice president of the farm credit. Outside
of work, Ronnie has been active in community and agricultural
organizations including serving as treasurer of the Virginia Grain
Producers Association, as a board member of the Northern Neck
Farm Museum, and as a member of Rotary International. Ronnie
has given selflessly of his time and energy on behalf of the college
serving as president of the College Alumni Organization for the
past two years and as a director since 2005.
Todd Luxton, (M.S. in CSES, 2002; Ph.D. in CSES, 2007), is
2013 CSES Young Distinguished Alumnus. Todd is the principal
investigator of environmental chemistry with the office of research
and development for the United States Environmental Protection
Agency. In addition to being an outstanding research scientist,
he is an outstanding teacher and has continued to give back to
the crop and soil environmental sciences department by presenting
seminars, giving guest lectures in soil chemistry, and talking
to students about graduate school and careers in environmental
science.
Jeff Clarke, (CSES, 2000), of Turf Equipment and Supply Company
was recently recognized by the Toro Company as one of four
recipients of the ‘Toro Green Blazer’ award. The award is based
upon a combination of sales, service, and professionalism over a
period of years with a distributor.
New Funded Grants Continued from page 3
Goatley, J.M. Nutrient Management Specialist-- Small Farms, and
Business Analyst- Geoinformatics Specialist. $162,500. Virginia
Department of Conservation and Recreation.
Goatley, J.M. Cool-season turfgrass growth and color response to
enhanced efficiency fertilizers. $7,200, May 1, 2013 - Dec. 31,
2013. Koch Agronomic Services.
Griffey, C.A, W. Thomason, R. Pitman. Improving wheat for changing
environments. $14,000, Jul 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014. Virginia
Agricultural Council.
Hagedorn, C. VA 2013 Beach Monitoring and Notification. $48,000,
March 1, 2013 - Nov. 30, 2013. Virginia Department of Health.
Saghai-Maroof, M.A. and G. Pilot. Use of DNA Markers to Develop
High Protein Soybean Cultivars. $10,000, July 1, 2013 – June 30,
2014. Virginia Agricultural Council.
Saghai-Maroof, MA. Use of Genomics to Develop Disease Resistant
Soybeans. $21,194, April 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014. Virginia Soybean
Board.
Thomason, W. Corn Hybrid Evaluations, Management. $42,300,
April 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014. Virginia Corn Board.
Thompson, T.L. Hiring a new soybean breeder for Virginia Tech,
$43,000. April 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014. Virginia Soybean Board.
Xia, K. Animal Nutrition Equipment. $200,000. Pratt Endowment
Funds.
Zhang, B. Breeding Soybean Varieties Adapted to Virginia. $30,000,
April 1, 2013 - June 30, 2014. Virginia Soybean Board.
Upcoming events:
VA Tech Turfgrass Research Field Day, Blacksburg, Va., Aug. 27–28.
Contact the Virginia Turfgrass Council at www.vaturf.org for more
information.
Multidisciplinary team of faculty and students advances
to final round in Casey Trees Foundation competition.
A team comprised of faculty and students from three different
colleges at Virginia Tech has advanced to the final round in a
master plan design competition sponsored by the Casey Trees
Foundation.
Out of fourteen teams from across the country, Virginia Tech’s
team is among four that have made it to the final round. It
completed a mid-competition presentation at the Casey Trees
headquarters in Washington D.C. on Feb. 25 and is now preparing
for the final presentation in late May. The competition winner will
be announced June 23.
The goal of the Casey Trees Master Plan Design Competition and
Awards Program, is to develop a plan for the farm that reflects
best practices, introduces innovative land conservation concepts,
and helps expand the
foundation’s mission to,
“restore, enhance, and
protect the tree canopy
of the nation’s capital.”
The master plan must
also reflect and reinforce
the mission of the farm
through research, collaboration, and environmental
stewardship.
The team includes John Fike, an associate professor
in CSES, who is focusing on the agroforestry aspects
of the plan.
4 Department of Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences April-May-June 2013