Kiera Crowley

IMG_1209

Graduated alumna
kac328@cornell.edu

Education
M.S. Crop and Soil Science, Cornell University, 2017
B.A. Geography and Chinese, Colgate University

Thesis
Tradeoffs in Cereal Rye Management Strategies Prior to Organic Soybean

Research interests with the Sustainable Cropping Systems Lab
At Cornell, Kiera worked on an experiment comparing different cover crop management strategies in corn and soybean rotations. The treatments included a no-till treatment that was roller-crimped, a plow down treatment in which all the cover crop biomass was plowed in before planting, a “rye-lage” treatment in which rye was harvested for fodder and the remaining stubble was plowed under before planting, and a control treatment that was not planted with a cover crop. She compared these treatments from several angles, including soil health, water infiltration and run-off, economics, weed suppression, crop yield, and labor time.