Objective 4:
Ecosystem Services and Modeling
Overview
Our goal is to quantify the potential for perennial ground covers to provide ecosystem services, including improved water quality, flood and drought mitigation, protection from soil erosion, and the provision of biofuel feedstock and/or fodder.
Goals
Research Goals
We will quantify:
- PGC’s potential for decreased flood risk and improved drought resiliency compared to conventional cropping systems.
- PGC’s anticipated positive impacts on water quality.
- PGC’s enhanced ecosystem service sustainability indicators and compare them with conventional systems.
- The limits on PGC maize stover removal.
Ecosystem Services and Modeling Team
Leadership
Amy L. Kaleita
Iowa State University
Collaborator
Randy Clark
Corteva Agriscience
Graduate Students
Ralph Danquah-Acquah
Iowa State University
Graduate Student
Zoe Gray
University of Missouri, Columbia
Graduate Student
Alumni
Robert P. Anex
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Co- Project Director
Oluwatuyi (“Tuyi”) Olowoyeye
Iowa State University
Ph.D., June 2025
Kaila Topping
University of Wisconsin – Madison
Master’s, May 2023
NGO Partners