Our Research

The Agroecology Lab studies how to build more sustainable and resilient cropping systems through ecological and social approaches. Our research focuses on three main areas:

1. Cropping system diversification

By studying how management practices like buffer strips and intercropping influence weed communities, nutrient cycling, and water availability, we aim to identify strategies that help farms adapt to a changing climate.

2. Food system modeling

By utilizing weather records, yield data, and landscape diversity, we simulate the performance of farming systems over time, assessing economic value and caloric output. This work enables us to investigate how crop diversity and management practices contribute to long-term food security and resilience against extreme climate events.

3. Farmer surveys

Through surveys, we gather insights on farmers' knowledge and perceptions of agroecological practices and climate change. This research helps us understand farmer challenges, priorities, and innovations, ensuring our research remains grounded in real-world needs.

Research Philosophy

We seek to promote open-access science. After all, agroecology is for the people! This means publishing in journals that don't have paywalls, maintaining free communication channels, and sharing data and code on open data repositories.

Publications

View on Google Scholar

Cereal rye (Secale cereale) and canola (Brassica napus) cover crops reduce dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) herbivore damage. Economos Z, Bloom EH, Menalled UD, Pethybridge SJ, Ryan MR, Casteel C (2026). Pest Management Science.
Legacy effects of crop diversity on weed-crop competition in maize production. Menalled UD, Bybee-Finley KA, Smith RG, DiTommaso A, Darby HM, Pethybridge SJ, Ryan MR (2024). npj Sustainable Agriculture. 2.
Rolled‐crimped cover crops for organic no‐till planted winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) in the Northeast region of the United States. Ryan MR, Rose TJ, Wayman S, Pelzer C, Menalled UD (2024). Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment.
The Cover Crop Challenge: An experiential learning activity for teaching students about cover crop mixtures. Menalled UD, Djuric N, Smith RG, Baas DG, Basche A, Haramoto ER, Park DM, Renner KA, Tully KL, Wortman SE, Ryan MR (2024). Natural Sciences Education.
Designing and implementing a synchronized multi‐university cover crops course. Basche A, Renner KA, Haramoto ER, Menalled UD, Wortman SE, Park DM, Smith RG, Baas DG, Tully KL, Ryan MR (2024). Natural Sciences Education.
Fertility and tillage intensity affect weed community diversity and functional structure in long-term organic systems. Allen J, Menalled UD, Adeux G, Pelzer C, Wayman S, Jernigan AB, Cordeau S, DiTommaso A, Ryan MR (2024). Ecological Applications.
High Seeding Rates, Interrow Mowing, and Electrocution for Weed Management in Organic No-Till Planted Soybean. Rowland AV, Menalled UD, Pelzer C, Sosnoskie L, DiTommaso A, Ryan M (2023). Weed science. 71.
Quantifying the roles of intraspecific and interspecific diversification strategies in forage cropping systems. Bybee‐Finley KA, Menalled UD, Pelzer C, Ruhl L, Lounsbury N, Warren ND, Cherney J, Darby H, Smith RG, Ryan M (2023). Field crops research (Print).
Phylogenetic relatedness can influence cover crop-based weed suppression. Menalled UD, Smith RG, Cordeau S, DiTommaso A, Pethybridge SJ, Ryan MR (2023). Scientific Reports. 13.
Effect of multi‐tactic weed management on weed suppression and yield in the establishment year of intermediate wheatgrass. Menalled UD, Pelzer C, DiTommaso A, Ryan MR (2023). Agrosystems, Geosciences & Environment.
Cereal rye mulch biomass and crop density affect weed suppression and community assembly in no‐till planted soybean. Menalled UD, Adeux G, Cordeau S, Smith RG, Mirsky S, Ryan M (2022). Ecosphere.
High Seeding Rates and Low Soil Nitrogen Environments Optimize Weed Suppression and Profitability in Organic No-Till Planted Soybean. Menalled UD, Pethybridge S, Pelzer C, Smith RG, DiTommaso A, Ryan M (2021). Frontiers in Agronomy. 3.
Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Tolerance to Mulch. Ryan M, Wayman S, Pelzer C, Peterson C, Menalled UD, Rose TJ (2021). Plants. 10.
Farming system effects on biologically mediated plant–soil feedbacks. Menalled UD, Seipel TF, Menalled F (2020). Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems. 36.
Soil-Mediated Effects on Weed-Crop Competition: Elucidating the Role of Annual and Perennial Intercrop Diversity Legacies. Menalled UD, Bybee‐Finley KA, Smith RG, DiTommaso A, Pethybridge S, Ryan M (2020). Agronomy.
Effect of Herbicide Management Practices Used by Invasive Plant Managers on Berteroa incana (Hoary Alyssum) Seed Biology and Control. Menalled UD, Davis S, Mangold J (2018). Invasive Plant Science and Management. 11.

Code

Analysis and data for the publication, "The Cover Crop Challenge: An experiential learning activity for teaching students about cover crop mixtures"

A workshop on how to make random effects for experiments with hierarchical structure

Learn about Bayesian analysis theory and its application in R

Analysis and data for the publication, "Phylogenetic relatedness can influence cover crop-based weed suppression"

Analysis and code for "Cereal rye mulch biomass and crop density affect weed suppression and community assembly in no‐till planted soybean"

Analysis and data for "High seeding rates and low soil nitrogen environments optimize weed suppression and profitability in organic no-till planted soybean"

Contrasts in R can really impact the results of Type III ANOVAs. Check out this workshop for a walk-through of the issue and a potential solution.