Soil and Environmental Sciences

    College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

    UNIVERSITY of WISCONSIN-MADISON UW-MADISON

    J. Mark Powell

    Emeritus Professor

    mark.powell@wisc.du

    Type:

    Program Affiliation

    • Department of Soil Science
    • Research Soil Scientist, USDA-Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center

    Education

    • A.A., Science, 1972, Camden County College, New Jersey
    • B.S., (with honors) Plant Sciences, 1979, Clemson University
    • M.P.S., International Agriculture & Rural Development, 1982, Cornell University
    • Ph.D., Agronomy, 1989, Texas A&M University
    • Prof. Powell has published many refereed journal articles, conference papers, book chapters, expert consultant reports, and a wide variety of materials targeted specifically for technology transfer. The most important refereed journal articles are:
    • Powell, J.M.  1984, Assessment of dry matter yield from grain yield in the West African savanna zone.  J. Agric. Sci., Cambridge. 103:695-698.
    • Powell, J.M., and E. Taylor-Powell. 1984. Cropping by Fulani agropastoralists in Central Nigeria. ILCA Res. Bull. 19:21-27.
    • Powell, J.M., and W. Bayer. 1985. Crop residue grazing by Bunaji cattle in Central Nigeria. Trop. Agric., Trinidad 62:302-304.
    • Powell, J.M. 1985. Yields of sorghum and millet and stover consumption by livestock in the Subhumid Zone of Nigeria. Trop. Agric., Trinidad 62:77-81.
    • Powell, J.M. 1986. Manure for cropping: A case study from Central Nigeria. Exp. Agric. 22:15-24.
    • Powell, J.M., and M.A. Mohamed-Saleem. 1987. Nitrogen and phosphorus transfers in a crop-livestock system in the savanna zone of West Africa. Agric. Syst. 25:261-277.
    • Powell, J.M., and F.M. Hons. 1991. Sorghum stover removal effects on soil organic matter content, extractable nutrients, and crop yield. J. Sust. Agric. 2:25-39.
    • Powell, J.M., F.M. Hons, and G.G. McBee. 1991. Nutrient and carbohydrate partitioning in sorghum stover. Agron. J. 83:933-937.
    • Powell, J.M., and F.M. Hons. 1992. Fertilizer nitrogen and stover removal effects on sorghum yields, and nutrient uptake and partitioning. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 39:197-211.
    • Kouamé, C., J.M. Powell, C.A. Renard, and K.H. Quesenberry. 1993. Plant yields and fodder quality related characteristics of millet-stylo intercropping systems in the Sahel. Agron. J. 85:601-605.
    • Powell, J.M., and L.K. Fussell. 1993. Nutrient and structural carbohydrate partitioning in pearl millet. Agron. J. 85:862-866.
    • Powell, J.M., S. Fernandez-Rivera, and S. Hoefs. 1994.  Sheep diet effects on nutrient cycling in semi-arid mixed farming systems of West Africa. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 48:263-271.
    • Williams, T.O, J.M. Powell, and S. Fernandez-Rivera. 1995. Soil fertility maintenance and food production in semi-arid West Africa: Is reliance on manure a sustainable strategy?  Outlook on Agric. 24:43-47.
    • Williams, T.O, J.M. Powell, and S. Fernandez-Rivera. 1995. Manure availability in relation to sustainable food production in semi-arid West Africa. Quart. J. Internatl. Agric. 34:248-258.
    • Powell, J.M., S. Fernandez-Rivera, P. Hiernaux, and M.D. Turner. 1996. Nutrient cycling in integrated rangelend/cropland systems of the Sahel. Agric. Syst. 52:143-170.
    • Somda, Z.C., J.M. Powell, and A. Bationo. 1997. Soil pH and nitrogen changes following cattle and sheep urine deposition. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 28:1253-1268.
    • Brouwer, J., and J.M. Powell. 1998. Increasing nutrient use efficiency in West-African Agriculture: the impact of micro-topography on nutrient leaching from cattle and sheep manure. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71: 229-239.
    • Powell, J.M., F.N. Ikpe, Z.C. Somda, and S. Fernandez-Rivera. 1998. Urine effects on soil chemical properties and impact of urine and dung on pearl millet yield. Exp. Agric. 34:259-276.
    • Powell, J.M., and P.W. Unger. 1998. Alternatives to crop residue management for natural resource conservation. J. Sust. Agric. 11:59-84.
    • Brouwer, J., and J.M. Powell. 1998.  Microtopography and leaching: possibilities for making more efficient use of nutrients in African agriculture. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 71:229-240.
    • Somda, Z.C., and J.M. Powell. 1998. Seasonal decomposition of sheep manure and forage leaves in soil. Commun. Soil Sci. Plant Anal. 29:2961-2979.
    • Powell, J.M., and Z. Wu. 1999. 15N labeling of dairy feces and urine for nutrient cycling studies. Agron. J. 91:814-818.
    • Powell, J.M., F.N. Ikpe, and Z.C. Somda. 1999.  Crop yield and fate of nitrogen and phosphorus after application of plant material or feces to soil. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 54:215-226.
    • Ikpe, F.N., J.M. Powell, N.O. Isirimah, T.A.T. Wahua, and E.M. Ngodigha. 1999. Effects of primary tillage and soil amendment practices on pearl millet yield and nutrient uptake. Exp. Agric. 35:437-488.
    • Bundy, L.G., T.W. Andraski, and J.M. Powell. 2001. Management practice effects on phosphorus losses in runoff in corn production systems. J. Environ. Qual. 30:1822-28. 2001.
    • Powell, J.M., Z. Wu, and L.D. Satter. 2001. Dairy diet effects on phosphorus cycles of cropland. J. Soil Water Conserv. 56:22-26.
    • Powell, J.M., D. Jackson-Smith, and L.D. Satter. 2002. Phosphorus feeding and manure nutrient recycling on Wisconsin dairy farms. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 62:277-286.
    • Powell, J.M., Z. Wu, K.A. Kelling, P. Cusick, and G.R. Muñoz. 2004. Differential 15N labeling of dairy manure components for nitrogen cycling studies.  Agron. J. 96:433-441.
    • Powell, J.M., D.F. McCrory, D.B. Jackson-Smith, and H. Saam. 2005. Manure collection and distribution on Wisconsin dairy farms. J. Environ. Qual. 34:2036-2044.
    • Powell, J.M., K.A. Kelling, G.R. Muñoz, and P.R. Cusick. 2005. Evaluation of dairy manure 15N enrichment methods on short-term crop and soil N budget. Agron. J. 97:333-337.
    • Powell, J.M., M.A. Wattiaux, G.A. Broderick, V. Moreria, and M.D. Casler. 2006. Dairy diet impacts on fecal chemical properties and nitrogen cycling in soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70:786-794.
    • Powell, J.M., D.B. Jackson-Smith, M. Mariola, and H. Saam. 2006. Validation of feed and manure management data collected on Wisconsin dairy farms. J. Dairy Sci. 89:2268-2278.
    • Powell, J.M., D.B. Jackson-Smith, D. McCrory, H. Saam, and M. Mariola. 2007. Nutrient management behavior on Wisconsin dairy farms. Agron. J. 99:211-219.
    • Powell, J.M., P.R. Cusick, T.H. Misselbrook, and B.J. Holmes. 2007. Design and calibration of chambers for measuring ammonia emissions from tie-stall dairy barns. Trans. ASABE 49(4):1139-1149.
    • Powell, J.M., T.H. Misselbrook, and M. Casler. 2008. Season and bedding impacts on ammonia emissions from tie-stall dairy barns. J. Environ. Qual. 7:7-15.
    • Powell, J.M., G.A. Broderick, and T.H. Misselbrook. 2008. Seasonal diet impacts on ammonia emissions from tie-stall dairy barns. J. Dairy Sci. 91:857-869.
    • Powell, J.M., Y. Li, Z.  Wu, G.A. Broderick, and B.J. Holmes. 2008. Rapid assessment of feed and manure nutrient management on confinement dairy farms. Nutr. Cycl. Agroecosyst. 82:107-115.
    • Powell, J.M., and M.P. Russelle. 2009. Dairy heifer management impacts manure N collection and cycling through crops in Wisconsin, USA. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 131:170-177.
    • Powell, J.M., G.A. Broderick, J.H. Grabber, and U.C. Hymes Fecht. 2009. Effects of forage protein-binding polyphenols on chemistry of dairy excreta. J. Dairy Sci. 92:1765-1769.
    • Powell, J.M., and J.H. Grabber. 2009. Dietary forage impacts on dairy slurry nitrogen availability to corn. Agron. J. 101:747-753.
    • Powell, J.M., Gourley, C.J.P., Rotz, C.A. and Weaver, D.M. 2010. Nitrogen use efficiency: A potential performance indicator and policy tool for dairy farms. Environ. Sci. & Policy.13: 217-228.
    • Powell, J.M., W.E. Jokela, and T.H.Misselbrook. 2010. Dairy slurry application method effects on ammonia emission and nitrate leaching in no-till corn silage. J. Environ. Qual. 40:383-392
    • Powell, J.M., M.J. Aguerre, and M.A. Wattiaux. 2011. Tannin extracts abate ammonia emission from simulated dairy barn floors. J. Environ. Qual. 40:907-914.
    • Powell, J.M., M.J. Aguerre, and M.A. Wattiaux. 2011. Dietary crude protein and tannin impact dairy manure chemistry and ammonia emissions from soils. J. Environ. Qual. 40:1767-1774.
    • Powell, J.M., M.A. Wattiaux, and G.A. Broderick. 2011. Evaluation of milk urea nitrogen as a management tool to reduce ammonia emissions from dairy farms. J. Dairy Sci. 94:4690-4694.
    • Powell, J.M., and G.A. Broderick. 2011. Transdisciplinary soil science research: Impacts of dairy nutrition on manure chemistry and the environment. Soil. Sci. Soc. Am. J. 75:2071-2078.
    • Powell, J.M., S.A. Aarons, and C.J.P. Gourley. 2012. Determinations of feed-milk-manure relationships on grazing-based dairy farms. Animal 6: 1702-1710.
    • Powell, J.M., M. MacLeod, T.V. Vellinga, C. Opio, A. Falcucci, G. Tempio, H. Steinfeld, and P. Gerber. 2013. Feed-milk-manure nitrogen relationships in global dairy systems. Livestock Sci. 152: 261-272.
    • Powell, J.M., C.A. Rotz, and M.A. Wattiaux. 2014. Abatement of ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions from dairy farms using milk urea N. J. Environ. Qual. 43:1169-1175.
    • Powell, J.M. 2014. Feed and manure use in low-N-input and high-N-input dairy cattle production systems. Environ. Res. Lett. 115004. 8 p. Open Access. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/9/11/115004.
    • Powell, J.M, and C.A. Rotz. 2015. Measures of nitrogen use efficiency in dairy production systems. J. Environ. Qual. 44:336-344.
    • Powell JM. 2015. Need for more uniform terms and measures of nitrogen use efficiency in agricultural production. J. Soil Water Conserv. 70: 95-97.
    • Powell, J.M, and P.A. Vadas. 2016. Gas emissions from dairy barnyards. Anim. Prod. Sci. 56:355-361.
    • Powell, J.M., T. Barros, M. Danes, M. Aguerre, M. Wattiaux, and K. Reed. 2017. Nitrogen use efficiencies to grow, feed, and recycle manure from the major diet components fed to dairy cows in the USA. Agric. Ecosys. Environ. 239:274-282.

    Prof. Powell’s professional experience and knowledge base stem from 40 years of research in mixed crop-livestock farming systems in Africa, Asia, Australia, and USA in two general areas: (1) insights related to nutrient dynamics across the crop/soil/feed/animal/manure continuum within a farm; possibilities for enhancing sustainable, productive systems that enhance environmental outcomes, food and feed production and food security; (2) multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research in partnership with farmers and their allies; selection and description of research target populations; data collection and validation; considering and incorporating system tradeoffs; expressing outcomes and impacts at various scales.

    • Distinguished Expert, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, 2011-2012.
    • Nominated for USDA-ARS National Technology Transfer Award ‘For development and transfer of tools for rapid assessment of nutrient use efficiency across diverse dairy farm types in the U.S. and abroad’, 2011.
    • Led team nominated for Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer (FLC) Excellence in Technology Transfer Award for ‘Snapshots of nutrient use efficiency on dairy farms’, 2011.
    • Outstanding Alumnus Award, Camden County College (CCC), Blackwood, NJ. (CCC is the second largest higher education institution in NJ, after Rutgers University), 2009.
    • ‘Various research articles selected for special press release by the American Society of Agronomy and Soil Science Society of America (2004 to 2011).
    • Led team nominated for USDA-ARS National Technology Transfer Award for ‘…unusually effective outreach efforts to convince dairy producers, their consultants and the feed industry that phosphorus content of dairy diets should be reduced’, 2003.
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