The document profiles Dr. Robert Schindelbeck of Cornell University and his work developing the Adapt N model. It discusses Dr. Schindelbeck's motivation for pursuing soil science and how he sees an increase in interest in soil health and organic farming, especially among young people. It also summarizes the Cornell Soil Health Assessment and the Adapt N model, which uses data and weather patterns to predict nitrogen levels and fertilizer recommendations for crops.

1. The Soil and Plant Analyst is pleased to announce Spotlight on Soil an ongoing practitioner
profile written by Andrew Sparda.
Earlier this year I had an interview with Dr. Robert Schindelbeck of Cornell University who
assisted with the development of the Adapt N model.
What motivated you to pursue a graduate degree in soil science? I was raised in a high school
environment of the 1970’s where I developed a biased critique of the world I was about to
enter in to. It seemed that careers were driven towards specialization in rather specific
manufacturing and engineering fields. General fields of study were seen as weak and
unfocused. It seemed to me then that the alternative agricultural movement was demeaned
and was treated as an escape from the economically driven social realities of a consumer-
based marketplace. And off to college I went. After two semesters in engineering at college, I
was fortunate to take a soil science class as an elective. I enjoyed an understanding of the
workings of natural systems and the interdependencies of basic systems the ecological
strategies of nature. I re-evaluated my former lessons and realized that I could use a
specialized approach to obtain information and then try to weave these pieces into a
functioning whole.
With all of the "Buy Local" promotion and the increase in organic farming of late...How do you
see this influencing food safety? Buying local keeps RETAIL food dollars within the farm
community. It is the fact that consumers can find (local) growers with (local) products that they
want that takes the money “from the middleman’s pocket” and puts it into the grower’s.
Sometimes retail marketing requires time and effort that the actual farmer might not have
time for but his / her FAMILY can perform these tasks. Consumers also have opportunities to
interact with producers and their families to close the gap between food production and food
consumption. It appears that this interest from consumers towards growers promotes locally
produced food choices by consumers which might include for example whole fruits over sticky,
packaged fruit-like chewables.
When visiting labs I often hear the complaint that "they can't find qualified applicants with an
agricultural or laboratory background." There is a significant increase in Soil Health awareness
but a shortage of soil science majors. How do you propose we change that? We are seeing a
large influx of sharp young minds eager to learn about soil and plant growth processes. These
students want to experience nature “from the ground up” so that they can be part of food
production coupled with land stewardship. The young people come from all sorts of diverse
backgrounds but repeatedly we hear them say that they want to understand the dynamic
complex ecosystem called a garden soil. By understanding some of the machinations behind
the development of a fertile soil a person can then participate in a directed “best management
plan” to support their growing system.
There seems to be a widespread movement across the country, but significantly young people,
who are committing themselves to understanding the natural processes involved in
maintaining a food supply. They see great opportunity to create synergies and positive
feedback between producing food, enjoying it and returning waste to produce and sustain the

2. cycle. They are clever enough to also know that there is an important economic component to
consider when evaluating options. These young leaders will develop new niches of opportunity
for economic reward by answering public demand for “greener” food choices.
There is great value in the understanding of the biological as well as the chemical and physical
properties. From your perspective what is the most critical parameter of an agricultural
laboratory services work-up? The Cornell Soil Health Assessment was borne out of a
collaboration of University faculty, research staff, Extension Educators and growers who were
dissatisfied with diagnosing crop growth using the limited information obtained from routine N-
P-K soil testing. The group’s expertise spanned soil and plant disciplines and each member had
experienced situations where the standard nutrient recommendation showed very adequate
levels of essential nutrients but crop performance was sub-optimal. It was agreed that we
needed to find a suite of soil tests that “covered all the bases”- going beyond nutrient supply to
tests of the soil physical environment and to testing of the soil biological realm. We have
come a long way with evaluating and managing soil fertility but if there were other or even
greater limitations to plant performance we should know about these so that they too could be
managed.
Much brainstorming and field testing work focused on identifying rapid, inexpensive and
meaningful soil tests that could be used to this end. A key component of the entire strategy of
the program was to bring focus to the essential soil processes that a “healthy” soil must
perform. If these processes could be measured with “indicator” soil tests, ranges could be
developed to score the soil capacity to perform the functions. The fruit of these efforts was the
Cornell Soil Health Report which displays the lab results from each of the tests and then scores
each result as low medium or high for that soil textural class. An overall Soil Health score is
produced to provide a reference value for the field tested or the varied management practices
within a field.
Using the above suite of tests we could now have an indication of soil biological functions and
could address how to restore balance to the system. These soil processes could be augmented
through soil management - changing crop choices and rotations, incorporating cover crops,
adding organic or mineral nutrient amendments or changing tillage practices. Providing
linkages between these management practices and their effects on the essential soil functions
enables growers to adjust practices useful to their farm. Each farm enterprise can work
through their specific circumstances to find their best strategies to address concerns.
Water quality is a key aspect of the soil analysis interpretation...How do you see emerging
technology working to the benefit of such agricultural and ecological assessments? Soil
quality is the focus of our work but we also recognize that air quality and water quality must
also be considered when managing agricultural production systems. In large scale agricultural
production of cereal grains, electronic displays of color coded field data, especially yields,
allows for wide comparisons across areas or management zones. Familiarity with these
emerging technologies provides another tool to enhance both sustainability and economic
viability. Again fresh young minds bringing computer skills which make them capable of
displaying complex information in ways that enable growers to make better management
decisions. Growers are increasingly seeking expertise and willing to pay consultants for
information and provide answers their questions and addresses their needs.

3. Quite often I am astonished as to how many growers do not review their soil laboratory reports
or precisely quantify their inputs and / or amendments. How can we work to bring more
transparency to data management in agriculture? We see more and more effort and expertise
being devoted to data collection using a wide variety of instruments and devices. Large
amounts of data can be collected across a season or harvest. Management of this collected
data allows a person to “use what they already know” and build upon it to ask questions to
move forward. Without assessing your starting point and understanding where you are at, new
information can quickly become overwhelming.
The Adapt N model is a very powerful tool and clearly represents compelling innovation. Has
Adapt N gained significant international traction? The Adapt-N model couples computer
assisted record keeping, daily weather information and a plant growth model to predict
nitrogen levels in the soil and plant. From the user supplied input data the model shows what
nitrogen levels are found in the soil on that day and an output is generated each day we can
see the influence of our soil management (chemical additions, plowing, planting date, etc.) on
nitrogen concentrations in the soil profile by creating new “runs” of different scenarios to learn
of outcomes from the management changes. The model output includes a daily graphical
display of inorganic nitrogen levels by depth. The effects of past rainfall on the nitrogen levels
can then be easily seen. Ultimately the model produces a nitrogen fertilizer recommendation
to maximize corn (or commodity) production.
Accurately meeting corn nitrogen needs is difficult in the best of years. Throughout the season
inorganic nitrogen is either added by the grower as fertilizer or made available from the soil
organic nitrogen storage. The goal is to ensure that nitrogen is available in adequate amounts
in the soil profile when the plant can assimilate it. If a large nitrogen pool is available early in
the season before the crop can access it, it may be wasted if plant roots are too short to access
it. Later, it may be leached away or denitrified to gas and ultimately lost to the environment
while leaving the crop with yield reducing nitrogen levels in the soil.
This weather and data driven approach to soil nitrogen dynamics is finding its way into use by
progressive growers interested. The cost of using the model is quite modest for the potential
savings in nitrogen cost across large acreages and beneficial to off-site land and water where
any unused nitrogen could have negative effects. Here again we are seeing agricultural
consulting enterprises filling a niche of being available to assist with the computer interfacing
aspects of the model. The grower can then be shown straightforward ways to access the
information to answer the questions they have.
What do you enjoy most in your ongoing research and passionate outreach work? Each day
there are persons who become interested in understanding the complex and interwoven
aspects of nature. There are opportunities to teach and learn from each other and often it
seems that a good “old” idea presented in a new way can be life-changing or life-affirming.
Becoming part of an agricultural production system supplies an individual with opportunity to
contribute to the essential task of feeding a society. Finding your way is enhanced with an
authentic understanding of the pieces of the whole. Natural systems are simply waiting for
inquisitive individuals to recognize and explore their workings and their beauty.
Andrew Sparda: Email: Andrew@intuitiveconsultingsolutions.com

4. Website: www.intuitiveconsultingsolutions.com