Overview

I am currently participating in several research and outreach projects at Cornell related to the environmental and production aspects of cropping systems including the Computational Agriculture Initiative, the Agricultural Ecology Program, two Hatch funded projects and a project funded by the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program. My work involves the application of dynamic simulation modeling combined with field experimentation to better understand resource use, productivity, and the fate of nitrogen in agricultural and woody biomass crops. I have also worked on and have research interests in crop/plant responses to environmental/nutrient stresses including low temperature, drought and low soil nitrogen.

Research Focus

The focus of my research is the application of simulation modeling to better understand crop production, and nitrogen and water fluxes in agricultural and environmental systems. Research includes testing alternative strategies for nutrient and water management to reduce negative environmental impacts, increase crop production and provide insight into the complex soil/plant/atmosphere continuum to design more targeted and fruitful experimental strategies.

Outreach and Extension Focus

My main extension/outreach focus is on the application of a well-tested/calibrated dynamic simulation model of water and nitrogen in a maize/soil system to develop improved sidedress nitrogen recommendations for maize production in New York State. I am also using dynamic simulation modeling to assess potential site productivity for biomass production (coppiced willow, switchgrass and reed canary grass). I also educate growers/extension staff about the fate of nitrogen in agricultural systems. Finally, I am also working with others to assess new tillage/nitrogen application practices to promote soil health as part of an effort to promote sustainable crop production practices.

Additional Links

• Precision Agriculture
• Real-Time N Management Recommendations
• Link to CALS Research portal
• Link to CALS Impact statements

Selected Publications

• Melkonian J, van Es HM, DeGaetano A, Sogbedji J, Joseph L. 2007. Application of dynamic simulation modeling for nitrogen management in maize. Managing Crop Nitrogen for Weather (Proceedings of the 2006 SSSA Symposium "Integrating Weather Variability into Nitrogen Recommendations"). International Plant Nutrition Institute. (In publication)
• Melkonian J, Riha SJ, Robin J, Levine E. (2007) Comparisons of measured stream flow with drainage and runoff simulated by a soil-vegetation-atmosphere transport model parameterized with GLOBE student data. J. of Hydrology 333:214-225.
• Sogbedji JM, van Es HM, Melkonian J, Schindelbeck RR. (2006) Evaluation of the PNM model for simulating drain flow nitrate-N concentration under manure-fertilized maize. Plant and Soil 282:343-360.
• Melkonian J, Wolfe DW, Owens TO (2005) Effects of elevated carbon dioxide on gas exchange and photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching at low temperature in tobacco plants varying in Rubisco activity. Photo. Res.: 63-74.
• Melkonian J, van Es HM, Joseph L. 2005. Precision Nitrogen Management (PNM) model: Simulation of nitrogen and water fluxes in the soil-crop-atmosphere continuum in maize (Zea mays L.) production systems. Version 1.0. Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences. Research Series No. R03-1. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
• Melkonian J, Owens TO, Wolfe DW (2004) Gas exchange and co-regulation of photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching in bean during chilling at ambient and elevated carbon dioxide. Photo. Res. 79: 71-82.
• Thipyapong P, Melkonian J, Wolfe DW, Steffens JC (2004) Suppression of polyphenol oxidases increases stress tolerance in tomato. Plant Science 167:693-703
• Basic GAPS computer software and manual. Copyright ? 2004 Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. Authors: Professor Susan Riha and J Melkonian
• Melkonian J, Yu LX, Setter TL (2004) Chilling responses of maize (Zea mays L.) seedlings: root hydraulic conductance, abscisic acid, and stomatal conductance. Journal of Experimental Botany 55:1751-1760.

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