Charles White

I am broadly interested in how biogeochemical cycles, particularly those of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, can be managed to promote sustainable agricultural systems.  The goal of such management is to support cropping systems that are highly productive, use nutrient inputs efficiently, and have fewer nutrient losses to the environment.  Recent research efforts have focused on optimizing the use of cover crop mixtures to both retain nitrogen against leaching over the winter and supply nitrogen to a subsequent cash crop.  

With a background in the Extension service, I work with teams of farmers, Extension Educators, researchers, and industry representatives to conduct research which can be applied by farmers and agronomists to improve cropping system management.  Using statistical and mechanistic modeling techniques, we seek to explore variability across research station and on-farm experiments in order to understand and predict biogeochemical processes. In turn, we use the models to develop decision support tools and heuristics which can be used by farm managers.

Recent Publications

White, C., D. Finney, A. Kemanian, J. Kaye. 2016.  A Model-Data Fusion Approach for Predicting Cover Crop Nitrogen Supply to Corn.  Agronomy Journal. doi:10.2134/agronj2016.05.0288.

Murrell, E., M. Schipanski, D. Finney, M. Hunter, M. Burgess, J. LaChance, B. Baraibar, C. White, D. Mortensen, J. Kaye. 2016. Achieving Diverse Cover Crop Mixtures: Effects of Planting Date and Seeding Rate. Agronomy Journal. doi:10.2134/agronj2016.03.0174.

Finney, D., C. White, J. Kaye. 2016. Biomass Production and Carbon/Nitrogen Ratio Influence Ecosystem Services from Cover Crop Mixtures. Agronomy Journal 108: 39–52.

McAllister, J., C. White, E. Mallory, T. Morris, S. Wilner. 2015. Reading the Farm- Training Agricultural Professionals in Whole Farm Analysis for Sustainable Agriculture: A Planning and Facilitation Guide.  Burlington, VT: Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education.

White, C., M. Barbercheck, T. DuPont, D. Finney, A. Hamilton, D. Hartman, M. Hautau, J. Hinds, M. Hunter, J. Kaye, J. La Chance. 2015.  Making the Most of Mixtures: Considerations for Winter Cover Crops in Temperate Climates. eXtension/eOrganic.

Duiker, S., C. White, W. Curran, D. Lingenfelter. 2015. Cover Crops.  In Curran, W. and D. Lingenfelter (Eds.). The Agronomy Guide (123-136). University Park, PA: Penn State Extension.

Duiker, S. and C. White. 2015. Cover Crops.  In White, C., M. Barbercheck and W. Curran (Eds.).  Penn State Organic Crop Production Guide (105-120). University Park, PA: Penn State Extension.

White, C., M. Barbercheck and S. Duiker. 2015. Soil Health and Biological Properties.  In White, C., M. Barbercheck and W. Curran (Eds.).  Penn State Organic Crop Production Guide (43-52). University Park, PA: Penn State Extension.

White, C., M. Barbercheck and B. Bates. 2015. Introduction to Organic Farming and the National Organic Program Standards.  In White, C., M. Barbercheck and W. Curran (Eds.).  Penn State Organic Crop Production Guide (1-7). University Park, PA: Penn State Extension.

White, C., M. Barbercheck and W. Curran (Eds.). 2015.  Penn State Organic Crop Production Guide. University Park, PA: Penn State Extension.

White, C., A. Kemanian and J. Kaye. 2014. Implications of carbon model structure for simulated nitrogen mineralization dynamics. Biogeosciences 11:9667-9695.

Schipanski, M., M. Barbercheck, M.R. Douglas, D.M. Finney, K. Haider, J.P. Kaye, A.R. Kemanian, D.A. Mortensen, M.R. Ryan, J. Tooker, and C.M. White.  2014. A conceptual framework for evaluating ecosystem services provided by cover crops in agroecosystems.  Agricultural Systems 125:12-22.

Gruver, J., R. Weil, C. White, and Y. Lawley. 2012.  Radishes - A new cover crop for organic farming systems. eXtension/eOrganic.  

White, C., and M. Barbercheck. 2012. Managing Soil Health: Concepts and Practices.  Agroecology In Practice Fact Sheet EE0026.  University Park, PA: Penn State Extension.

Mallory, E., C. White, T. Morris, and N.E. Kiernan. 2011. Reading the Farm-Training Agricultural Professionals in Whole Farm Analysis for Sustainable Agriculture.  Journal of Extension 49(5): Article 5IAW4.

White, C., and R. Weil. 2011. Forage radish cover crops increase soil test phosphorus surrounding radish taproot holes.  Soil Science Society of America Journal 75:121-130.

White, C., and R. Weil. 2010. Forage radish and cereal rye cover crop effects on mycorrhizal fungus colonization of maize roots. Plant and Soil 328:507-521.

White, C., and M. Barbercheck. 2010.  Introduction to organic farming: A growing opportunity for Pennsylvania farmers.  Agroecology In Practice Fact Sheet UF024.  University Park, PA: Penn State Extension.

Weil, R., C. White, and Y. Lawley. 2009. Forage radish: A new multi-purpose cover crop for the Mid-Atlantic. Fact Sheet 824. College Park, MD: University of Maryland Cooperative Extension