Faculty

Michael R. Burkart

Affiliate Associate Professor
Geographic Information Systems, Contaminant Hydrogeology

352 Science I
Dept. of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011
515-451-5657
Email: mburkart@iastate.edu

Education
B.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1964
M.S. Northern Iowa University, 1969
Ph.D. University of Iowa, 1976

Research
My research interests include quantitative techniques to assess and estimate water quality responses to agricultural activities at a regional scale. This requires substantial application of geographic information systems technology to questions of water quality. My research during the next five years will include developing methods to assess the potential for ground and surface quality improvements than may result from installation of vegetative buffers in agricultural watersheds. I am also quantifying and analyzing the geographic distribution of sources of nitrogen and phosphorus in agricultural systems. This research has as its goals to better understand how to reduce nitrogen loads in streams and develop methods to allocate source-loads of nutrients that may impair water resources. Finally, I am involved in a project to evaluate the environmental, social, and economic responses to sustainable agroecosystems in Iowa, Michigan, New York, and Maine. I am a research leader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural research Service in the National Soil Tilth Laboratory. I have collaborative projects with colleagues in the Environmental Protection Agency, Iowa State University, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Selected Referred Publications

Burkart, M.R., D. James, M. Liebman, and C. Herndl. 2005. Impacts of integrated crop-livestock systems on nitrogen dynamics and soil erosion in western Iowa watersheds. J. Geophys. Res. Vol. 110, No. G1, G01009. 10.1029/2004JG000008.

Thomas, J., N. Iverson, M.R. Burkart, and L.A. Kramer. 2004. Long-term growth of a valley-bottom gully, western Iowa. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 29:995-1009.

Burkart, M.R., D.E. James, M.D. Tomer. 2004. Hydrologic and Terrain Variables to Aid Strategic Location of Riparian Buffers. Jour. Soil and Water Conservation 59:5:216-223.

Burkart, M.R., W. W. Simpkins, A. J. Morrow, and J. M. Gannon. 2004. Occurrence of Total Dissolved Phosphorus in Unconsolidated Aquifers and Aquitards in Iowa. Jour. Amer. Water Resour. Assoc. 40:3:827-834.

Tomer, M.D. and M.R. Burkart. 2003. Long-term effects of nitrogen fertilizer use on ground water nitrate in two small watersheds. Jour. Environ. Qual. 32:2158-2171.

Burkart, M.R., J.D. Stoner. 2002. Nitrate in aquifers beneath agricultural systems. Journal of Water Science and Technology. 45:19-28.

Simpkins, W.W., Burkart, M.R., Helmke, M.F., Twedt, T.N., James, D.E., Jaquis, R.J., Cole, K.J. 2002. Hydrogeologic settings of earthen waste storage structures associated with confined animal feeding operations in Iowa. Jour. Amer. Water Resour. Assoc. 38: 3:759-771.

Burkart, M.R., Stoner, J.D. 2001. Nitrogen in groundwater associated with agricultural systems. in R. Follett and J. Hatfield (eds.) Nitrogen in the Environment: Sources, Problems, and Management. pp. 123-145. Elsevier New York.

Burkart, M.R. , D.W. Kolpin, R. Jaquis, and K. Cole. 2001. Soil Characteristics and agrichemicals in groundwater of the Midwestern United States. Water Science and Technology. 43:5:251-260.

Kramer, L.A., M.R. Burkart, D.W. Meek, R.J. Jaquis, and D.E. James. 1999. Field-scale watershed evaluations on deep loess soils II: Hydrologic responses to different agricultural land management systems. Journ. Soil and Water Conserv. 54:4:705-710.

Burkart, M.R. and David E. James. 1999. Agricultural-nitrogen contributions to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia. Jour. Environ. Qual. 28:3:850-859.

Burkart, M. R., P.W. Gassman, T.B. Moorman, and P. Singh. 1999. Estimating atrazine leaching in the Midwest. Jour. Amer. Water Resour. Assoc. 35:5:1089-1100.

Burkart, M.R. and D.W. Kolpin. 1999. Agrichemicals in groundwater of the Midwestern United States: Relations to soil characteristics. Jour. Environ. Qual. 28:1908-1915.

Eidem, J. M., W.W. Simpkins, and M.R. Burkart. 1999. Geology, groundwater flow and water quality in the Walnut Creek watershed. Jour. Environ. Qual. 28: (1): 60-68.