John Gilley, Ph.D., P.E.

Introduction

John Gilley is an agricultural engineer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Research Service and adjunct professor (100% research appointment) in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Department of Biological Systems Engineering since September 1982.

Education:

• B.S., Physics and Mathematics, Southern Colorado State College, 1972
• M.S., Agricultural Engineering, University of Minnesota, 1974
• Ph.D., Agricultural Engineering , Colorado State University, 1982

Examples of Current Research:

My current research focus is to identify sustainable cropping, management, and conservation practices that utilize manure as a valuable nutrient source for crop production while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Results from this work will enhance our understanding of the important mechanisms influencing nutrient transport following land application; provide greater knowledge on the effects of selected manure application procedures on the delivery of nutrients by overland flow; and identify the effectiveness of various conservation practices on nutrient transport from cropland areas. This information will allowproducers to select management alternatives best suited to their production strategies while maintaining established environmental standards.

Examples of Past Research:

I have conducted research in the past to improve understanding of the runoff, erosion, and hydraulic characteristics of upland areas. For nine years I participated in USDA efforts to develop new generation erosion prediction technology and was responsible for development of the hydraulics component of the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) Model. I have also identified management practices that maintain soil quality benefits when Conservation Reserve Program areas are converted to cropland. I have helped to establish the use of vegetative barriers as an accepted conservation practice for reducing soil loss and nutrient transport from cropland areas.

Selected Publications:

• Gilley, J.E., and D.C. Flanagan. 2007. Early investment in soil conservation research continues to provide dividends. Trans. of the ASABE 50(5):1595-1601.
• Flanagan, D.C., J.E. Gilley, and T.G. Franti. 2007. Water erosion prediction project (WEPP) – Development history, model capabilities and future enhancements. Trans. of the ASABE 50(5):1603-1612.
• Gilley, J.E., B. Eghball, and D.B. Marx. 2007. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of runoff as affected by plowing. Trans. of the ASABE 50(5):1543-1548.
• Gilley, J.E., B. Eghball and D.B. Marx. 2007. Nutrient concentrations of runoff during the year following manure application. Trans. of the ASABE. 50(6):1987-1999.
• Gilley, J.E., E.D. Berry, R.A. Eigenberg, D.B. Marx, and B.L. Woodbury. 2008. Spatial variations in nutrient and microbial transport from feedlot surfaces. Trans. of the ASABE. 51(2):675-684
• Gilley, J.E., B. Eghball, and D.B. Marx. 2008. Narrow grass hedge effects on nutrient transport following manure application. Trans. of the ASABE. 51(3): 997-1005.
• Kim, M., and J.E. Gilley. 2008. Artificial neural network estimation of soil erosion and nutrient concentrations in runoff from land application areas. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture. 64(2):268-275.
• Gilley, J.E., W.F. Sabatka, B. Eghball, and D.B. Marx. 2008. Nutrient transport as affected by rate of overland flow. Trans. of the ASABE. 51(4):1287-1293.

Web/e-mail addresses:

• http://bse.unl.edu/faculty/Gilley.shtml
• Email John