Skip Navigation

University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Agronomy and Horticulture

The Science and Application of Plants to Sustain and Enhance Human Life

Charles S. Wortmann

Associate Professor
Soil Science

Contact Information
(click on Back button in browser to return to this page)

DEGREES:

  • B.S. in Agronomy, University of Nebraska, 1972
  • M.S. in Soil Science, University of Nebraska, 1978
  • Ph.D. in Crop Science, University of Nebraska, 1987

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Improvement of no-till systems; nitrogen and phosphorus management for improved nutrient use efficiency and water quality protection; crop management for energy-efficient biofuel production; and improving soil and water management for sorghum production in eastern Africa.

MAJOR PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

Research and extension for more profitable and environmentally safe nutrient management, improvement of no-till systems, energy-efficient biofuel production, and support to sorghum research in eastern and southern Africa.

EXTENSION INTERESTS:

Soil fertility management; nutrient management planning, manure use, water quality protection.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

  • Wortmann, C.S. and D.A. Walters. 2007. Residual effects of compost and plowing on phosphorus and sediment in runoff. J. Envir. Qual. 36:1521-1527.

  • Quincke, J.A., C.S. Wortmann, M. Mamo, T.G. Franti, R.A. Drijber, and J.P. Garcia. 2007. One-time tillage of no-till systems: soil physical properties, phosphorus runoff, and crop yield. Agron. J. 99:1104-1110.

  • Quincke, J.A., C.S. Wortmann, M. Mamo, T. Franti, and R.A. Drijber. 2007. Occasional tillage of no-till systems: CO2 flux and changes in total and labile soil organic carbon. Agron. J. 99:1158-1168.

  • Garcia, J.P., C.S. Wortmann, M. Mamo, R. A. Drijber, J.A. Quincke, and D. Tarkalson.2007. One-time tillage of no-till: effects on nutrients, mycorrhizae, and phosphorus uptake. Agron. J. 99:1093-1103.

  • Kaizzi, C.K., J. Byalebeka, C.S. Wortmann, and M. Mamo. 2007. Low input approaches for soil fertility management in semi-arid eastern Uganda. Agron. J. 99: 847-853.

  • Wortmann, C.S., M. Mamo, and A. Dobermann. 2007. Nitrogen response of grain sorghum in rotation with soybean. Agron. J. 99:808-813.

  • Wortmann, C.S. 2007. Soil and water summaries for 2005 to 2006. NebGuide G1719, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

  • Wortmann, C.S., M. Al-Kaisi, J. Sawyer, M. Helmers, D. Devlin, c. Barden, P. Scharf, R. Ferguson, C.A. Shapiro, R. Spalding, D. Tarkalson, W. Kranz, J. Holz, D. Francis, J. Schepers. Agricultural nitrogen management for water quality protection in the Midwest. University of Nebraska RP 189.

  • Wortmann, C. 2006. Phaseolus vulgaris L. (common bean). In: Brink, M. & Belay, G. (Ed). Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 1. Cereals and Pulses. PROTA Foundation, Wageningen, Netherlands / Blackhuys Publishers, Leiden, Netherlands / CTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. Pp 146-151.

  • Wortmann, C.S. and M. Mamo. 2006. Starter fertilizer and row cleaning did not affect yield of early planted, no-till grain sorghum. Crop Management J. Nov. 2006. http://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/cm/element/cmsum2.asp?id=5814
    Shapiro, C.A. and C.S. Wortmann, 2006. Corn response to nitrogen rate, row spacing and plant density in eastern Nebraska. Agron. J. 98:529-535.

  • Wortmann, C.S. and D. Walters. 2006. Phosphorus runoff during four years following composted manure application. J. Environ. Qual. 35: 651-657.

  • Brhane, G., C.S. Wortmann, M. Mamo, H. Gebrekidan, and A. Belay. 2006. Micro-basin tillage for grain sorghum production in semi-arid areas of northern Ethiopia. Agronomy Journal 98:124-128.

  • Wortmann, C.S., S.A. Xerinda, M. Mamo and C.A. Shapiro. 2006. No-till row crop response to starter fertilizer in eastern Nebraska: I. irrigated and rainfed corn. Agronomy Journal 98:156-162.

  • Wortmann, C.S., S.A. Xerinda, and M. Mamo. 2006. No-till row crop response to starter fertilizer in eastern Nebraska: II. rainfed grain sorghum. Agronomy Journal 98: 187-193.

  • Wortmann, C.S., M. Helmers, A. Mallarino, C. Barden, D. Devlin, G. Pierzynski, J. Lory, R. Massey, J. Holz, C. Shapiro, J. Kovar. 2006. Agricultural phosphorus management and water quality protection in the Midwest. RP 187. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.

  • Wortmann, C.W., A. P. Christiansen, K. L. Glewen, T.A. Hejny, J. Mulliken, J.M. Peterson, D. L. Varner, S. Wortmann, G. L. Zoubek, 2005. Farmer research: project evaluation and guidelines for implementation. Renew Agric. Food Syst. 20:243-251.

  • Benning, J.L. and C.S. Wortmann, 2005. Phosphorus indexes in four Midwestern States: an evaluation of the differences and similarities. J. Soil Water Conserv. 60:221-227.

  • Wilhelm, W. and C.S. Wortmann, 2004. Tillage and rotation interactions for corn and soybean grain yield as affected by precipitation and air temperature. Agron. J. 96:425-432.

OTHER EXPERIENCE:

Twenty years of agricultural research and extension experience in Africa; fluent in Swahili.