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Jon Schoonover

Jon Schoonover, Professor

Forestry

Dr. Schoonover serves as Professor of Physical Hydrology and Soils in the Forestry Program at SIUC.

His research focuses on the impacts of land use on a water quality, hydrology, soils, and channel morphometry.  His most recent work has involved testing and designing Best Management Practices for use in row crop agriculture.  Dr. Schoonover teaches courses in Tree Identification, Watershed Management, Soils, and Aquatic Resource Management.

Research Interests and Specialties

Impacts of land use on water chemistry, hydrology, channel morphometry, and sediment transport; fecal coliform contamination across multiple land uses; water resource stress associated with urban-rural interfaces; biogeochemistry of floodplain forests; and riparian zone management in agricultural systems.

Jon Schoonover
Agriculture Building, Room 192-B
618-453-7468
jschoon@siu.edu 

Graduate Student Projects

Steven Bachleda - M.S. candidate
B.S. Hydrology, University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point

SIU Grad Steven Bachleda

Steven is looking into the integral relationship between nutrient runoff, erosion control, and crop yields with the use of cover crops in no-till agricultural fields in southern Illinois. This will be done by researching two agricultural watersheds having different treatments (one with cover crops and one without). He is testing how different cover crops affect the chemistry of the soil water and the surface runoff.  The soil of the two watersheds will also be examined to research how cover crops impact crop yield productivity. 

 

SIU Grad Kevin TurnbowKevin Turnbow - M.S. Candidate

Kevin’s research focuses on the on effects of agricultural best management practices (BMPs). His research is currently investigating the relationships between two BMPs; Cover Crops (CC) and Water and Sediment Control Basins (WaSCoB). The research utilizes four treatment conditions; 1. No WaSCoB and no CC, 2. No WaSCoB and CC, 3. WaSCoB and no CC, 4. WaSCoB and CC. His project is a 4-year study that aims to identify changes in water quality, soil health, and crop yields in response to implementation of these practices. 

  

 

SIU Grad Emma EldridgeEmma Eldridge – M.S. candidate B.S., McKendree University

Emma’s research focuses on the use of saturated buffers on tile-drained fields, taking place in Sullivan, Illinois. In this project there is a standard buffer design, and an experimental design in which the tile lines are arranged in a pitchfork shape. The objectives of this study are to monitor the impacts on water quality (nitrogen and phosphorus) and quantity reaching the tile outlet. Monitoring will continue through 2023. Her data will provide a side-by-side comparison of the new buffer design and the standard saturated buffer. Emma’s research will lead to insight on the efficacy of saturated buffers in Illinois, as well as the potential criteria for new saturated buffer designs.  

Classes

  • FOR 202: Tree Identification
  • FOR 415: Urban Ecosystem Management
  • FOR 429: Watershed Management Field Laboratory
  • FOR 452: Forest Soils
  • FOR 452L: Forest Soils Laboratory

Descriptions available for each of these classes in course listings for Forestry [FOR].

Education

  • Auburn [Ph.D 2005]
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale [M.S. 2001]
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale [B.S. 1999]
  • Kaskaskia College [A.S. 1997]

Publications

  • Singh, G., G. Kaur, K.W.J. Williard, J. Schoonover, and T. Bararpour. 2020. Cover crops and landscape positions impact infiltration and anion leaching in corn-soybean rotation. Journal of the Mississippi Academy of Sciences 65 (3): 346-358.
  • Singh, G., A.D.G.M. Thilakarathne, K.W.J. Williard, J.E. Schoonover, R.L. Cook, K.L. Gage, and R. McElroy. 2020. Tillage and legume non-legume cover cropping effects on corn-soybean production. Agronomy Journal 112 (4): 2636-2648.
  • Singh, G., G. Kaur, K.W.J. Williard, J.E. Schoonover, and K.A. Nelson. 2020. Managing phosphorus loss from agroecosystems of the Midwestern United States: A Review. Agronomy 10 (4): 561.
  • Singh, G., G. Kaur, K.W. Williard, K.A. Nelson, and J.E. Schoonover. 2020. Cover crops and topography differentially influence weeds at at watershed scale. Weed Technology 34 (1): 73-8.
  • Singh, G., M. Dhakal, L. Yang, G. Kaur, K.W.J. Williard, J.E. Schoonover, and A. Sadeghpour. 2020. Agronomy Journal. DOI: 10.1002/agj2.20268.
  • Singh, G., N.M.M. Mejía, K.W.J. Williard, J.E. Schoonover, and J.W. Groninger. 2019. Watershed vulnerability to invasive N2-fixing autumn olive and consequences for stream nitrogen concentrations. 2020. Journal of Environmental Quality 48 (3): 614-623.
  • Singh, G., K. Williard, J. Schoonover, K.A. Nelson, and G. Kaur. 2019. Water 11 (3): 513.
  • Singh, G., J.E. Schoonover, K.W.J. Williard, A.L. Sweet, and J. Stewart. 2019. Giant cane vegetative buffer for improving soil and surface water quality. Journal of Environmental Quality 48 (2): 330-339.
  • Singh, G., M.D. Goble, J.E. Schoonover, K.W.J. Williard, and J.J. Zaczek. 2019. Allometry, morphometry, and soil characterization of giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea) stands. Ecological Restoration 36 (4): 315-324.
  • Singh, G., K.W.J. Williard, J.E. Schoonover. 2019. Cover crops and tillage influence on nitrogen dynamics in plant-soil-water pools. Soil Science Society of America Journal 82 (6): 1572-1582.
  • Google Scholar profile.

Awards

  • 2014 Teaching Award of Merit, North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA)
  • 2014 College Teaching Excellence Award, SIU College of Agricultural Sciences
  • 2014 Nominated by College of Agricultural Sciences for University-wide Teaching Excellence Award
  • 2010 Outstanding Young Alumnus, College of Agriculture Sciences, SIUC
  • 2010 Donald M. Elkins Excellence in Teaching Award, College of Agriculture Sciences, SIUC
  • 2006 Young Alumnus of the Year, Department of Forestry, SIUC
  • 2005 Meriwether Fellowship, Auburn University