Biography
My research focuses on understanding the effects of soil management practices on soil quality and function. I am especially interested in studying the dynamics of soil food webs and their influence on soil ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, carbon storage, and the regulation of population densities of deleterious soil organisms. Our ability to gain insight on these relationships and processes is fundamental to improving soil management and ensuring sustainability of our natural resources. My work includes basic and applied research at different scales (e.g., experimental and replicated trials, on-farm research) at the regional and national levels in agronomic and natural systems.
Research Interests
- Sustainable agriculture
- Soil quality
- Agroecology
- Soil ecology
- Nematode ecology and soil food webs
Education
Ph.D. in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (Soil Biology & Ecology), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
M.S. in Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (Soil Ecology), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
B.S. in Agricultural Engineering, Zamorano-Panamerican School of Agriculture, Honduras
Courses Taught
- NRES 285: Approaches for Sustainable Food Production: Soil Stewardship and Organic Production Practices (Spring 2019)
- NRES 285: Techniques in Soil Ecology (Fall 2019, team taught with Anthony Yannarell)
- NRES 285: Urban Ecology and Agriculture (Spring 2020, team taught with Jennifer Fraterrigo, Mike Ward, and Jeff Matthews)
- NRES 102 ONL: Introduction to Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (Every semester since the Fall 2016)
Additional Campus Affiliations
Assistant Professor, Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
Research Assistant Professor, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies
Affiliate, Center for Digital Agriculture, National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)
Recent Publications
Mujjabi, C., Bohn, M. O., Wander, M. M., & Ugarte, C. M. (2024). Participatory breeding in organic systems: Experiences from maize case studies in the United States. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2024.132.008
Dady, E. R., Kleczewski, N., Ugarte, C. M., & Ngumbi, E. (2023). Plant Variety, Mycorrhization, and Herbivory Influence Induced Volatile Emissions and Plant Growth Characteristics in Tomato. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 49(11-12), 710-724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10886-023-01455-w
Endres, A. B., Andrade Laborde, J. E., Bohn, M. O., Formiga, A. K., Goldstein, W. A., Marriott, E. E., Ugarte, C. M., & Wander, M. M. (2022). Influence of the Seed Loophole and Bottleneck on Quantity and Quality of Organic Maize Seed in the U.S. Midwest. Frontiers in Agronomy, 4, Article 763974. https://doi.org/10.3389/fagro.2022.763974
Han, J., Ugarte, C. M., Flores, M. A. N., Hansen, M. G., Bowen, C. R., Schroeder, N. E., & Hartman, G. L. (2022). Plant-Parasitic and Free-Living Nematodes from Organically Farmed Fields in Illinois and Wisconsin. Plant Health Progress, 23(2), 227-234. https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-06-21-0096-S
da Costa, C. H. M., Wander, M. M., Crusciol, C. A. C., Ugarte, C., Rigon, J. P. G., Soratto, R. P., & Calonego, J. C. (2021). Long-term effects of lime and phosphogypsum on soil carbon and nitrogen and physical attributes under tropical no-till. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 85(2), 328-339. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20182