Janel Ohletz
Doctor of Philosophy – Soil Science
Thesis / Dissertation: Understanding Nutrient Status of High Yielding Corn Varieties Using Hyperspectral Imaging and Corn Yield Contest Data.
Honors/Awards:
Ross Lester Andrews Soil Science Environmental Research Award
Recipient 2020 ASA, CSSA, SSSA Future Leaders in Science Award Leadership Conference
ASA, CSSA, SSSA National Conference PhD Poster Competition 3rd place Soil Fertility Div.
Advisor: Jeffrey White
Graduate Committee: Michael Kudenov, Cramps Williams, Carl Crozier
Research Summary
Utilization of data science techniques including multivariate analysis and machine learning to elucidate relationships among multiple soil and tissue analysis results taken from high-yielding corn to determine limiting factors to growth. In addition, these same data science techniques were used to analyze remote sensing data from an off-nadir mast-mounted hyperspectral camera to determine wavebands with the highest influence in classifying between hybrid field corn varieties.
Publications and Presentations
Journal Article: Ohletz, J.L. and J.B. Loy (2020) Grafting Melons (Cucumis melo L.) Increases Yield, Harvest Period and Resistance to Sudden Wilt in New England. HortTechnology accepted, in revisions, peer-reviewed
Fact-sheet: Martin (Ohletz) J.L. Melon Grafting for Northeastern Growers. (2018) NH Cooperative Extension
Newsletter: Growing perennial globe artichoke in New Hampshire: results from research funded by NE—SARE Farmer Grant. (2016) NH Fruit and Vegetable News
Posters:
Martin (Ohletz) J.L., J.G. White, R.W. Heininger, and G.G. WIlkerson (2018) Utilizing the Diagnosis Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) to Determine Yield Limiting Nutrients for NC Corn Contest Entries. NC Commodities Conference.
Martin (Ohletz) J.L., J.G. White, and M. Kudenov (2018) Detecting Diurnal Changes to Corn Leaf Canopy Reflectance with Hyperspectral Spectroscopy. Annual meeting American Soc. of Agronomy and the Crop Science Soc. of America.
Ohletz J.L. and J.G. White (2019) LASSO or DRIS: Multivariate Technique Comparison for Evaluating Nutrient Balance of High Yielding Farmer-Grown Corn in North Carolina. Poster presentation, Annual meeting of the American Society of Agronomy and the Crop Science Soc. of America.
White J.G. and J.L. Martin (Ohletz) (2018) Are Nutrient Deficiencies Limiting High Yield? Tissue and Soil Analysis of NC Corn Yield Contest Entries. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of the American Soc. of Agronomy and the Crop Science Soc. of America.
Presenter— Northeast Organic Farmer Association, Winter Conference “Soil Fertility”, Aug. 2018 & July 2020
Presenter — NC Soil Science Society Conference, Understanding field-grown corn nutrient status of high-yielding growers of NC. Jan 2019
Presenter – New England Fruit and Vegetable Conference. “Increasing Melon Yield and Resistance to Sudden Wilt by Grafting to Interspecific Hybrid Squash Rootstock.” Dec 2018
Presenter — UNH Cooperative Extension Cucurbit School, “Does grafting cucurbits make sense? When, Why, and How.” Jan 2017
Presenter – UNH Cooperative Extension Merrimack County. Hands-on grafting workshop for growers, March 2018
Presenter — NOFA-NH Winter Conference “Grafting melons for disease resistance.”, Jan 2016
Presenter — NOFA-MA Winter Conference “Growing perennial globe artichoke in New Hampshire with low tunnels.”, Jan 2016
I plan to use my degree to:
I have taken a position as an Agriculture Extension Agent in Durham County, NC focused on small farms and local foods. I hope to use my extensive food system and sustainable agriculture knowledge to provide Durham County farmers with the tools to adapt and become more resilient in the face of the changing climate and external pressures.
What I enjoyed most about my experience in Crop and Soil Sciences at NC State was:
I enjoyed getting to know all of my graduate student colleagues as well as many of the professors who I took classes with.
While earning my degree, my greatest supporters were:
My greatest support while getting my degree was my three daughters, my parents, my husband Stefan, and my friends Caner, April and Donna
Now that I have graduated, I’m most looking forward to: Establishing myself as an extension agent, having my weekends free to pursue my hobbies of gardening, knitting, quilting, pottery, and stained glass.
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/janelohletz
