Doctoral Student Ortel Wins American Society of Agronomy and Crop Science Society Awards

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Carrie Ortel is a Bumpers College Ph.D. student in crop, soil and environmental sciences (soil fertility).

Carrie Ortel, a U of A doctoral student in crop, soil and environmental sciences, was named winner of two prestigious awards by national organizations and will be recognized at their joint annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland, in November.

The American Society of Agronomy named her one of five winners of the Nelson Yield-Limiting Factors Graduate Student Scholarship. The scholarship is for $3,000.

The Crop Science Society of America named her recipient of the Gerald O. Mott Meritorious Graduate Student Award in Crop Science.

Ortel, who is advised by Trenton Roberts, professor of soil fertility and soil testing in the Department of Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, is a senior graduate research assistant focusing on soil fertility.

Ortel earned her bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech University before earning her master's degree from the U of A and the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences. Her research evaluates late season potassium applications to Arkansas soybeans, striving to maximize yield and profit potential for producers.

She has worked as an extension agent in North Carolina, placed in several graduate student oral presentation contests and served as president of the Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences Graduate Student Club.

Ortel is a repeat winner of the Nelson Yield-Limiting award, also earning the ASA honor in 2021.

The Nelson award is named for Werner L. Nelson, and recognizes leadership, accomplishments and long-term goals to research and develop improved diagnostic techniques and solutions to yield-limiting factors in agronomy. Nelson was a professor of agronomy at North Carolina State University.

The Mott award is named for the first CSSA president, who trained 75 graduate students during his 45-year career at Purdue University and the University of Florida.

ASA is an international scientific and professional society that empowers scientists, educators and practitioners in developing, disseminating and applying agronomic solutions to feed and sustain the world. It is home to 7,000-plus members and 12,000-plus certified professionals dedicated to advancing the field of agronomy.

CSSA is an international scientific society that fosters the vision to improve the world through crop science. It is home for 4,000-plus members dedicated to discovering and applying plant science solutions to improve the human condition and protect the planet.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture. For more information about Bumpers College, visit our website, and follow us on Twitter at @BumpersCollege and Instagram at BumpersCollege.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas' economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the top 3% of U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research News.