Christine Sprunger

Christine Sprunger

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Associate Professor: Soil health
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

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Degrees:
Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior, Michigan State University,
B.S. in Forest Resources, B.A. in Program on the Environment; University of Washington

Dr. Christine Sprunger is an Associate Professor of soil health in the Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial Sciences and is based at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. Her research focuses on the intersection of agriculture and the environment, where she investigates how various agricultural management practices impacts soil health and ecosystem services. In addition, Dr. Sprunger is interested in understanding how nematode communities can serve as a key soil biological health indicator within agroecosystems. Lastly, Dr. Sprunger explores how climate change impacts rhizosphere dynamics and soil food webs.
     Prior to joining MSU, Dr. Sprunger was an assistant professor of soil science and rhizosphere processes at Ohio State University from 2018-2022. Prior to starting a faculty position, Dr. Sprunger completed a National Science Foundation Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Biology at Columbia University, where she examined the relationship between soil carbon dynamics and crop productivity in small holder farming systems in Kenya and Tanzania. Dr. Sprunger holds a Ph.D. in Crop and Soil Sciences and Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior from Michigan State University, and she received both a B.S. in Forest Resources and a B.A. in Program on the Environment from the University of Washington with a minor in Human Rights.

Christine Sprunger Lab Website

Christine Sprunger publications on Google Scholar

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List of current projects: 

Franco, A. and Sprunger, C.D. 2026-2030.Harnessing soil animal diversity to promote multifunctionality and guide soil health management in agroecosystems. USDA NIFA. $750,000. 

Sprunger, C.D. 2026-2027. Strengthening soil health recovery in potato production systems. Michigan Potato Industry Commission. $14,250.

Topp, C. et al. Co-PI: Sprunger, C.D. 2025-2030. N-SYNC: Engineering synchronized nitrogen efficiency traits in corn agriculture. DOE – ARPA-E. $5,600,000. 

Sprunger, C.D. and Burrack, H. 2025-2027. Redefining Sustainable Soil Management: Diversifying Soil Food Webs for Resilient Agroecosystems. Project GREEN. $94,551. 

Sprunger, C.D. 2025-2027. A state-wide assessment to better understand soil health and sustainability in potato-based cropping systems in Michigan. Potato Industry Commission. $48,450. 2025-2026. 

Donohue. Co-PI: Sprunger, C.D. 2024-2027.Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. Department of Energy, Office of Science. Sprunger manages ~$150,000 per year as part of a $125M grant. 

Blesh, J., Asher, A. Sprunger, C.D. 2024-2029. Understanding the outcomes of improved soil health to accelerate conservation in the Western Lake Erie Basin. MDARD. $4,013,324. Subaward to MSU: $1,411,282. 

 Sprunger, C.D. Robertson, G.P., Basso, B., Charles, C., DeDecker, J., Jean, M., Kravchenko, A.N., Laporte, J., Marquat-Pyatt, S., Sears, M., Singh, M., Ulbrich, T., Wilke, B. 2024-2027. MSU Agricultural Climate Resiliency Program. $1,249,599. 

Haddad, N., Evans, S., and Sprunger, C.D. 2024-2027. Diversified cropping systems for biodiversity and ecosystem services. USDA NIFA. $749,999.71. 

Wessel, B. and Sprunger, C.D. 2024-2026. Establishing Soil and Plant Nutrient Laboratory data as a research resource. Project Green. $19,488.45. 

Sprunger, C.D. Robertson, G.P. and Evans, S. 2023-2027. MSU/Syngenta Soil Health Partnership. Syngenta. $350,000. 

Sprunger, C.D., Shulthies, E., and Docherty, K. 2023-2027. Exploring the efficacy of prairie strips as a soil health promoting practice. North Central SARE. $119,055. 

Sprunger, C.D. 2023-2026. Expand knowledge of how changes in soil food web dynamics impact overall soil health outcomes by sampling NCSS characterized pedons. USDA NRCS Soil Survey. $489,613. 

Haddad, N., Basso, B., Evans, S., Kravchenko, A., Landis, Lau, J., Robertson, G.P. Sprunger, C.D., Zarnetske, P. 2022 – 2028. LTER: KBS – Revealing ecological and social mechanisms of resilience in agroecological systems. NSF LTER. $7,650,000.