Kurt Steinke, Ph.D.

Kurt Steinke

Contact Me

Extension Specialist - Soil Science and Professor of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management
Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences

Phone:
517-353-0271

Email:

Degrees:
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin
M.S., University of Wisconsin
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Overview of current program:

Teaching, research, and extension; Research interests include improving the ecological efficiency and refining nutrient management strategies for a broad array of production agricultural systems, evaluating the environmental impacts of managed ecosystems, managing phosphorus-enriched stormwater runoff, environmental stress physiology and management, and drought and water management. 

Courses taught:  

  • CSS480, Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management

Publications:

Refereed Publications: 

Manuscripts Published:

  1. Rutan, J., N. Rosenzweig, and K. Steinke. Impact of cover crops and nitrogen management on soil bacterial alpha diversity. Comm. Soil Sci. and Plant Anal. (Accepted April 2023).
  2. Check, J., A. Byrne, M. Singh, K. Steinke, W, Widdicombe, and M. Chilvers. Effects of nitrogen application rate and plant density on severity of tar spot of corn. Plant Health Prog. (Accepted Jan. 2023).
  3. Metiva, M., E. Bunting, K. Steinke, and Z. Hayden. 2023. Topdress strategies and remote sensing for nitrogen management in processing carrots. Agron. J. 115:408-425. doi: 10.1002/agj2.21257.
  4. Purucker, S., and K. Steinke. 2022. Sugarbeet response to plant population, nitrogen rate, row spacing, and starter fertilizer strategies. J. of Sugarbeet Res. 59:23-47. doi: 10.5274/jsbr.59.1.23. 
  5. Breunig, M., M. Nagelkirk, A. Byrne, J. Wilbur, K. Steinke, and M. Chilvers. 2022. Meta-analysis of yield response to applications of fungicides made at different crop growth stages in Michigan winter wheat. Plant Health Prog. 23:300-307. doi.org/10.1094/PHP-09-21-0118-RS.
  6. Rutan, J., N. Rosenzweig, and K. Steinke. 2022. Soil bacterical community composition following cover crops and corn nitrogen management. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 86:51-64. doi: 10.1002/saj2.20336.
  7. Correndo, A., N. Tremblay, J. Coulter, D. Ruiz-Diaz, D. Franzen, E. Nafziger, V. Prasad, L. Moro Rosso, K. Steinke, J. Du, C. Messina, and I. Ciampitti. 2021. Unraveling uncertainty drivers of the maize yield response to nitrogen: A Bayesian and machine learning approach. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. Vol. 311. 11pp. doi: 10.1016/j.agrformet.2021.108668.
  8. Steinke, K., S. Purucker, and M. Chilvers. 2021. Integrating multiple inputs for soft red and white winter wheat. Agron. J. 113:4306-4322. Doi: 10.1002/agj2.20790.
  9. Rutan, J., and K. Steinke. 2021. On-farm corn phosphorus response reveals importance of soil testing. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Mgmt. Vol.7:e20105. doi:10.1002/cft2.20105.
  10. Correndo, A., J. Rotundo, N. Tremblay, S. Archontoulis, J. Coulter, D. Ruiz-Diaz, D. Franzen, A. Franzluebbers, E. Nafziger, R. Schwalbert, K. Steinke, J. Williams, C. Messina, and I. Ciampitti. 2021. Assessing the uncertainty of maize yield without nitrogen fertilization. Field Crops Res. J. Vol. 260. 11 pp. doi: 10.1016/j.fcr.2020.107985.
  11. Purucker, T., and K. Steinke. 2020. Comparing nitrogen timing and sidedress placement strategies on corn growth and yield in Michigan. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Mgmt. Vol.6. doi:10.1002/cft2.20033.
  12. Purucker, T., and K. Steinke. 2020. Soybean seeding rate and fertilizer effects on growth, partitioning, and yield. Agron. J. 112: 2288-2301. doi:10.1002/agj2.20208.
  13. Quinn, D., and K. Steinke. 2019. Comparing high and low input management on soybean yield and profitability in Michigan. Crop, Forage, & Turfgrass Mgmt. Vol.5. doi:10.2134/cftm2019.04.0029.
  14. Rutan, J., and K. Steinke. 2019. Corn nitrogen management following daikon radish and forage oat cover crops. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 83:181-189. doi:10.2136/sssaj2018.07.0269.
  15. Quinn, D., and K. Steinke. 2019. Soft red and white winter wheat response to input-intensive management. Agron. J. 111:428-439. doi:10.2134/agronj2018.06.0368.
  16. Rutan, J., and K. Steinke. 2018. Pre-plant and in-season nitrogen combinations for the Northern Corn Belt. Agron J. 110:2059-2069. doi:10.2134/agronj2018.03.0153.
  17. Rutan, J., and K. Steinke. 2017. Determining corn nitrogen rates using multiple prediction models. J. Crop Improv. 31(6):780-800.
  18. Steinke, K. and C. Bauer. 2017. Enhanced efficiency fertilizer effects in Michigan sugarbeet production. J. of Sugarbeet Res. 54:2-19.
  19. Swoish, M., and K. Steinke. 2017. Plant growth regulator and nitrogen applications for improving wheat production in Michigan. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Mgmt. Vol. 3. doi:10.2134/cftm2016.06.0049.
  20. Fontanier, C., and K. Steinke. 2017. Performance of annual and perennial ryegrass mixtures for winter overseeding into three warm-season turfgrass species. Int. Turf Soc. Res. J. 13(1):305-311. doi:10.2134/itsrj2016.05.0387.
  21. Fontanier, C., and K. Steinke. 2017. Competitiveness of three warm-season turfgrasses during spring transition of overseeded turfs. Int. Turf Soc. Res. J. 13(1):312-320. doi:10.2134/itsrj2016.05.0388.
  22. Lindsey, A., K. Steinke, J. Rutan, and P. Thomison. 2016. Relationship of DGCI and SPAD values to corn grain yield in the Eastern Corn Belt. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Mgmt. Vol. 2. doi: 10.2134/cftm2015.0184.
  23. Steinke, K., J. Rutan, and L. Thurgood. 2015. Corn response to nitrogen at multiple sulfur rates. Agron. J. 107:1347-1354.
  24. Wilkerson, G., G. Buol, Z. Yang, C. Peacock, M. McCready, K. Steinke, and D. Chalmers. 2015. Modeling response of warm-season turfgrass to drought and irrigation. Agron. J. 107:515-523.
  25. Spangler, A., C. Sprague, and K. Steinke. 2014. Impact of nitrogen and weeds on glyphosate-resistant sugarbeet yield and quality. Weed Tech. 28:189-199.
  26. Lindsey, L., K. Steinke, D. Warncke, and W. Everman. 2013. Nitrogen release from weed residue. Weed Sci. 61:334-340.
  27. Lindsey, L., D. Warncke, K. Steinke, and W. Everman. 2013. Fertilizer and population affects nitrogen assimilation of common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album) and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus). Weed Sci. 61:131-135.
  28. Steinke, K., W. R. Kussow, and J.C. Stier. 2013. Potential contributions of mature prairie and turfgrass to phosphorus in urban runoff. J. Environ. Qual. 42:1176-1184.
  29. Steinke, K., D. Chalmers, J. Thomas, R. White, C. Fontanier, and B. Wherley. 2013. Lateral spread of three warm-season turfgrass species as affected by prior summer water stress at two root zone depths. HortSci. 48(6):790-795.
  30. Steinke, K., and E. Ervin. 2013. Turfgrass Ecology. p.347-382. In J.C. Stier, S. Bonos, and B. Horgan (eds.) Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management. Agronomy Monograph 56. ASA, SSSA, CSSA, Inc. Madison, WI.
  31. Stier, J.C., K. Steinke, E. Ervin, F.R. Higginson, and P.E. McMaugh. 2013. Turfgrass Benefits and Issues. p. 105-146. In J.C. Stier, S. Bonos, and B. Horgan (eds.) Turfgrass: Biology, Use, and Management. Agronomy Monograph 56. ASA, SSSA, CSSA, Inc. Madison, WI.
  32. Fontanier, C., K. Steinke, J. Thomas, and R. White.  2011. Effects of venting aeration on neglected bermudagrass putting greens. Online. Applied Turfgrass Science doi:10.1094/ATS-2011-1201-01-RS.
  33. Pannkuk T., J.A. Peterson, K. Steinke, J. Thomas, D. Chalmers, and R. White.  2011. Carbon, nitrogen, and orthophosphate leaching from soil under single- and mixed-species landscapes. HortSci 46:1533-1539.
  34. Steinke, K., D. Chalmers, J. Thomas, and R. White. 2011. Bermudagrass and buffalograss drought response and recovery at two soil depths. Crop Sci. 51:1215-1223.
  35. Steinke, K., and D. Chalmers. 2010. Refining qualitative turfgrass canopy stress measurements during drought. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 881:451-456.
  36. Steinke, K., D. Chalmers, J. Thomas, R. White, and G. Fipps. 2010. Drought response and recovery characteristics of St. Augustinegrass cultivars. Crop Sci. 50:2076-2083.
  37. Pannkuk T., R. White, K. Steinke, J.A. Peterson, D. Chalmers, and J. Thomas. 2010. Landscape coefficients for single- and mixed-species landscapes. HortSci. 45:1529-1533.
  38. White, R., K. Steinke, C. Fontanier, and J. Thomas. 2010. Developing a device to quantify light penetration in turfgrass canopies. Crop Sci. 50:1066-1069.
  39. Steinke, K., J.C. Stier, and W.R. Kussow. 2009. Prairie and turfgrass buffer strips modify water infiltration and leachate resulting from impervious surface runoff. Crop Sci. 49:658-670.
  40. Steinke, K., D. Chalmers, J. Thomas, and R. White. 2009. Summer drought effects on warm-season turfgrass canopy temperatures. Online. Applied Turfgrass Science doi:10.1094/ATS-2009-0303-01-RS.
  41. Steinke, K., J.C. Stier, W.R. Kussow, and A. Thompson. 2008. Sediment and nutrient losses from prairie and turfgrass buffer strips during establishment. p.151-164. In M.Nett et al. (ed.) The fate of nutrients and pesticides in the urban environment.  Amer. Chem. Soc. Symp. Ser. 997. ACS, Washington, DC. Oxford Univ. Press, New York.
  42. Steinke, K., J.C. Stier, W.R. Kussow, and A.Thompson. 2007. Prairie and turf buffer strips for controlling runoff from paved surfaces. J. Environ. Qual. 36:426-439.
  43. Steinke, K., and J.C.Stier. 2004. Influence of trinexapac-ethyl on cold tolerance and non-structural carbohydrates of shaded supina bluegrass. Acta Hort. (ISHS) 661:207-215.
  44. Steinke, K., and J.C. Stier. 2003. Nitrogen selection and growth regulator applications for improving shaded turf performance.  Crop Sci. 43:1399-1406.
  45. Steinke, K., and J.C. Stier. 2002. Tolerance of supina bluegrass to pre- and post-emergent herbicides.  J. Environ. Hort. 20(2):118-121.