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University of Nebraska–Lincoln

School of Natural Resources

From Earth to Sky and Everything In Between

James Brandle

James R. Brandle


Hi, I’m Jim Brandle, and I’m a professor of forestry in the School of Natural Resources.

My main research emphasis is the role of woody plants in agricultural systems, particularly windbreaks and their effects on all aspects of crop production. One part has to do with how windbreaks and shelterbelts work. The other major components focus on the economic value of various forms of shelter and the role that windbreaks play in maintaining biodiversity on our farms and ranches.

Key projects involve research into the physics, or the mechanisms, of woody plant shelter and an increasing emphasis on the economic benefits of shelter, especially crop response. These studies are being pursued in cooperation with colleagues at Iowa State University and the U.S. Forest Service.

Working with the cooperators above, we will soon be releasing the second version of a crop windbreak-economics model. This sophisticated computer model is based on intensive studies of windbreak airflow dynamics and will quantify precise effects on crop yields and money saved. It can evaluate any shelter for the economic benefits to corn or soybean production in the north-central United States.

Another recent venture involves investigating the effects of windbreaks on carbon sequestration, or storage. Storing carbon helps mitigate global warming. My colleagues and I are looking not only into how much carbon field windbreaks store, but also how much fossil fuel is saved because that area is taken out of production, and not plowed and cultivated. In addition, other types of windbreaks provide savings from reduced home heating and cooling costs and from reduced snow removal costs.

I received my bachelor’s in botany from the University of Tennessee in 1966 and my master’s and doctorate in forestry from the University of Missouri in 1970 and 1974, respectively.

Personnel Information

Name Jim R. Brandle
University Title Professor
Address 407 Hardin Hall, Lincoln NE 68583-0974
Phone 402-472-6626
Fax 402-472-2946
Email jbrandle1@unl.edu
Related Websites n/a

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Key Research Publications

  • Brandle, J.R., L. Hodges, X, Zhou (2004) Windbreaks in North American agricultural systems. Agroforestry Systems 61:65-78.
  • Hodges, L., M.N. Suratman, J.R. Brandle, and K.G. Hubbard (2004) Growth and yield of snap beans as affected by wind protection and microclimate changes due to shelterbelts and planting dates. HortScience 39:996-1004.
  • Zhou, X.H., J.R. Brandle, C.W. Mize, and E.S. Mize (2004) Three-dimensional aerodynamic structure of a tree shelterbelt: Definition, characterization and working models. Agroforestry Systems (In press).
  • Josiah, S.J., R. St-Pierre, H. Brott, and J.R. Brandle (2004) Productive conservation: Diversifying farm enterprises by producing specialty woody products in agroforestry systems. Journal Sustainable Agriculture 23:93-108.
  • Brandle, J., X.H. Zhou, and L. Hodges, (2003) Agroforestry for enhancing water use efficiency. Encyclopedia of Water Science 19-21.
  • Takle, E.S., J.R. Brandle, R.A. Schmidt, and R. Garcia, I.V. Litvina, W.J. Massman, X.H. Zhou, G. Doyle, C.W Rice (2003) High-frequency pressure variation in the vicinity of a surface CO2 flux chamber. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 114:245-250.
  • Hou, Q.J., J.R. Brandle, M.M. Schoenberger (2003) Root-prunning alters soil moisture at the windbreak/crop interface. Agroforestry Systems 57:137-147.
  • Beecher, N.A., R.J. Johnson, J.R. Brandle, R.M. Case, and L.J. Young,. 2002. Agroecology of birds in organic and non-organic farmland. Conservation Biology 16:1620-1631.
  • Zhou, X.H., J.R. Brandle, E.S. Takle, C.W. Mize. 2002. Estimation of the 3-dimensional aerodynamic structure of a green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) shelterbelt. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 111:93-108.
  • Easterling, W.E., J.R. Brandle, Q. Guo, C.J Hays, and D.S. Guertin. 2001. Simulating the impact of human land use change on forest composition in Great Plains agroecosystems with the Seedscape model. Ecological Modeling 140 (1-2):163-176.
  • Danielson, S.D., J.R. Brandle, L. Hodges, and P. Srinivas. 2000. Bean leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) abbundance in soybean fields protected and unprotected by shelterbelts. J. Entomol. Sci. 35:385-390.
  • Brandle, J.R., L. Hodges, and B. Wight. 2000. Windbreak Practices, Chapter 4 in North American Agroforestry: An Integrated Science. (H.E. Garrett., W.J. Rietveld, and R.F. Fisher, eds), Am. Soc. Agronomy, 79-118.

Key Extension-related Publications

  • Brandle, J., X. Zhou, and L. Hodges. 2002. How windbreaks work,. EC-02-1763
  • Brandle, J. and L. Hodges. 2000. Field windbreaks. EC-00-1778.
  • Stange, C., J. Wilson, J. Brandle, and M. Kuhns. 1998. Windbreak renovation. EC-98-1777.
  • Brandle, J.R. and H.D. Nickerson. 1996. Windbreaks for snow management. EC-96-1770.
  • Stange, C. and J.R. Brandle. 1996. Windbreak management. EC-96-1768.
  • Quam, V.C., L. Johnson, B. Wight, and J.R. Brandle. 1994. Windbreaks for livestock operations. EC-91-1766.
  • Wight, B., T.K. Boes, and J.R. Brandle. 1993. Windbreaks for rural living. EC-91-1767.
  • Johnson, R.J., M.M. Beck and J.R. Brandle. 1992. Windbreaks and wildlife. EC-91-1771.
  • Quam, V.C., J. Gardner, J.R. Brandle and T.K. Boes. 1992. Windbreaks in sustainable agricultural systems. EC-91-1772.
  • Boehner, P., J.R. Brandle and S. Finch. 1991. Windbreak establishment. EC-91-1764.

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