Giovani Preza Fontes - Field Advisor

Researchers

Dr. Giovani Preza Fontes

Areas of Expertise:

Crop Science
Agronomy
Cover Crops
Conservation Management
Nutrient Use Efficiency

Assistant Professor & Field Crops Extension Agronomist
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)
217-244-0541
giovani3@illinois.edu

Following his bachelor’s degree at Federal University of Mato Grosso (Brazil), Dr. Preza Fontes earned a master’s degree in agronomy from Kansas State University and a doctorate in crop sciences from UIUC. He spent just over a year in Purdue University’s Department of Agronomy where he helped coordinate statewide research with the goal of improving corn nitrogen fertilizer management in cover crop systems.

Now Dr. Preza Fontes leads the UIUC Field Crops Extension & Research Program where he focuses research on enhancing the agronomic and environmental performance of field crops in Illinois. This involves evaluating and refining multiple management practices with the goal of increasing grain yield and nutrient use efficiency while reducing environmental outcomes like nitrate leaching and greenhouse gas emissions. His role also includes teaching and extension outreach responsibilities.

Fun Facts!
Dr. Preza Fontes enjoys spending time with family outdoors. They enjoy a wide range of activities from playing soccer and grilling to hiking and camping – you may even hear him strumming his guitar! He’s a Kansas fan – K-State football, KC Royals and KC Chiefs. Some of his favorite foods include Brazilian barbeque (churrasco), feijoada (black beans and meat), chicken tetrazzini and anything with chocolate!

Research Projects

Adaptive Management for Maximizing Soybean Production Following Cereal Rye TerminationMarlee Silberman2024-11-05T10:42:32-06:00

Adaptive Management for Maximizing Soybean Production Following Cereal Rye Termination

Trials in this multi-year project will help researchers better understand 1) how cereal rye influences nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) availability and soybean uptake, and 2) evaluate soybean yield response to N and S fertilization, alone and in combination, after a cereal rye cover crop.

Learn More

How Can I Offset Some of the Potential Challenges When Planting Soybeans Into Heavy Corn Residue?Alison McKenney2024-11-05T10:31:26-06:00

How Can I Offset Some of the Potential Challenges When Planting Soybeans Into Heavy Corn Residue?

To help more farmers feel confident implementing conservation tillage systems, this project is investigating the interactions across soil types, starter fertilizer, tillage systems and row spacings and how they affect soybean growth, nutrient uptake, and seed yield and quality. The results will help farmers identify management practices that enable them to plant soybeans into heavy residue while preserving the crop’s yield potential.