Carlos Pires

Education and Degrees

B.S. Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil: December 2015

  • Major: Agronomy

M.S. Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil: April 2018

  • Major: Soil Science

Ph.D. Kansas State University: December 2023

  • Major: Agronomy
  • Minor: Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Program and Research Interests

Dr. Pires' research expertise includes regenerative agriculture, soil health, nutrient management, and applied soil biology. As an Assistant Professor and Extension Soil Health Specialist at NDSU, his primary objective is to monitor and improve soil health by identifying agricultural practices that promote integrated and resilient agroecosystems. These practices include no-tillage, strip-tillage, cover cropping, manure application, and crop-livestock integration. Much of his research is based on on-farm research, providing data-driven recommendations to help farmers enhance the profitability and sustainability of their operations

Professional Associations

Soil Science Society of America - SSSA

American Society of Agronomy - ASA

Soil and Water Conservation Society - SWCS

Brazilian Society of Soil Science – SBCS

Recent Publications and Presentations

Pires, C.B., Krupek, F.S., Carmona, G.I., Ortez, O.A., Thompson, L., Quinn, D.J., Reis, A.F.B., Werle, R., Kovacs, P., Singh, M.P., Hutchinson, J.M.S., Ruiz Diaz, D., Rice, C.W., Ciampitti, I.A. (2024). Perspective of U.S. farmers on collaborative on-farm agronomic research. Agronomy Journal 116:1590-1602. https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.21560.

Ignacio Massigoge, Rudra Baral, Sofía Cominelli, Ethan Denson, Paula García Helguera, Cesar Guareschi, Luana M. Simão, Joaquín Peraza Rud, Carlos B. Pires, J. Anita Dille, Romulo P. Lollato, Doohong Min, Andres Patrignani, Dorivar A. Ruiz Diaz, Trevor Hefley, Sara Lira, P.V. Vara Prasad, Charles W. Rice, Jerry Hatfield, Ignacio A. Ciampitti. 2024. Exploring alternative crop rotations to continuous winter wheat for agricultural intensification in the US central Great Plains. Agricultural Systems 216:103879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103879.

Luiz Gustavo de O. Denardin, Amanda P. Martins, João Pedro M. Flores, Lucas A. Alves, Carlos B. Pires, Debora R. Machado, Ibanor Anghinoni, Paulo César F. Carvalho, Yakov Kuzyakov, Charles W. Rice, Abad Chabbi. 2022. Fertilization effects on soil microbial composition and nutrient availability in integrated rice-livestock production systems, Applied Soil Ecology, Volume 174, 2022, 104420, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2022.104420.

Pires, C.B., Amado, T.J.C., Reimche, G., Schwalbert, R., Sarto, M.V.M., Nicoloso, R.S., Fiorin, J.E., Rice, C.W. 2020. Diversified crop rotation with no-till changes microbial distribution with depth and enhances activity in a subtropical Oxisol. European Journal of Soil Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.12981