Ian Leslie

Physical Scientist

USDA-ARS Northwest Agroecosystem Research Unit
Pullman, WA

E-mail: ian.leslie@usda.gov
Phone: (509) 335-7648

Background 

Ian Leslie is a USDA-ARS Physical Scientist stationed in Pullman Washington. He received a B.Sc from California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in Soil Science and a M.Sc from the University of Idaho in Soils and Land Resources.

Skills and Expertise

Soil science, soil physics, soil chemistry, hydropedology, earthworms, electrical resistivity tomography, Global Navigation Satellite System receivers, geographic information systems software, erosion control, field research, laboratory method development.

Role in the CAF-LTAR

Ian serves as a biophysical support scientist providing expertise in the planning, implementation and coordination of field and laboratory research.

Current Research Projects

  • Supporting research occurring in the R. J. Cook Agronomy Farm Long-Term Agroecosystem project area, including:
  • Eddy covariance flux towers
  • GIS data collection and management
  • Field related research operations and coordination

Selected Products

  • Leslie, I. N. & Heinse, R. (2013).  Characterizing soil-pipe networks with pseudo-three-dimensional resistivity tomography on forested hillslopes with restrictive horizons. Vadose Zone Journal, 12, 1-9. https://doi:10.2136/vzj2013.0200.
  • Leslie, I. N., Heinse, R., Smith, A. M. S. & McDaniel, P. A. (2014). Root decay and fire affect soil pipe formation and morphology in forested hillslopes with restrictive horizons. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 78, 1448-1457. https://doi:10.2136/sssaj2014.01.0008.
  • Maaz, T. M., Schillinger, W. F., Machado, S., Brooks, E., Johnson-Maynard, J. L., Young, L. E., Young, F. L., Leslie, I., Glover, A., Madsen,I. J., Esser, A., Collins, H. P., & Pan, W. L. (2016). Impact of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Winter Wheat and Cropping System Performance across Precipitation Gradients in the Inland Pacific Northwest, USA.  Front. environ. sci., 5. https://doi:10.3389/fenvs.2017.00023.
  • Walsh, C., Johnson-Maynard, J. L., & Leslie, I. N. (2019). Seasonal variations in exotic earthworm populations in wheat fields of the Inland Pacific Northwest, U.S.A. Pedobiologia, 76.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedobi.2019.150569.
  • Schlatter, C. D., Hansen, J., Carlson, B., Leslie, I., Huggins, D. R. & Paulitz, T. C.  (2021).  Are microbial communities indicators of soil health in a dryland wheat cropping system?  Appl. Soil Ecol., 170, 104-302. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104302.