Claire O’Connor

I am a postdoctoral researcher in ecosystem ecology with a focus on agricultural systems. I am interested in sustainable soils for agronomy and climate change mitigation. 

My current research project investigates soil management practices for soil carbon stock in arable cropping system. Through modelling approach, I am working on soil carbon dynamics using radiocarbon data from the Ultuna long-term frame trial. This research aims to improve our understanding of the model parameters regulating soil organic carbon dynamics and transfer between pools.

In my previous research I was interested in interactions between trees and crops in young agroforestry systems. I studied the tree and crop fine root distribution using the core break method along a chronosequence of alley cropping stands. My PhD also focused on water and nitrogen sharing between trees and crops and the impact of trees on litter decomposition. I used stable isotopes to monitor nitrogen and water partitioning between trees and crops, and the tea bag method to assess the litter decomposition down to a depth of one meter.

O’Connor, C., Choma, C., Zeller, B., Siah, A., Waterlot, C., Andrianarisoa, K. S., 2025. Tree effects on litter mass loss at different soil depths in a young temperate alley cropping system revealed with tea bag method. Plant Soil 508, 701–725. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-06823-3  

O’Connor, C., Choma, C., Ndiaye, A., Delbende, F., Zeller, B., Manouvrier, E., Desmyttère H., Siah, A., Waterlot, C., Andrianarisoa, K. S., 2024. Young trees share soil water with wheat in an alley-cropping system in a wet crop year: Evidence from 2H2O artificial labeling. Journal of Hydrology, 635, 131021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131021 

O’Connor, C., Zeller, B., Choma, C., Delbende, F., Manouvrier, E., Desmyttère H., Siah, A., Waterlot, C., Andrianarisoa, K. S., 2024. Early share of 15N-labelled fertilizer between trees and crop in young temperate alley-cropping system. Eur. J. Agron. 152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eja.2023.127013 

O’Connor, C., Choma, C., Delbende, F., Zeller, B., Manouvrier, E., Desmyttère H., Siah, A., Waterlot, C., Andrianarisoa, K. S., 2024. Tree–wheat vertical fine root distribution in a four-year-old temperate alley-cropping system. Agroforest Syst. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-023-00945-w 

O’Connor, C., Zeller, B., Choma, C., Delbende, F., Siah, A., Waterlot, C., Andrianarisoa, K.S., 2023. Trees in temperate alley-cropping systems develop deep fine roots 5 years after plantation: What are the consequences on soil resources? Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.108339