Microbial Innovations for Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Impacts of soil wetting bacteria on water transport

MICRA Research Thrust 1


Preservation of soil moisture is a critical objective in the face of climate change in the Central High Plains. Researchers, Dr. Bolton, Dr. Derby, Dr. Fondjo-Fotou, Dr. Fondjo, Dr. Jha, Dr. Hansen, Dr. Hettiarachchi, Dr. Mieno, Dr. Saha, Dr. Schactman, and Dr. Tadesse will investigate microbially-active soil amendments at multiple scales using sandy loam and loam soils. Soil moisture sensores with wirless sensor network will be installed to measure soil moisture in greenhouses and fields. Evaporation rates will be quantified from sandy loam and loam soils, without (control) and inoculated with B. subtilis (microb). The study will also look at microbial community and models and examine how B. subtilis interacts with other microb in the soil.

A loamy soil sample
Soil collection

Research Objectives:

Objective A

Lab, greenhouse and field trials to study the fundamental impacts of soil wetting bacteria, B. subtilis, on spatial and temporal variability in soil properties.

Objective B
Metabolic modeling to understand chemical flow between B. subtilis and microbiome members present throughout the soil and root zone.
Objective C
Understanding the disproportionate effects of climate change on underserved population.