Microbial Innovations for Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Impacts of soil wetting bacteria and biochar on plant growth

MICRA Research Thrust 2

Preservation of soil moisture is a critical objective in the face of climate change in the Central High Plains. Researchers, Dr. Aguilar, Dr. Jha, Dr. Hansen, Dr. Hettiarachchi, Dr. Kim, Dr. Schactman, and Dr. Taghvaeian will investigate how the addition of biochar to soil can stimulate microbial activities by providing essential nutrients and organic/inorganic carbon, and how biochar is enhancing water infiltration rates/drainage and allowing water to be held in inter- and intra-pores of a soil-biochar mix, which increases plant available water for crop production. The team also study how biochar with B. subtilis can preserve soil moisture.

Soil collection
Biochar field

Research objectives:

Objective A
Lab-scale investigations of biochar-amended soils with & without B. subtilis - biochar interactions in soils

Objective B
Understanding the role of biochar and bacterial amendments in mediating plant productivity through their impact on soil water and nutrient dynamics and the rhizobiome using greenhouse experiments
Objective C
Field investigation of the impacts of biochar and bacterial amendments on nutrient transformation, the rhizobiome and plant water use efficiency