Research > Soils

Summary

This research program focuses on understanding biochemical interactions in the rhizosphere environment. This includes investigating plant-microbe interactions, soil-microbe interactions, and applying this knowledge for developing soil management technologies to improve soil health and ecosystem services. Other areas of interest include identifying novel and competent plant beneficial microbes for biofertilization, disease suppression, and bioremediation. The research program applies biogeochemical analysis and metagenomic tools to characterize soil biogeochemical properties, soil microbial communities, and their functional responses.

Understanding plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere for improving soil fertility and plant productivity

diagram about plant biomeLong-term project goals are to improve beneficial plant-microbe interactions, which are increasingly considered for sustainable soil fertility management in marginal soils (acidic and saline soils). Two graduate student projects focused on exploring novel soil management alternatives for improving beneficial plant-microbial interactions in low productive soils impacted by soil acidity and salinity. Particularly, rhizosphere and endophyte microbiome structure, functional responses, and nutrient stoichiometry were explored separately for legume and grass species exposed to soil acidity, subsoil Al toxicity, and salt stress conditions. Project results demonstrated soil and plant amendment impacts on microbial biomass, mycorrhizae and rhizobia interactions, and implications on plant nutrient uptake. Results demonstrated the importance of tripartite interactions between mycorrhizae, native microbial communities, and plants, and applicability for improving nitrogen fixation and P solubilization.

Improving soil health in forage and grazing lands

fieldLong-term project goals are to develop sustainable forage and grazing management practices to improve soil health and ecosystem services in grazing lands. One study focused on quantifying root-microbe interactions, soil microbial communities, mycorrhizal interactions, and their implications on soil carbon stocks and nutrient cycling in long-term perennial grazing sites under different stocking management, fertilization, and cover crop rotations. Similar studies were completed in long-term experimental sites evaluating no-till and cover crop rotations in grain-wheat and sorghum grazing systems. The project works identified grazing, tillage, and cover-crop rotation effects on soil health and developed guidelines for farmers on implementing best management practices to improve critical soil health attributes for the regional soils. Field trials are also in progress evaluating soil health in crop-livestock systems and develop feasible land-management options for regional farmers. A supplementary goal under these projects has been to develop novel and relevant metrics for evaluating soil microbial responses and integrate with emerging soil health assessment protocols.

Developing soil health management for organic and smallholder farms

Checking CropsProjects are in progress evaluating organic soil fertility management in grazing systems and small-acreage vegetable systems of East Texas. Soil organic carbon, soil fertility, microbial diversity, and beneficial microbial interactions are evaluated in response to organic sol management and other agronomic practices followed in organic production systems. Project results will be used for developing best management practices for soil health management during and after organic transitioning of regional production systems. Another project is performed on smallholder farms in Rwanda, focused on developing soil health management guidelines for smallholder farms situated on acidic and low fertility soils. Project works have led to the implementation of best management practices and conservation agriculture practices to increase crop yields and soil fertility, and decrease reliance on chemical inputs. Several Rwandese agronomists and scientists were trained on soil health analysis and providing soil health recommendations to farmers.

Understanding and applying novel bioremediation strategies for mitigating environmental contamination

Water TestingThe main goal will be to identify novel bioremediation strategies to remove nutrients and heavy metal contamination. Collaborative studies are in progress to understand mercury biogeochemistry in East Texas lakes. One student project aimed at profiling mercury methylators and lake biogeochemistry in Caddo lake sediments, a natural lake situated in North East Texas. Additional interests include metal-microbe interactions, phytoremediation for reducing metal contamination, and removing contaminants. Collaborative studies will also focus on working with environmental remediation companies to build resilient bioremediation systems to mitigate contamination.

Anil Somenahally

Anil Somenahally

Assistant Professor of Soil Science

Resume/CV

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Team Members

  • Javid McLawrence
  • Shweta Priya
  • Sharon Schmidt
  • Camilla Pujol

Publications

  • Somenahally A., DuPont J.I., Brady J., McLawrence J., Sarkar R., Rouquette Jr F.M. (2020). Root-mycorrhizae interactions contributed to organic carbon density in the sandy soil profiles of adapted grazing lands. Applied Soil Ecology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2020.103656.
  • Sarkar R., Corriher V., Long C.R. and Somenahally A., (2020). Challenges and potentials for soil organic carbon sequestration in forage and grazing systems. Rangeland Ecology & Management. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2020.04.002.
  • Christensen G.A., Gionfriddo C.M., King A.J., Moberly J.G., Miller C.L., Somenahally A., Callister S.J., Brewer H., Podar M., Brown S.D. and Elias D. (2019). Determining the reliability of measuring mercury cycling gene abundance with correlations with mercury and methylmercury concentrations. Environmental Science & Technology 53:8649-8663.
  • Somenahally A., DuPont J.I., Brady J., McLawrence J., Northup B., Gowda P. (2018). Microbial communities in soil profile are more responsive to legacy effects of wheat-cover crop rotations than tillage systems. Soil Biology and Biochemistry: 123:126-135.