Location: Agroecosystem Management Research
Project Number: 3042-11210-003-001-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Aug 1, 2014
End Date: Jul 31, 2019
Objective:
1.) To improve understanding of management impacts on community structure and function soil microorganisms in highly productive crop systems; 2.) Quantify the role of soil microorganisms in the acquisition and uptake of nutrients and water; and 3.) Determine how soil microorganisms influence or regulate plant nutrient transporter mechanisms.
Approach:
Microbial communities will be evaluated using FAME analysis. Nutrient transformation and plant transporter mechanisms will be evaluated using molecular methods. Plant – microbe interactions affecting nutrient and water acquisition will be evaluated by quantifying enzyme activity.