Exploring the Influence of Soil Amendments on Fungal to Bacterial Ratios in Bioenergy Agroecosystems

Shayna Redford*, Zachary Freedman and Jenni Kane, Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

Field (Broad Category): Environmental Microbiology (Agricultural & Environmental Sciences) 

Student’s Major: Biochemistry 

By 2022, the United States Environmental Protection Agency has mandated that 60.5 billion liters of bioenergy be produced. This is largely due to the rising demands of a growing human population. To accomplish this goal, marginal lands within the Appalachian region are being explored for their suitability for bioenergy crop production. Specifically, the promising bioenergy crop Miscanthus x giganteus is favored for growth in marginal land due to its high biomass yield and low nutrient needs. Benefits of its growth reach beyond bioenergy and include reducing soil erosion and minimizing nutrient runoff. One influential factor in the success of the crop is a productive microbial community. Specifically, bacteria and fungi in the soil are responsible for decomposing organic matter which directly impacts a plant’s nutrient uptake. As an indicator of soil fertility, the ratio of bacterial to fungal DNA is often used. Managing this balance and maintaining a healthy bacterial to fungal ratio is crucial for supporting marginal land productivity. This ratio will be quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, where the genomic targets of bacterial and fungal abundance will be the 16S ribosomal RNA gene and the Internal Transcribed Spacer region, respectively. Upon comparing the data with a known standard curve, the impact of soil amendments on the bacterial to fungal ratio and the fertility of the soil will be better understood. This will improve future soil amendments and lead to more efficient management of central Appalachian marginal lands to support sustainable bioenergy agroecosystems in the future. 

Funding: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course