Soil Science

The field of Soil Science applies biology and microbial ecology, chemistry, earth sciences, ecology, hydrology, mineralogy, mathematics, nutrition, toxicology, and physics. Soil Science examines the formation, distribution, function and management of soils to understand, sustain, and improve the environment. Soil is a key component of natural, agricultural, and wildland ecosystems that sustains all global processes.

A diverse range of research tools are implemented, such as geospatial analysis, computer modeling, microscopy, spectroscopy, bioassays, molecular biology, and other advanced field and lab technology for soil investigation. Soil scientists provide expertise in food production and safety, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, ecological restoration, beneficial recycling of byproducts, and land use planning. The soil scientists in the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) investigate issues such as carbon sequestration, recycling of nutrients, restoration of contaminated soils, and assimilation of waste products.

Active Graduate Advisors:

Nicholas Basta
Steve Culman
Matt Davies
Scott Demyan
Richard Dick
Jeffory A. Hattey
Rattan Lal
Brian Lower
Steven Lower
Edward McCoy
Brian Slater
Christine Sprunger

Recent Theses and Dissertations (available on OhioLink*)

M. Ann Varughese**	MS	Mulching and Tillage Effects on GHG Emissions and Properties of an Alfisol in Central Ohio
T. Burgos-Hernandez	MS	Assessment of Effects of Long Term Tillage Practices on Soil Properties in Ohio
D. Busalacchi	MS	Evaluation of Biosolids for Use in Ecological Restoration
B. Campbell	MS	Carbon Budgets and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated with Two Long-Term Tillage and Crop Rotation Sites in Ohio
C. Dygert	MS	Setback Distance Effect of Mitigating Nutrient Transport from Surface Applied Liquid Dairy Manure on Frozen/Snow-Covered Soil
C. Eastman	MS	Soil Physical Characteristics of an Aeric Ochraqualf Amended with Biochar
D. Florence	PhD	Agronomic Land Management Effects on Soil Fertility and Grain Crop Productivity in Western Kenya and Ohio
D. Henry	MS	Nitrogen Contribution from Red Clover for Corn Following Wheat in Western Ohio
M. Herman	MS	Laboratory Evaluation and Soil Test Phosphorus Trends in Ohio
J. Kendall	PhD	Soil Microbial Ecology Associated with Disease Control of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Cucumerium in Cucumis sativus Cultivation
P. Kolka-Jonsson	MS	Carbon Sequestration and Soil Development Under Mountain Birch (Betula Pubescens) in Restored Areas on Southern Iceland
M. Lane	MS	The Effect of Glyphosate on Soil Microbial Communities
B.H. Massawe	PhD	Digital Soil Mapping and GIS-based Land Evaluation for Rice Suitability in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania
J. Obrycki	PhD	Managing Soils For Environmental Science And Public Health Applications
T. Roy-Chowdhury	PhD	Carbon Flow Through Methanotrophs During Methane Oxidation Using 13C-PLFA Stable Isotope Probing
S. Sekar	MS	The Effects of Biochar and Anaerobic Digester Effluent on Soil Quality and Crop Growth in Karnataka, India
A. Selhorst**	PhD	Carbon Sequestration by Home Lawn Turfgrass Development and Maintenance in Diverse Climatic Regions of the United States
A. Sengupta	PhD	Studying Methanotrophic Bacterial Diversity in Ohio Soils Using High- Throughput Sequence Analysis
J. Stinner**	PhD	Effects of Agroecosystem Management on Water Quality in Multiple Watersheds in Ohio
J. Tvergyak	MS	Organic By-Product Materials as Soil Amendments
M. Walia	PhD	Gypsum and Carbon Amendment's Influence on Soil Properties, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Growth and Nutrient Uptake of Ryegrass (Lolium perenne)

*OhioLink articles available to OSU students, faculty, and staff
**Students advised by SENR faculty in other OSU graduate programs

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Soil Science