Team Leader
Siddhartha Bhattacharyya
Texas A&M University
Soil and Crop Sciences
ss_bhattacharyya@tamu.edu
Project Type
Research
Who Can Join
Faculty, Undergraduate Students
Project Description
Soil microbial communities and enzyme activities are central to nutrient cycling and ecosystem resilience in regenerative cotton systems. In semi-arid regions such as West Texas, optimizing cover crop management under water-limited conditions is critical for sustainable production. While prior research has shown that cover crops and no-till practices enhance microbial diversity and stimulate enzymatic processes linked to carbon and nitrogen cycling, the effects of termination timing—especially over multiple years—remain poorly understood. Specifically, how early versus delayed termination influences microbial community structure, including fungal–bacterial dynamics and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) activity, under varying irrigation regimes is not well characterized. The long-term interactions between termination timing and soil moisture availability on microbial function and enzymatic responses have received little attention.
This project aims to evaluate how termination timing shapes microbial diversity, composition, and enzyme activity in no-till cotton systems under contrasting irrigation levels. Through integrated microbial and biochemical analyses, we seek to inform adaptive management strategies that improve soil health, enhance nutrient cycling, and build resilience in semi-arid cotton agroecosystems.
Team Needs
Our team brings a complementary blend of expertise in soil microbiology, agronomy, and microbial ecology, with direct experience conducting field-based research in semi-arid agroecosystems. The lead investigator has extensive training in soil microbial community and functional analysis, including amplicon sequencing, enzymatic assays, and metatranscriptomics. Our interdisciplinary perspective combines molecular, ecological, and agronomic tools to holistically address complex soil-plant-microbe interactions.
Participation Requirements:
✔Must be a currently enrolled Texas A&M undergraduate in a relevant STEM major (e.g., Soil & Crop Sciences, Microbiology, Plant & Environmental Science).
✔Willingness and motivation to learn new laboratory methods (e.g., DNA extraction, enzyme assays).
✔Ability to work independently and meet deadlines for data collection and reporting.
✔Strong communication skills and commitment to regular team meetings.
✔Interest in sustainability, soil health, and gaining hands-on research experience.
Special Opportunities
Students are encouraged to enroll in SCSC 291 or 491 research credits to formally integrate their participation into their academic program. This experience will provide exposure to molecular techniques, data interpretation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, and may lead to co-authorship on presentations or publications. Individual mentoring and flexible scheduling will support students’ professional growth and accommodate their academic commitments.