Xiangming Xiao (肖向明)

Department of Microbiology and Plant BiologyEarth Observation and Modeling Facility

Center for Spatial AnalysisUniversity of Oklahoma

Norman, Oklahoma, 73019, USA

Multi-scale Analysis of Microbe-Climate Interactions in Greenhouse Gases Emissions from Grasslands and Croplands

http://www.eomf.ou.edu

USDA NIFA Agro-climatology Project Directors Meeting, December 17-18, 2016, San Francisco, California

Multi-scale analysis of microbe-climate interactions in greenhouse gases emissions from grasslands and croplands

USDA NIFA Award # 2016-68002-24967; Project period: 3/1/2016 - 2/28/2020 (48 months)

Project Partners – Research Component

University of Oklahoma Jeffray Basara, Zhili He, Boris Wawrik, Xiangming Xiao, Jizhong Zhou,Rajen Bajgain, Carolyn Cornell, Lauren Hale, Weiling Shi, Yuting Zhou

University of New HampshireJia Deng, Steve Frolking,

USDA ARS Grazinglands Research LaboratoryBrekke Peterson Munks, Jean Steiner,

Multi-scale analysis of microbe-climate interactions in greenhouse gases emissions from grasslands and croplands

USDA NIFA Award # 2016-68002-24967; Project period: 3/1/2016 - 2/28/2020 (48 months)

Project Partners – Education Component

University of Oklahoma (OU) The K20 Center Linda Atkinson, Heather M. Shaffery,

The BlueSTEM AgriLearning Center, El Reno, OKAnn Marshall,

All researchers in the project

Scientific BackgroundWinter wheat, rangelands and pasture are major agro-ecosystems in Southern Great Plains (Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas).

• CO2, CH4 and N2O emissions from grasslands and croplands are products of microbial activities.

• Microbes are very sensitive to changes in environment, and also highly adaptable to environmental change.

CO2

N2O CH4

Microbe

Research QuestionsA. How do microbial community structure, genetic

diversity, and functional potential affect diurnal to seasonal dynamics of GHG (CO2, N2O and CH4) emissions from grasslands and croplands at different spatial scales?

B. What are the major or minimum phylogenetic or functional molecular signatures of microbial activities to be included in biogeochemical models (e.g., DNDC) for accurately modeling diurnal and seasonal dynamics of GHG emissions from grasslands and croplands?

C. To what degree will the improved biogeochemical models better predict the spatial-temporal dynamics of GHG emissions from diverse grasslands and croplands in watersheds under changing climate and management practices (e.g., livestock grazing, manure, and irrigation)?

Simple models

Complex models

Chamber

Eddy flux

TimeSp

ace

Research Question AHow do microbial community structure, genetic diversity, and functional potential affect diurnal to seasonal dynamics of GHG (CO2, N2O and CH4) emissions from grasslands and croplands at different spatial scales?

Complex models

Specific Research Objective AMeasure and quantify the dynamics of microbial community structure, diversity, and function to better understand their role in determining GHG emissions under changing environment and management practices

Research Task A. Multi-scale measurements of microbe and GHG fluxes of grasslands and croplands

To incorporate microbe measurements as part of IGOS and ICOS

IGOS and ICOS Sites in operationIntegrated grassland observation sitesEl Reno: 2 (native tallgrass prairie, OWB pasture)

Marena, Stillwater: 1 (tallgrass prairie)

KAEFS, Purcell: 1 (tallgrass prairie)

Integrated cropland observation sitesEl Reno: 2 (winter wheat; till versus no-till; graze-out, fall/winter graze only)

Eddy flux tower measurements: Diurnal dynamics of CO2and ET from winter wheat (WW) and native tallgrass prairie (TGP) sites in 2015 at El Reno, Oklahoma

From Bajgain et al., 2016, in preparation; 2016 data are under processing.

Soil and Microbe Sampling Sites at El RenoIGOS-E (Field 13): Native tallgrass prairie. Limited management with cattle grazing. Has been in tallgrass prairie for 100+ years. Sampling occurs within EC tower fetch.

IGOS-W (Field 11): Assumed pure stand of Old World Bluestem. Cattle grazing and fertilizer addition yearly. Field has been established as Old World Bluestem for 10+ years. Sampling occurs within EC tower fetch.

ICOS-E (Winter Wheat, No-Till): Highly managed winter wheat production with cattle grazing. Fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide additions as needed and chisel plowed yearly. Established as winter wheat over 10 years ago, in 2015 transition to No-till management occurred. Sampling occurs with in the EC tower fetch.

ICOS-W (Winter Wheat, Conventional Till): Highly managed winter wheat production with cattle grazing. Fertilizer, herbicide and pesticide additions as needed and chisel plowed yearly. Established as winter wheat over 10 years ago and has been in conventional tillage since. Sampling occurs with in the EC tower fetch.

Old World Bluestem pastureNative tallgrass

prairie

Winter wheat (till) Winter wheat (no-till)

Field sites at the USDA ARS Grazinglands Research Laboratory, El Reno, OK

ICOS-E

IGOS-W

IGOS-E

IGOS-E: Native Tallgrass Prairie site ; IGOS-W: Old World Bluestem (OWB) Pasture site

ICOS-E: Winter Wheat (No Till) site

Integrated Grassland Observation site (IGOS)

1. Native tallgrass prairie site2. Old World Bluestem pasture

site

Integrated Cropland Observation site (ICOS)

1. Winter wheat (No till)2. Winter wheat (Till)

Soil and Microbe Sampling Component and Results at El Reno, OKSample Depth Sampling Frequency Analysis Start Date Sample Number at each

siteTotal Number of

Samples from all 4 sites

Soil 0-15 cm

Pre/Post season

Total Carbon

February 2016, Results Pending

10 40

Total Nitrogen 10 40

pH 10 40Texture 10 40

Bulk Density 10 40

Inorganic Carbonates 10 40

Total Organic Carbon 10 40

Bi-weekly

Dissolved Organic Carbon 120 480

Dissolved Organic Nitrogen 120 480

Nitrate 120 480

Ammonium 120 480

Greenhouse GasFrom Stationary

Chamber at 0, 15, 30 and 45 minutes

Bi-Weekly

Carbon Dioxide 120 480

Methane 120 480

Nitrous Oxide 120 480

Microbial Analysis 0-15 cm Monthly

Microbial BiomassCarbon 60 240

Microbial Biomass Nitrogen 60 240

Polylipid Fatty Acid Analysis (PLFA) 60 240

Chamber measurements of GHG emissions from soils

CO2 emission

Black line – Tallgrass Prairie siteGray line – Old World Bluestem pasture site

N2O emission

CH4 emission

WFPS

From Peterson Munk, in preparation; 2016 data are in processing

Soil microbial community analysis

Data integration and m

odelling Linkages with

environment

Distance

Unexplained

water

Community

• Soil environmental properties• Ecosystem properties and

processes

• 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing for bacteria

• ITS amplicon sequencing for fungi• Key functional gene (e.g., nifH,

nosZ, mcrA) amplicon sequencing

• Functional genes involved in nutrient cycling, stress responses, plant beneficial processes, disease repression, and greenhouse gas emissions

Microbial diversity

Correlation

Network analysis

Preliminary Results from Microbe Analyses

Native tallgrass prairie

Winter wheat (tillage)

From Wawrik et al., in preparation

Sites Number of cores per sampling point at each site

Sampling Dates Total Number of Samples Collected

Samples Analyzed for Microbial Community Structure

4Native tallgrass prairie

Old world bluestem pasture

Winter wheat (No-till)

Winter wheat (conventionally Tilled)

10 cores

Cores from each site are sifted and homogenized; then sub-sampled in quadruplicate

8/3/20168/17/20168/31/20169/14/20169/28/201610/12/201610/16/201611/9/201612/7/2016

360 cores collected

(9 time points4 sites10 cores each)

8/3/20168/17/20168/31/20169/14/20169/28/2016

Main Conclusions to date –• Native grassland soils contain greater microbial biomass than managed soils (DNA proxy).

• Microbial biomass varies by as much as one order of magnitude in response to rainfall events.• Native grassland soils harbor more diverse microbial communities than managed soils.• Microbial community structure in El Reno soils occurs along a continuum in which native grasslands and

agricultural soils that are managed by tilling and manure application form end members.

Research Question B

Complex models

Specific Research Objective B

What are the major or minimum phylogenetic orfunctional molecular signatures of microbial activitiesto be included in biogeochemical models (e.g., DNDC)for accurately modeling diurnal and seasonal dynamicsof GHG emissions from grasslands and croplands?

Improve DNDC biogeochemical model by incorporatingthe measured microbial dynamics into the modelframework to simulate the interactions among soilclimate, nutrients, microbial activity, and GHGemissions in grasslands and croplands

Research Task BIncorporate representation of microbes into biogeochemical models that estimate GHG emissions from grasslands and croplands

DNDC model

Complex models

NH4+/NH3 NO2- NO N2O N2

NO3-

NO2- NO N2

NO/N2O

Aerobic microsites

Anaerobic microsites

N2O

Nitrification Denitrification Nitrifier denitrification

Emission Transfer of N pools

N gas fluxes

***

****

* *

* new transfers and pool are labeled with asteriskslegend

The improvements will enable DNDC to simulate N2O and NO production from a new pathway – nitrifier-denitrification (dark blue arrows).

Current developments of N-gas flux processes in DNDC

N2O

GPP

DNDC simulations

From Bajgain et al., in preparation

To what degree will the improved biogeochemical models better predict the spatial-temporal dynamics of GHG emissions from diverse grasslands and croplands in watersheds under changing climate and management practices (e.g., livestock grazing, manure, and irrigation)?

Apply the improved plant-soil-microbe modeling system to model and predict potential of alternative management practices on mitigating GHG emissions from grasslands and croplands across ecosystems to watershed scales

Research Question C

Specific Research Objective C

Research Task CModel and predict GHG emissions in watersheds under varying climate, livestock and manure applications

The Northern Canadian River Watershed in northwest Oklahoma

Annual GPP and daily maximum GPP in 2010 in North America

Education Task AK-12 Teachers and Student Education

The BlueSTEM AgriLearning Center

1. Three students from local schools did primary research under the mentorship of a GRL scientist, and gave poster presentation at the end of school year (2015/2016)

2. Five students from local schools are now working with three GRL scientists for primary research and will give poster presentation at the 15th Annual Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, and submit their research paper to National High School Journal of Science (2016/2017 school year)

Summer 2017 Authentic Research Experiences for Teachers (ARET)

Education Task AK-12 Teachers and Student Education

4-day summer workshop for 12+ middle and high school teachers from around the Oklahoma state

Work with researchers at GRL for soil science and relevant field technique

Work with researchers at OU for geospatial technologies and application

Engage in professional development to bring the experience into their STEM classroom

Close collaboration and integration among education groups from K20 and BlueSTEM and research groups in GRL and OU

Education Task BCollege Teachers and Student Education

Education Task CStakeholder and Citizen Education

2016 Geospatial Information Science Day (GISday) The University of Oklahoma, November 17, 2016

Participants: 269 students, faculty, researchers, staff, researchers, exhibitors, and visitors

Exhibitors: 32 booths College Students Poster

Contest and Exhibit: 16 graduate and 2 undergraduate student posters.

K-12 Participation and Activities: 11 AP Geography Southeast High School in Oklahoma City

Financial sponsorship: 12 partners

It is the 5th annual event since 2012.

Simple models

Complex models

Chamber

Eddy flux

CO2

N2O CH4

Microbe

Summary1. We are into the 10th month of the project. 2. Continue to expand the advanced

measurement systems, improve DNDC models, and prepare for watershed study

3. Continue to integrate research and education components.

Thank You !

Any questions?

Welcome to visit the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

http://www.eomf.ou.edu

Research QuestionsA. How do microbial community structure, genetic

diversity, and functional potential affect diurnal to seasonal dynamics of GHG (CO2, N2O and CH4) emissions from grasslands and croplands at different spatial scales?

B. What are the major or minimum phylogenetic or functional molecular signatures of microbial activities to be included in biogeochemical models (e.g., DNDC) for accurately modeling diurnal and seasonal dynamics of GHG emissions from grasslands and croplands?

C. To what degree will the improved biogeochemical models better predict the spatial-temporal dynamics of GHG emissions from diverse grasslands and croplands in watersheds under changing climate and management practices (e.g., livestock grazing, manure, and irrigation)?

Complex models

Specific Research ObjectivesA. Measure and quantify the dynamics of microbial

community structure, diversity, and function to better understand their role in determining GHG emissions under changing environment and management practices

B. Improve DNDC biogeochemical model by incorporating the measured microbial dynamics into the model framework to simulate the interactions among soil climate, nutrients, microbial activity, and GHG emissions in grasslands and croplands

C. Apply the improved plant-soil-microbe modeling system to model and predict potential of alternative management practices on mitigating GHG emissions from grasslands and croplands across ecosystems to watershed scales