Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

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Co-sponsored Symposia on Soil Carbon and Greenhouse Dynamics in Agricultural Lands with Divisions S-03, S-05, S-06, and NC-1078 at the 2009 Soil Science Society of America Meetings in Pittsburgh, PA on Tuesday, November 3, 2009. Several members made poster and oral presentations (KS, ND, USDA-ARS). Co-sponsored a symposium on Microbial and Humic Amendments: Advances in Understanding Their Effects on Soils and Plants with Divisions S-03, S-04, S-08 and the International Humic Substances Society at the 2009 Soil Science Society of America Meetings in Pittsburgh, PA on Monday, November 2, 2009. Initial differences in microbial group C stabilization have been observed, however, after 2 years there is no significant difference in C stabilization by fungi, actinomycetes, and gram- and gram+ bacteria. (CA) At a temperate climatic site, the amount of input microbial 13C recovered in whole soils in the application depth (0 to 7.5 cm) far exceeded that recovered in the soil depth immediately below it (7.5 to 15 cm); whereas for a wetter tropical site, nearly 1/3 of remaining input C was recovered in the lower depths. (CA) Despite substantial differences in microbial C turnover between California and Puerto Rico soils, this effect was only apparent in the light fraction not the occluded and mineral-associated fractions, which highlights the importance of the soil mineral matrix for protecting microbial carbon. (CA) Plant litter diversity changes soil organic matter enthalpic characteristics with higher energy associated with diverse litter inputs versus monoculture forest stands. These results have implication for long-term soil C storage and the sustainability of plantation forests. (CA) Evaluated DOC and nutrient movement through soils where manure is applied to soils with increased DOC concentrations observed only during the first rainfall event indicating preferential macropore transport. (IN) Evaluated carbon and nutrient loading in drainages in urban and rural watersheds demonstrating the value of long term record keeping of flow and nutrient values in watersheds. (IN) Evaluated DOC movement in soils under individual grassland plant species and in mixed grasslands having potential for biofuels biomass production. (ND) Developed methodology using 13C to track processes in methanotrophs during methane Oxidation and to track 13C in lipid biomarkers to study microbial controls n C sequestration. (OH) Evaluated methodology for total soil carbon by visible, NIR and FTIR analysis in the lab and the field for assessing soil C sequestration. (PA) Involved in developing a proposal for a NASA Venture proposal for regional soil carbon assessment. (PA and KS) Evaluated biogas treatment of dairy effluent and mixed wastes to reduce the potential of nitrous oxide emissions relative to urea and untreated dairy wastes. (WA) Evaluated use of dairy wastes to replace fertilizer N requirements and fertigation with dairy wastes to reduce the requirement for irrigation water. (WA) Conducted outreach and trained scientists through the NSF's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship. (WA)

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