Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience included; crop farmers, biochar producers, biofuel producers, and food safety scientists. Changes/Problems: Nonpathogenic bacteria had to be used because the USDA-Eastern Regional Research Center was not properly equipped to handle Romaine Lettuce plants and soils that were contaminated and grown in the presence of Biosafety Level 2 pathogens. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? While this was a Post Doctoral grant aimed at advancing my career, my mentor (Josh Gurtler) and collaborators at the USDA Easter Regional Research Center, where the research was performed, only saw this as a cheap way to get more papers published. Little to no effort was made on my mentor's part to provide career advice, professional development or advancement. Therefore, this opportunity provided little to no training and professional development for me (Zac Williams) as the post doc and principle investigator. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Manuscripts are being written for peer reviewed research journals. Results were presented at several universities in the area. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The first experiment utlized specially forumlated crop soils, E. coli, Salmonella and 4 types of pyrolysis char. The soil was stored for 6 months at 37 degrees Celcius. Samples were taken every two weeks and analyzed for Salmonella and E. coli survival. The research project found that biochar produced from slow pyrolysis helps Salmonella and E. coli survivalin crop soils, and that fast pyrolysis biochar hinders the survival of the bacteria. The second project utilized Salmonella, crop soils, biochar, and Romaine lettuce plants. Soil was contaminated with Salmonella and planted with a variety of Romaine Lettuce. Samples were taken from the soil and lettuce leaves every week and analyzed for survival of Salmonella and plant weight. It was observed that slow pyrolysis char reduced seed germination time, while fast pyrolysis char hindered germination in two-thirds of the plants. Neither char had any effect on Salmonella survival.
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Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audience during this period includes; biochar manufacturers, row crop farmers, anyone interested in sustainable agriculture, food safety, and environmental microbiologists. Changes/Problems: Due to changes in the safety regulations within the USDA ARS, non-pathogenic E. coli and Salmonella will be used for goals 2 and 3. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Training was received from Dr. Boateng and his staff, on fast and slowpyrolysis and biochar production. Training was received from Dr. Douds on preparing the soil to be used in the study. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The first step was to secure enough biochar, through both fast pyrolysis and slow pyrolysis, for the entire study. With the help of Dr. Boateng’s group four biochars were made using, switch grass pellets, unpelleted switch grass, hardwood pellets. After biochar was obtained, sufficient soil was made using a mixture of; sand, turface, soil and vermiculite, from Dr. Douds. In accordance with the first objective of the grant, soil was inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica. Soil was then treated with biochar, at either 1, 3 or 5% Weight:Weight, and sampled every other week starting February 26, 2013; sampling will continue until August 2013. At the four month mark, there is a 1-3 log10 cfu/g soil reduction in Salmonella, and a 4-5 log10 cfu/g soil reduction in E. coli O157:H7, caused by treatment of biochar, regardless of biochar type. Preliminary data indicates biochar application to crop soil may provide a substantial reduction in pathogen. This will satisfy goal 1.
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