A Research Update from the Lal Carbon Center
By Md. Nayem Hassan Munna
Over the past several months, my research as a PhD graduate student at The Lal Carbon Center has achieved significant progress. I have been conducting experiments on plots at Waterman Farm, where I collected core and bulk soil samples to assess the impact of various soil treatments. These treatments included the addition of compost, manure and cover crops. Additionally, I applied a mixture of Gramoxone and Atrazine herbicides to the compost and manure-treated plots, while urea fertilizer was incorporated into the fallow and cover crop plots. Corn was planted in the compost and manure-treated plots, and specific cover crop seeds were sown in designated areas.
Utilizing a penetrometer, I measured penetration resistance in these experimental plots. In the laboratory, I have completed analyses on moisture content, bulk density, and saturated hydraulic conductivity of the core soil samples. Current lab work includes tension table and field capacity measurements, with future analyses planned for wet aggregate stability and soil organic carbon content.
This period of experimentation and analysis has been both challenging and rewarding. I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Rattan Lal and the dedicated staff at The Lal Carbon Center for their unwavering support and guidance. Their expertise and assistance have been invaluable in advancing my research. Best wishes to everyone at the center for their continued success.