Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor Platform for Water Reclamation and Resource Recovery in Livestock Operations Across Kansas – Kansas State University aims to validate realistic opportunities to achieve a sustainable circular bioeconomy through the generation of valuable products including enriched biogas for onsite energy capture; N and P fertilizers of commercial quality with tunable release rates for beneficial crop application, thereby reducing runoff potential from manure; and water for onsite beneficial reuse, specifically for animal consumption and crop production. Specific objectives for project are to operate and collect data from the pilot AnMBR at K-State’s dairy research unit and map water quality of the treated water (after AnMBR, as well as after filtration only treatments from vendors across the state) as well as engage with livestock producers (dairy, swine operations), including those over the High Plains Aquifer, to collect water quality data for their animal drinking water use as well as available water sources. Kansas State University will also collaborate and synergize ongoing efforts to collect water quality data from feedyards. The goal is to map water quality with agriculture technologies (AnMBR, membrane filtration).
Developing Wheat Disease Management Strategies That Reduce Fungicide Contamination of Water Resources in Kansas – Kansas State University seeks to develop disease management strategies that help farmers improve wheat yields, reduce water losses, and reduce dependence on fungicides. Specific research objectives are to quantify the influence of disease on water loss in wheat; develop disease forecasting models that help farmers make fungicide decisions based on the susceptibility of their crop to disease and risk that weather favors disease development; and conduct programs that present management options that depend less on fungicides. The expected outcomes of this project include timely maps of disease risk that help wheat growers evaluate the need for fungicides based on disease activity, genetic resistance and local weather; research results documenting the efficacy of disease management strategies that use less fungicides; and programs encouraging wheat farmers to adopt these management strategies.
Development of Corn Starch-Reinforced Hemp Geotextiles for Soil Stabilization and Water Conservation – Pittsburg State University will develop and pilot test corn starch-reinforced hemp-based geotextiles designed to stabilize soil and reduce erosion in Kansas agricultural fields. Working with Midwest Hemp Technology, South Bend Industrial Hemp, and Prairie Band LLC, hemp grown in Kansas will be harvested, and its bast fibers will be extracted using a green retting process that integrates high-pressure retting and low-temperature enzymatic hydrolysis. This method reduces chemical use, processing time, and energy demand compared to conventional retting approaches. Prototype geotextiles of varying thicknesses will be produced using a nonwoven fabrication process and reinforced with corn-derived starch supplied by J-Six Enterprises, a major Kansas starch producer partnering in this project. Comprehensive laboratory characterization will include chemical analysis, surface morphology, basis weight, thickness, pore-size distribution, air and water permeability, UV degradation during aging and freezing studies, tensile strength, soil-geotextile interaction, microbial culture test for geotextiles and erosion-control tests. The field test will be conducted in partnership with the Kansas Hemp Consortium. The integrated approach represents a novel, biobased alternative to petroleum-derived geotextiles, accelerating the development of Kansas-made, sustainable geotextiles for agricultural soil protection.
Supercharging Prairie Strips with Native Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Stabilize Soil and Reduce Nutrient Runoff – The University of Kansas aims to determine whether prairie strips inoculated with native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can reduce soil erosion and nutrient runoff from Kansas cropland. Sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus loss from corn, soybean, and wheat fields currently degrade long-term soil fertility and contribute to harmful algal blooms, elevated nitrate levels in drinking water, and diminished water quality across Kansas. AMF form symbiotic relationships with native prairie plants, enhancing nutrient uptake, binding soil particles including soil phosphorus, and improving soil structure. If AMF-inoculated prairie strips enhance nutrient retention, they could provide a scalable, nature-based strategy for protecting Kansas waterways. Expected outcomes include quantitative data of AMF's ability to reduce sediment and nutrient loss in the field, and practical recommendations for agricultural water-quality improvements.
Microbial Interactions Contributing to Drought Responses of Corn and Eastern Gamagrass – University of Kansas researchers discovered that bacteria from semi-arid grasslands in western Kansas improve drought tolerance of Eastern gamagrass but not corn. This project follows up on that discovery by comparing how corn and gamagrass interact with fungi during drought, and testing whether the presence of fungi affects the behavior of bacteria inside the roots. Because the two plant species are closely related, we aim to learn from gamagrass how to design more effective microbial products for corn. The research objectives of this project are to (1) isolate and identify root-associated fungi from Kansas soils, (2) measure how interactions between fungi and bacteria influence drought tolerance of corn and gamagrass, and (3) compare the behavior of helpful bacteria in corn versus gamagrass during drought. These objectives will be met through a series of lab and greenhouse experiments. This work will increase the number of fungi available for use in research and products and advance our understanding of plant-microbe interactions. Project personnel will conduct outreach to industry representatives to maximize the usefulness of their research.