Soil and Its Importance

Soil is a fundamental component of food production, providing essential media for crop cultivation. Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a key parameter for agricultural soils,ensuring food security and sustainability. It plays a critical role in the global carbon budget and sequestration. The soil microbial community, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, algae, fungi, and protists, significantly influences soil functions by regulating plant growth through nutrient cycling.

Image of Aerial View of Research Farm

Aerial view of the Prairie View A&M University Research Farm, showcasing experimental plots designed to study soil carbon sequestration and sustainable agricultural practices under the PVAMU-Shell partnership.

Research and Innovation

To address climate change issues, there is a growing interest in managing soils and plants to increase SOC and reduce GHGs emissions. However, measuring and monitoring SOC is challenging due to its complex interactions with climate, land use, and management practices. Effective strategies require reliable measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV) systems. 

Project Goals

The proposal aims to develop innovative strategies to reduce GHG emissions and enhance soil carbon sequestration without compromising crop yields. An integrated approach will be used to: 

  • Quantify GHG emissions and carbon sequestration using innovative technologies. 

  • Investigate the role of microbes in carbon sequestration. 

  • Develop innovative additives, such as hydrogels and biochar, to increase carbon capture. 

Experimental Approach

Experiments will be conducted on six plots using commercially available hydrogels and biochar in pasture and cropland ecosystems. The impact of these amendments on carbon sequestration will be monitored. GHG emissions will be quantified, and plant growth trials will be performed in a greenhouse setting. Advanced tools, such as soil and water quality sensors, automated soil CO₂ multiplexers, and high-resolution satellite data, will be utilized. 

Image of Tractor Spraying the Field


A researcher operates a tractor to apply soil amendments, such as biochar and hydrogels, aimed at improving carbon sequestration and soil health in experimental plots.

This experiment utilized biochar derived from pine wood pyrolysis at 500 °C. The recommended fertilizer rates applied were nitrogen (N) at 43 kg ha⁻¹, phosphorus pentoxide (P₂O₅) at 60 kg ha⁻¹, and potassium oxide (K₂O) at 115 kg ha⁻¹. 

The experimental layout comprised three main plots, each subdivided into 27 subplots, following a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). To monitor soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the entire experimental site, 12 multiplexer units were installed. Additionally, 81 data loggers were deployed to continuously measure soil moisture, soil temperature, and electrical conductivity. 

Themes

Image of Multiplexer

Portable environmental monitoring station housing advanced data logging and greenhouse gas measurement equipment. This setup supports PVAMU’s research on carbon sequestration, utilizing multiplexers and high-precision sensors to quantify soil carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions in real time.

  • Roles of microbes on soil carbon sequestration 
  • Increasing soil carbon through innovative additives and soil amendments 
  • Innovative tools and technology to quantify and characterize soil, water, and carbon dynamics 

Data Collection and Analysis

Soil samples will be collected at various depths (0-15cm, 15-30cm, 30-100cm) and analyzed using ICP-OES, CHNS, and TOC analyzers. Research findings will be shared and presented locally, nationally, and internationally. 

This project aims to develop novel, cost-effective soil amendments and MMRV systems to enhance soil carbon sequestration, contributing to climate change mitigation and sustainable agriculture. 

Resources & Facilities

PVAMU Research Farm
The Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) Research Farm is a dynamic hub for innovative agricultural research, focused on advancing sustainable and climate-smart farming practices. Located in Prairie View, Texas, the farm serves as a critical site for exploring and developing strategies that address the challenges of modern agriculture, including climate change, resource efficiency, and sustainable land use. 

  • Climate-Smart Research Testbed:
    The PVAMU Research Farm integrates cutting-edge technologies and research methods to enhance crop productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. The approach includes precision agriculture, soil health management, water conservation techniques, and sustainable fertilizer practices. 
  • Current Crops and Research Focus:
    Corn Cultivation: The farm is focusing on growing corn, a staple crop important for both food and biofuel production. Research is centered on optimizing corn yields under varying environmental conditions while maintaining soil health and minimizing input costs. 
  • Funding and Collaboration:
    Funding by Shell: Supported by Shell, the project leverages Shell’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship through its Nature-Based Solutions program. The collaboration aims to develop economically viable and environmentally responsible farming solutions, generating carbon credits to help customers decarbonize. 
  • Research and Innovation Goals:
    The research farm aims to develop sustainable farming practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance carbon sequestration, and promote biodiversity. The long-term vision includes expanding research to cover a broader range of crops and farming systems, increasing the use of renewable energy, and enhancing collaboration with industry partners, governmental agencies, and academic institutions. 

Labs and Equipment

Eddy Covariance Flux Tower (‘Flux Tower’)
An Eddy Covariance Flux Tower is a sophisticated instrument used in environmental and agricultural research to measure and analyze the exchange of gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), water vapor, and other trace gases, between the Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. The data collected provides valuable insights into ecosystem dynamics, carbon cycling, and energy fluxes in various environments, including agricultural fields.

  1. Anemometer (Wind) Measures wind speed and direction. In flux tower setups, this is critical for eddy covariance calculations, capturing turbulent wind movement that carries heat, water vapor, and CO₂ fluxes. 
  2. AntennaEnables wireless data transmission from the station to a central datalogger or remote server, allowing real-time or continuous monitoring without manual data retrieval.
  3. Temperature GaugeMeasures air temperature, typically shielded from direct solar radiation to ensureaccurate ambient readings. Often paired with relative humidity sensors. 
  4. Pyranometer (Solar Radiation)Measures incoming shortwave solar radiation (W m⁻²). This is a key variable in energy balance studies and helps quantify the radiation driving photosynthesis, evapotranspiration, and surface heating.
  5. CO₂ / H₂O AnalyzerMeasures atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and water vapor. This is the core sensor for calculating carbon and water vaporfluxes, and is fundamental to eddy covariance methodology. 

  • Measures vertical turbulent fluxes of gases and energy. 
  • Uses high-frequency sensors (anemometer and gas analyzer) to calculate fluxes using the eddy covariance technique. 

Multiplexer for Greenhouse Gas Measurements

A multiplexer is a critical device used in environmental monitoring systems, particularly for measuring gas concentrations like CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O. It allows simultaneous sampling from multiple locations using a single gas analyzer by sequentially switching between various sampling inlets. 

Image of Soil Gas Flux Measurement

Advanced soil CO₂ multiplexer deployed in the field to monitor greenhouse gas emissions, a crucial component of research on carbon sequestration and sustainable soil management at PVAMU.

  • Connects several sampling inlets to one analyzer. 
  • Improves efficiency and reduces cost by enabling comprehensive monitoring across multiple zones. 

Publications

  • Tikuye, B.G. and Ray, R.L., 2025. Soil organic carbon retrieval using a machine learning approach from satellite and environmental covariates in the Lower Brazos River Watershed, Texas, USA. Applied Computing and Geosciences, 26, p.100252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acags.2025.100252 
  • Tikuye, B.G. and Ray, R.L., 2025. Estimating aboveground biomass using environmental covariates and a machine-learning approach in the Lower Brazos River Basin, Texas, USA. Applied Computing and Geosciences, p.100289. https://doi:10.1016/j.acags.2025.100289 
  • Tikuye, B.G., Ray, R.L. and Gurau, S., 2025. Modeling carbon stock change and carbon dioxide emissions under different ecosystems in the Brazos River Basin, USA. Environmental Challenges, 19, p.101138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2025.101138 

The Theme Lead