Soil & Environmental Physics Group

Our team in action

Recent Publications

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No-tillage, surface residue retention, and cover crops improved San Joaquin Valley soil health ...

Mitchell, J. et al.
California Agriculture

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Estimating soil hydraulic properties from oven-dry to full saturation using shortwave infrared ...

Bandai, T. et al.
Journal of Hydrology

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A novel approach for determining soil carbohydrates using UV spectrophotometry

Albalasmeh, A.A. et al.
J. Saudi Soc. Agric. Sci.

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Soil physics matters for the land–water–food–climate nexus and sustainability

Wang, G. et al.
Eur. J. Soil Sci.

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Methane and nitrous oxide emissions during biochar-composting are driven by biochar application rate ...

Harrison, B. et al.
GCB-Bioenergy

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The effects of different biochar-dairy manure co-composts on soil moisture and nutrients retention...

Thao, T. et al.
Agro. Geo. & Environ.

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Biochar co-compost improves nitrogen retention and reduces carbon emissions in a winter wheat...

Gao, S. et al.
GCB-Bioenergy

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How does soil structure affect water infiltration? A meta-data systematic review

Basset, C. et al.
Soil & Tillage Res.

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Forward & inverse modeling of water flow in unsaturated soils with discontinuous hydraulic conduc....

Bandai, T & Ghezzehei, T.A.
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Artificial soils reveal individual factor controls on microbial processes.
 

Del Valle, I. et al.
mSystems

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Dairy Manure Co-composting with Wood Biochar Plays a Critical Role in Meeting Global Methane Goals

Harrison, B.P. et al.
Env. Sci. & Tech.

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Long-Term Impact of Cover Crop & Reduced Disturbance Tillage on Soil Pore Size & Soil Water Storage

Araya, S.A. et al.
SOIL

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Confronting the water potential information gap.
 

Novik, K.A. et al.
Nature Geoscience

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Synergy between compost & cover crops in a Mediterranean row crop system leads to increased subsoil...

Rath, D. et al.
SOIL

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No-tillage sorghum and garbanzo yields match or exceed standard tillage yields

Mitchell, J.P. et al.
California Agriculture

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Intercropping with Guiera senegalensis in a semi-arid area to mitigate early-season abiotic stress...

Bayala, R. et al.
J. Agronomy & Crop Sci.

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An overlooked local resource--Shrub-intercropping for food production, drought resistance and ecosystem...

Bright, MBH, et al.
Agricul., Ecosys. & Env.

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Advances in soil moisture retrieval from multispectral remote sensing using unoccupied aircraft systems...

Araya, S.A., et al.
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.,

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Physics-informed neural networks with monotocnicity constraints for Richardson-Richards equation...

Bandai, T. & T.A. Ghezzehei
Water Resour. Res.

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Root uptake under mismatched distributions of water and nutrients in the root zone.

Yan, J. et al.
Biogeosciences

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Modeling Near-surface Water Redistribution in a Desert Soil.
 

Luo, Y. et al.
Vadose Zone Journal

Updates & News

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June 06, 2024

Let’s BRAAG about Jalynn

NASA ACRES blog--Let’s BRAAG about Jalynn Greer, a Kentucky State University Scholar who is Bridging a Career Path in Nursing and Agriculture success!

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May 08, 2024

Kennedy's BRAAG experience

NASA ACRES blog--Learning by Doing, Basia Skudrzyk interviewed a Howard Scholar, Kennedy Williams' about he journey with the BRAAG program

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May 12, 2023

Touyee Thao earned PhD

Celebrating Dr. Touyee Thao's remarkable PhD completion and his upcoming role as a USDA Research Scientist. Proud of his achievements and wishing him continued success!

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December 16, 2022

Hooding of Toshi & Manisha

Dr. Toshiyuki Bandai and Dr. Manisha Dolui successfully graduate with PhDs and move on to postdoctoral positions. Congratulations to both on their remarkable achievements!

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Our Mission

Motivated by the need to sustainably support a growing world population, our research blends environmental and soil physics with agroecology. Inclusivity and equity drive our research topics, team culture, and community engagement. We study the physical properties that make soil habitable for organisms. Blending soil science, physics, and ecology, we generate knowledge supporting sustainable agriculture and food access. Our integrated approach furthers understanding of soils to benefit both people and the planet.

Do you like what you see here? We would love to hear from you if you have interest to join our lab as a student or to collaborate with us. You can find out about admission and degree requirements and offerings by visiting the Environmental Systems Graduate Program.

Research Areas

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NASA Acres

Dynamic soil properties, such aggregation and disaggregation cycles and tilagge, and associated effects on flow and tranport in soils.

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Waste to Food

Dynamic soil properties, such aggregation and disaggregation cycles and tilagge, and associated effects on flow and tranport in soils.

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Machine Learning & AI

Physics-informed Neural Networks for modeling soil water dynamics and application of Machine Learning in soil and environmental problems.

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AgroEcology

Conservation tillage, inter-cropping of native shrubs and food crops, and applications of organic amendments on water and nutrient use efficiency.

Courses

ESS 110 Hydrology & Climate

Basics of the hydrological cycle and the global climate system. Fundamentals of surface water hydrology, hydrometeorology, evaporation, precipitation, statistical and probabilistic methods, unit hydrograph and flood routing.

Syllabus

ESS 112 Subsurface Hydrology

Hydrologic and geologic factors controlling the occurrence and use of groundwater on regional and local scales. Physical, mathematical, geologic and engineering concepts fundamental to subsurface hydrologic processes. Introduction to ground-water flow and transport modeling, with emphasis on model construction and simulation.

Syllabus

ES 290 Nano Fabrication

This course will provide a survey of top-down and bottom-up techniques to fabricate nanoscale structures and devices, including but not limited to optical and electron lithography, nano imprinting, physical and chemical vapor deposition, and self-assembly. State-of-the-art methods for the characterization of fabricated structures and devices will also be introduced, including electron and scanning probe microscopy approaches.

Syllabus