Soil & Environmental Chemistry at UMaine
People:
M. Susan Erich
Professor of Plant and
Soil Chemistry
418 Deering
Phone: 207)-581-2997
FAX: 207-581-2999
e-mail:
erich@maine.edu
B.S. Bethany College 1976
M.S. Cornell University 1979
Ph.D. Cornell University 1984
Tsutomu Ohno
Associate Professor of Soil Chemistry
Phone: 207-581-2975
FAX: 207-581-2999
e-mail:
ohno@maine.edu
B.S. Kansas State University 1977
M.S. Cornell University 1981
Ph.D. Cornell University 1983
Current Research
T. Ohno - My current
research efforts focus on the use of crop rotations and animal
manures to improve soil productivity and increase soil phosphorus
availability. My specific projects involve: 1) the spectroscopic and
macroscopic characterization of humic and fulvic acids, as well as
water-soluble organic matter, isolated from cropping system studies
which have been in place for eight to twelve years and 2)
interaction of these isolated organic matter ligands on the kinetics
of phosphorus desorption from soils. These studies will allow
evaluation of how cropping systems may be designed to increase
phosphorus use efficiency which would befit growers by lowering
required chemical inputs and society with lower potential for
adverse environmental impacts from excessive phosphorus use.
M. Susan Erich -My
research relates to the effects of soil amendments on soil chemical
and physical properties. Specifically I have investigated the
effects of naturally derived organic ligands on the solubility of
phosphorus in soils, as well as environmentally and agronomically
appropriate soil testing for phosphorus. I have also studied the
production of phenolics with allelopathic potential in soils amended
with plant residues and compost.
During the decomposition of organic material in soils substantial
amounts of water-soluble carbon, which can potentially affect soil
chemical and biological processes via interaction with organisms and
soil surfaces, may be produced. These soluble carbon compounds may
suppress or enhance plant growth, depending on the identities and
concentrations of the compounds involved, the identities of the
target plants, soil and climatic conditions, and other factors.
Results of a number of studies, including those at the University of
Maine, indicate that residues of legume species used as green
manures can be weed-suppressive, and suggest that the effect may be
mediated through the production of soluble organic compounds. My
research program is designed to build upon and extend the promising
results of previous studies.
Selected Publications
Phosphorus and Soil
Organic Matter Chemistry
He, Z., T. Ohno,
F. Wu, D.C. Olk, C.W. Honeycutt, and M. Olanya. 2008.
Capillary electrophoresis and fluorescence excitation-emission
matrix spectroscopy for characterization of humic substances.
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. (in press).
Hunt, J.F., T.
Ohno, and I.J. Fernandez. 2008. Influence of foliar
phosphorus and nitrogen content on chemical properties of water
extractable organic matter derived from fresh and decomposed sugar
maple leaves. Soil Bio. Biochem. 40:1931-1939.
Ohno, T., Z. Wang,
and R. Bro. 2008. PowerSlicing to determine fluorescence lifetimes
of water-soluble organic matter derived from soils, plant biomass,
and animal manures. Anal. Bioanal. Chem. 390:2189-2194.
Ohno, T., A.
Amirbahman, and R. Bro. 2008. Parallel factor analysis of
excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectra of water-soluble
organic matter as basis for the determination of conditional metal
binding parameters. Environ. Sci. Technol. 42:186-192.
Hunt, J.F., T. Ohno, Z. He, and D.B.
Dail. 2007. Inhibition of phosphorus sorption to goethite,
gibbsite, and kaolin by fresh and decomposed organic matter. Biol.
Fertility Soils 44:277-288.
Ohno, T., B.R.
Hoskins, and M.S. Erich. 2007. Soil organic matter effects on plant
available and water soluble phosphorus. Biol. Fertility Soils
43:683-690.
Hunt, J.F., and T. Ohno.
2007. Characterization of Fresh and Decomposed Dissolved
Organic Matter Using Excitation-Emission Matrix Fluorescence
Spectroscopy and Multi-way Analysis. J. Agricultural Food
Chem. 55:2121-2128.
Ohno, T., I.J. Fernandez, S. Hiradate, and J.F.
Sherman. 2007. Effects of soil acidification and forest type on
water-soluble soil organic matter properties. Geoderma 140:176-187.
Ohno, T., J. Chorover, A. Omoike, and J. Hunt. 2007. Molecular
weight and humification index as predictors of adsorption of plant-
and manure-derived dissolved organic matter to goethite. Eur. J.
Soil Sci. 58:125-132.
Hunt, J.F., T. Ohno, Z. He, C.W.
Honeycutt, and D.B. Dail. 2007. Influence of
Decomposition on Chemical Properties of Plant- and Manure-Derived
Dissolved Organic Matter and Sorption to Goethite. J. Environ. Qual.
36:135-143.
Banaitis, M.R., H. Waldrip-Dail,
M.S. Diel, B.C. Holmes, J.F. Hunt, R.P. Lynch, and T. Ohno.
2006. Investigating sorption-driven dissolved organic matter
fractionation by multi-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy and
PARAFAC. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 304:271-276
.
Ohno, T, and R. Bro. 2006.
Dissolved organic matter characterization using multi-way spectral decompositon of fluorescence landscapes. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J.
70:2028-2037.
He, Z., T. Ohno, B.J. Cade-Menun,
M.S. Erich, and C.W. Honeycutt. 2006 Spectral and chemical
characterization of phosphates associated with humic substances.
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 70:1741-1751.
Sherman, J., I.J. Fernandez, S.A. Norton, T. Ohno, and L.E. Rustad.
2006. Soil aluminum, iron, and phosphorus dynamics in response to
long-term experimental nitrogen and sulfur additions at the Bear
Brook Watershed in Maine, USA. Environ. Monitoring Assesment
121:419-427.
Ohno, T., T.S.
Griffin, M. Liebman, and G.A. Porter. 2005. Green- and
animal-manure based cropping systems effects on soil phosphorus and
organic matter. Agric. Ecosystem Environ. 105:625-634.
Merrit, Karen A. and
M. Susan Erich. 2003. Influence of organic matter decomposition on
soluble carbon and its copper-binding capacity. J. Environ. Qual.
32:2122-2131.
Grandy, A.S., G.A.
Porter, and M.S. Erich. 2002. Organic amendment and rotation crop
effects on the recovery of soil organic matter and aggregation in
potato cropping systems. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 66:1311-1319. (PDF)
Ohno, T. 2002. Fluorescence inner filtering correction for
determining the humification index of dissolved organic matter.
Environ. Sci. Technol. 2002. 36:742-746. (PDF) Response to comment:
Eviron. Sci. Technol. 2002. 36:4196 (PDF)
Erich, M.S., C.B. Fitzgerald, and G.A. Porter. 2002. The effect of
organic amendments on phosphorus chemistry in a potato cropping
system. Agric. Ecosystems. Environ. 88:79-88. (PDF)
Ohno, T. and M.S. Erich. 1997. Inhibitory effects of crop
residue-derived organic ligands on phosphate adsorption kinetics. J.
Environ. Qual. 26:889-895.
Erich, M.S. and G. Trusty. 1997. Chemical characterization of
dissolved organic matter released by limed and unlimed forest soil
horizons. Can. J. Soil Sci. 77:405-413.
Ohno, T. and C.S. Cronan. 1997. Comparative effects of ionic- and
nonionic-resin purification treatments on the chemistry of dissolved
organic matter. Intern. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. 66:119-136.
Ohno, T. and B.S. Crannell. 1996. Green and animal manure-derived
dissolved organic matter effects on phosphorus sorption. J. Environ.
Qual. 25:1137-1143.
Plant and Soil Interactions
Piper, A., M.S. Erich, G.A. Porter and T.S. Griffin. 2006. Root
growth effects on soluble C and P in manured and non-manured soils.
Plant and Soil 283:359-372.
(pdf)
Conklin, A.E., M.S. Erich, M. Liebman, D. Lambert, E.R. Gallandt,
and W.A. Halteman. Effects of red clover (Trifolium pratense) green
manure and compost soil amendments on wild mustard (Brassica kaber)
growth and incidence of disease. Plant Soil. 2002. 238:245-256.
(PDF).
Dyck, E., M. Liebman, and M.S. Erich. 1996. Crop-weed interference
as influenced by a leguminous or synthetic fertilizer nitrogen
source: l. Doublecropping experiments with crimson clover, sweet
corn, and lambsquarters. Agric. Ecosystems Environ. 56:93-108.
DeWald, L.E., E.I. Sucoff, T. Ohno and C.A. Buschena. 1990. Response
of northern red oak (Qercus rubra) seedlings to soil solution
aluminum. Can. J. For. Res. 20:331-336.
Ohno, T. 1989. Rhizosphere pH and aluminum chemistry of red oak and
honeylocust seedlings. Soil Bio. Biochem. 21:657-600.
Analytical Methods
Grandy, A.S., M.S. Erich, and G.A. Porter. 2000. Suitability of the
anthrone-sulfuric acid reagent for determining water soluble
carbohydrates in soil water extracts. Soil Biol. Biochem.
32:725-727. (PDF)
Erich, M.S. and P. First. 1999. Analysis of papermill waste water
treatment residuals and process residues. Modern Methods of Plant
Analysis Vol. 20. Linskens, H.F. and Jackson, J.F. (ed.) Springer-Verlag,
Berlin. pp.21-39.
Bloom, P.R. and M.S. Erich. 1996. The Quantitation of Aqueous
Aluminum. pp. 1-38. In: The Environmental Chemistry of Aluminum. 2nd
ed. Garrison Sposito, (ed.) Lewis Publishers, Boca Raton, FL.
Ohno, T. and L.M. Zibilske. 1991. Determination of low
concentrations of phosphorus in soil extracts using malachite green.
Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 55:892-895.
Ohno. T. 1989. Spectrophotometric determination of total cyanide in
surface waters following ultraviolet induced photodecomposition.
Analyst 114:857-858.
Allelopathy
Ohno, T., P. Chen, E. Mallory, E. K. McCormick, S. Shah. 2004.
Sorption of crop residue- derived dissolved organic matter by soils
and its relevance to allelopathic expression. Alleopathy J.
14:13-22.
Ohno, T., M.Y. Horesh,
K.A. Merritt, and R. Wagai. 2002. Calcium and pH effects on
salicylic acid phytotoxicity. Allelopathy J. 9:19-25. (PDF)
Ohno, T. 2001. Oxidation of allelopathic cinnamic acid derivatives
by soil and its relevance to phytotoxicity. J. Environ. Qual.
30:1631-1635. (PDF)
Ohno, T. and K. Doolan. 2001. Effects of Red Clover Decomposition on
Phytotoxicity to Wild Mustard Seedling Growth. J. Appl. Soil Ecol.
16:187-192. (PDF)
Ohno, T, K. Doolan, L.M. Zibilske, M. Liebman, E.R. Gallandt, and C.
Berube. 2000. Phytotoxic Effects of Red Clover Amended Soils on Wild
Mustard Seedling Growth. Agric. Ecosystems Environ. 78:187-192.
(PDF)
Ohno, T. and P.R. First. 1998. Assessment of the Folin & Ciocalteu's
method for determining soil phenolic carbon. J. Environ. Qual.
27:776-782.
Liebman, M. and T. Ohno. 1997. Crop rotation and legume residue
effects on weed emergence and growth: applications for weed
management. Pages 181-221 in: J. L. Hatfield, D. D. Buhler, and B.
A. Stewart (eds.), Integrated Weed and Soil Management. Ann Arbor
Press, Chelsea, MI.
Wood Ash and Other Residuals
Montgomery, M., T. Ohno, T.S. Griffin, C.W. Honeycutt and I.J.
Fernandez. 2005. Phosphorus mineralization and bioavailability in
soils amended with biosolids and manures. Bio. Agric. Hort
22:321-334.
Chaoui, H.I., L.M. Zibilske, and T. Ohno. 2003. Effects of earthworm
cast and compost on soil microbial activity and plant nutrient
availability. Soil Biol. Biochem. 35:295-302 (PDF)
Zhan, G., M.S. Erich, and T. Ohno. 1996. Release of trace elements
from wood ash by nitric acid. Water, Air, Soil, Pollut. 86:1-15.
Ohno, T. and M.S. Erich. 1993. Incubation-derived calcium carbonate
equivalence of papermill boiler ashes derived from sludge and wood
sources. Environ. Pollut. 79:175-180.
Erich, M.S. and T. Ohno. 1992. Titrimetric determination of calcium
carbonate equivalence of wood ash. Analyst 117:993-995.
Ohno, T. 1992. Neutralization of soil acidity and release of
phosphorus and potassium by wood ash. J. Environ. Qual. 21:433-438.
Erich, M.S. and T. Ohno. 1992. Phosphorus availability to corn from
wood ash-amended soils. Water Air Soil Pollut. 64:475-485.
Erich, M.S. 1991. Agronomic effectiveness of wood ash as a source of
phosphorus and potassium. J. Environ. Qual. 20:576-581.
Ohno, T. and M.S. Erich. 1990. Effect of wood ash applicaltion on
soil pH and soil test nutrient levels. Agric. Ecosystems Environ.
32:223-239.
Past Graduate Students
James Hunt, M.S. 2006.
Chemical characterization of dissolved organic matter: Competitive
Effects on Phosphorus Sorption to Minerals.
Allison Piper, M.S. 2005.
Root Length Affects Soluble Carbon and Phosphorus in a Rotational
Cropping System.
Karen Merritt, M.S. 2002.
Early Stage Humification During Amendment Decomposition and Its
Influence on Cu-Binding Capacity of Dissolved Organic Carbon.
Matthew Montgomery, M.S. 2000. Soil Phosphorus
Bioavailability Following Sewage Sludge or Animal Manure
Applications to an Acidic Agricultural Soil.
Anne Conklin, M.S., 2000. Effects of Red Clover (Trifolium
pratense) Green Manure and Compost Soil Amendments on the Growth and
Health of Wild Mustard (Brassica kaber) Seedlings.
Hala Chaoui, M.S., 2000. Impacts of Earthworm Casts, Compost
and Synthetic Fertilizers on Plant Nutrient Availability and Soil
Microbial Activity.
Angsana Tokitkla, M.S., 2000. Rotation Crop Root Density and
Effects on Subsequent Potato Crop.
Caragh Fitzgerald, M.S., 1998. Soil Phosphorus in Aroostook
County (Maine) Potato Cropping Systems: Organic Matter Effects and
Residual Phosphorus Contributions. [Co-advised with Dr. Greg Porter]
Kristan Doolan, M.S. 1997. The Allelopathic Potential of Red
Clover.
Brad Crannell, M.S. 1995. Effects of Dissolved Organic Matter
from Green and Animal Manures on Phosphate Sorption of an Acidic
Agricultural Soil.
Georgette Trusty, M.S. 1995. Response of Organic and Mineral
Horizon Soils from Maine Forests to Incubation with Lime.
Guogen Zhan, M.S. 1992. Controls on the Dissolution of Trace
Elements from Wood Ash.
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