Rice field in Stuttgart, AR
Author: Jonathan Brye | Major: Environmental, Soil, and Water Science | Semester: Fall 2022
Hello, my name is Jonathan Brye, I am an honors student within the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food, and Life Sciences. I am an environmental, soil, and water science major, and I am minoring in soils and natural resource management. Throughout my project I was mentored by Dr. Brye in the department of crop, soil, and environmental science. I am also an hourly research assistant for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Being an honors student and a research assistant has enabled me the opportunity of hands-on experience working in the lab, greenhouse, and field associated with a variety of research projects. I have sieved soil for a lab incubation study; sieved corn and soybean roots from soil; collected above- and belowground rice biomass samples; filtered water samples from a rainfall-runoff simulation experiment; planted, fertilized, and watered rice; washed root samples and ground rice tissue samples; helped collect gas samples for a greenhouse gas emissions study in flood- and simulated furrow-irrigated rice; conducted infiltration measurements in a cover-crop study; trimmed alleys between soybean and wheat plots; soil sampled in a native prairie; and helped remove in-ground monitoring equipment from a native prairie, all of which has allowed me extensive hands on experience for a variety of research projects. For my own Honors research, I recently finished a study towards evaluating the effects of a relatively new phosphorus (P) fertilizer, electrochemically precipitated struvite, on dry matter and tissue nutrient concentrations compared to several fertilizer-P sources in furrow-irrigated rice in the greenhouse. I chose to research an alternative P fertilizer because it was closely related to other projects I have assisted with as an hourly research assistant during previous summers and during the semester, which ultimately provided me a head start on how the research would be conducted. I also chose to research an alternative P fertilizer because modern agriculture cannot be sustained with the currently used, non-sustainable, P fertilizers, so an alternative must be researched to sustain the expansive systems of modern agriculture. The research I have direct experience with include numerous environmental issues, such as greenhouse gas emissions from rice, fertilizer effectiveness, and water management schemes, among others. Therefore, researching an alternative P-fertilizer in furrow-irrigated rice was a good choice because my prior research experience was in related fields. Regardless of my prior knowledge of the research, I learned many things in the research process.
Two primary skills that I learned of and practiced while conducting research was experience with scientific instruments in the greenhouse/field and how to write “scientifically”. While setting up the research project I used sieves to ensure uniform soil structure, installed reduction-oxidation sensors, and gained experience working with a volumetric water content probe, all of which I had no prior experience with, yet I now believe I could effectively use/setup each instrument. Additionally, during the research period I worked on writing a research proposal, and the experience of writing a scientific research paper has undoubtedly improved my writing ability and my ability to create an adequate reference section. Working on a research project has also improved my confidence in taking on a big project. This research project is undoubtedly the largest project I have pursued. Throughout the entire project I was advised and assisted by Dr. Brye and doctoral student Diego Della Lunga, both Dr. Brye and Diego assisted with research setup and provided helpful information on how to efficiently and correctly complete tasks like planting, fertilizing, watering, recovering biomass, grinding biomass, and so much more. Doctor Brye was also especially helpful when writing the research proposal. He provided a key to scientific writing that included helpful tips, common mistakes that should be avoided, and periodically reviewed my work. Without the assistance of Dr. Brye and Diego, my project would not have run as smoothly as it did.
Currently, the research portion of the project is complete, I have submitted my completed honors thesis, and I have submitted the manuscript for publication in the Agrosystems, Geosciences, and Environment journal. Additionally, I plan on enrolling in a graduate program after earning my bachelor’s degree, and I truly believe that my research experience at the University of Arkansas will assist with my enrollment in a graduate program and assist me in whatever environmental science career I choose to pursue.