Iowa Learning Farms Webinar: Fungal Symbioses and Soil Health
USDA-Agricultural Research Service’s Bryan Emmett will provide insights into the contributions of plant-fungal symbioses and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) to soil health.
Registration
DATE: Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024
TIME: Noon CST
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
Shortly before noon CST, click the link below or type this web address into your internet browser: https://iastate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xtAwWXycQZW8iwtNLz34GA#/registration
Or, go to https://iastate.zoom.us/join and enter webinar ID: 999 3709 5398
Or, join via phone:
Dial: 646-876-9923 | Webinar ID: 999 3709 5398
The Iowa Learning Farms (ILF) conservation webinar taking place Feb. 7 at noon CST will feature Bryan Emmett, research microbiologist, U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Emmett’s research investigates plant-microbe-soil interactions with focus on nitrogen cycling, greenhouse gas emissions and soil health.
In the webinar, “Partners Below Ground – Opportunities for Management of Plant-Fungal Symbioses,” Emmett will discuss the symbioses of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) formed with many crop species and the contribution of these biological systems to soil health. He will review the biology and ecology of these organisms to discuss opportunities and limitations for management of the symbiosis. Emmett will also highlight efforts to understand management and utilization of these organisms and symbioses in terms of agricultural opportunities.
“There is a growing interest in biological amendments and methods to best manage this plant-fungal symbiosis in ways to successfully target and harness the ecology of the organisms and agroecosystem,” said Emmett. “Growers have multiple levers to influence AMF activity in their soil, but the success and benefits of managing for AMF will depend on the systems’ context. If their potential to support of environmental and production goals is to be realized, we will need to identify and shape systems that fully harness the AMF symbioses.”
Participants are encouraged to ask questions of the presenters. People from all backgrounds and areas of interest are encouraged to join.
The webinar will also be recorded and archived. All archived webinars are available on the ILF website, so that they can be watched at any time.
ILF has applied for a Certified Crop Adviser board-approved continuing education unit (CEU) for attending this webinar. Those who participate in the live webinar are eligible. Information about how to apply to receive the credit will be provided at the end of the live webinar.
Upcoming Webinars in the Series:
Feb. 21: Steven Hall, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Feb. 28: Rick Cruse, Iowa State University and Iowa Water Center
March 6: Dara Wald and Miguel Diaz Manrique Texas A&M University