Jonah N. Gray

Jonah N. Gray

  • PhD Student, Ecology and Microbiome Sciences - 458 ASI

Areas of Expertise

  • Nitrogen Cycling in Agroecosystems
  • Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Agroecosystems
  • Soil Microbial Ecology
  • Microbiome sciences

Websites

Education

  • B.S. Environmental Science and Agronomy, Iowa State University, 2023

Current Research:

Microbial activity during nitrous oxide production

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a potent greenhouse gas largely produced through incomplete denitrification. Although many denitrifying microbes have been identified, predicting soil N₂O emissions remains difficult. Recent microbial ecology research suggests that considering microbes as members of functional ensembles can improve predictions of ecosystem processes. At any given time, most soil microorganisms are inactive (>90%), and are therefore not contributing to the overall biogeochemical transformations occurring in the soil. Using the BONCAT-FACS-Seq method, we can focus on the active microorganisms and explore how their taxonomy and functions change over time and in relation to N2O production. Identifying functional groups within the active fraction will advance our predictive capabilities for N2O emissions.

360Rain: a novel manure application tool 

Many Pennsylvania dairy farms rely on manure as a key nitrogen (N) input for their crops to limit costs from imported feed and exported manure. Nitrogen is difficult to manage due to its complex cycle. Precision management has the potential to reduce N losses from key pathways: ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching, and denitrification. The 360Rain is an autonomous manure application tool that can deliver nutrients to crops throughout the growing season. By closing the gap between nutrient uptake and application, the 360Rain may be able to reduce nutrient losses from dairy cropping systems. Through a PSU and PA farmer collaboration, we explore the utility of this tool for dairy cropping systems.

Biography:

Jonah is originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and he graduated with honors from Iowa State University with degrees in agronomy and environmental science and a minor in sustainability in May 2023. Jonah is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in the Ecology and Microbiomes Sciences dual-title program under the mentorship of Jason Kaye and Estelle Couradeau.  

Co-Advised by: Dr. Jason Kaye and Dr. Estelle Couradeau