Current Projects
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Regenerative Agricultural Intensification in Semi-Arid Cropping Systems
The five-year “Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Enhancement Through the Utilization of Regenerative Agricultural Management Practices” project has been funded by a $10 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
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Carbon Sequestration Potential in Texas Cropping Systems
Evaluation of carbon sequestration potential in Texas corn, sorghum, cotton, and wheat producing regions. This project is supported by Texas commodity groups.
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Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Production Agriculture
Assessment of the impact of nitrogen fertilization rate and timing coupled with cropping system on soil greenhouse gas emissions. Funded by The Texas A&M AgriLife Research Air Quality Research Seed Grant Program.
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Water Dynamics in Semi-Arid Agroecosystems
Measuring and understanding soil moisture dynamics in various conservation cropping systems in semi-arid environments. Ground truth data will be paired with remote sensing and weather data and input into biogeochemical models to predict water sustainability under future climate scenarios.
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Soil Health in Texas Cotton Production
Evaluating the biological, chemical, and physical properties of soil health and their responses in various Texas cotton agroecosystems.
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Organic Cotton and Peanut Production
Understanding the soil health and biogeochemical parameters of organic cotton and peanut production across the semi-arid Southern High Plains.
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Refinement of Nitrogen Use in Cotton
Understanding nitrogen use in production agriculture is vital for optimization across semi-arid environments. We are currently researching nitrogen refinement and timing in cotton agroecosystems.
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Cover Crop Production in Semi-Arid Regions
Optimizing cover crop production through management strategies (termination dates, plating rates, grazing, etc.) in order to understand biomass production and soil health benefits of regenerative agroecosystems across Texas.
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Nutrient Cycling Following Cover Crops
Cover crop decomposition rates can have profound impacts on the yield potential of subsequent cash crops. We aim to understand carbon and nitrogen cycling dynamics in semi-arid cotton production.
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Identifying Coccidioides in Texas
We are currently screening soil and environmental samples across Texas for confirmation of the presence of Coccidioides spp. in an attempt to understand the endemic range and ecological niche of this soil-borne pathogen.
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Dust Mitigation and Reducing Soil Wind Erosion
Working alongside the Texas A&M Institute for Advancing Health Through Agriculture, we will (1) identify the physical, chemical, and biological mechanisms of wind erosion that adversely impact human health and (2) develop and demonstrate sustainable agronomic management practices to mitigate wind erosion of soil on-farm.
Our lab
Publications
Our lab publishes in a variety of different scientific fields. For a list of our recent publications, click here.
Industry Collaborations
Concurrent to our institutional research, our lab works extensively alongside major private agricultural industries testing new and developing products (e.g. fertilizer trials, cultivar susceptibility to stressors, seed trials, etc.).
Equipment
Utilizing our unique position within a land-grant institution, our lab has the ability to use and access any field or laboratory equipment needed to allow us to be at the forefront of agricultural research. The Lewis Lab directly uses:
Gasmet DX4040 FTIR Gas Analyzer
Gasmet GT5000 Terra
CPN 503 Neutron Probe
FIA-Lab flow injection analyzer
Gas Chromatography
Shimadzu TOC/TN Analyzer
ThermoFisher iCAP 6500 ICP-OES Analyzer
Videography equipment for data collection: digital single-lens reflex Canon EOS 5D Mark IV w/ DJI RONIN Gimbal Attachment, GoPro HERO9 (1), GoPro HERO6 (2), DJI Pocket 2, and DJI Mini Drones.
Individual computers with access to research software (SAS 9.4, ArcGIS, SigmaPlot V14.5, etc.)
Multiple state agency vehicles (trucks, SUVs, 4x4 utility vehicles)
Agricultural equipment (greenhouses, weather stations, tractors, cotton strippers, planter rigs, harvesters, etc.)
Access to research sites located across the state to include data spanning various soil types and environments (>1,000 acres)
Multiple incubators, ovens, and muffle furnace
DJI Phantom 4 Pro RTK System-M/S & RGB
Soil health research often focuses on temperate regions in the USA, but farmers in semi-arid environments have been pioneers in conservation management since the Dust Bowl in the 1930s. We set out to document their stories, struggles, and successes in securing their soil resources while continuing to sustainably produce the fabric of our lives.
Soil Health in the Texas High Plains
Farmer Showcase:
Clay Lewis
Follow Clay Lewis, a third generation farmer of the Texas Southern High Plains, as he discusses the difficulties and importance of implementing conservation practices in semi-arid agroecosystems and how remnant effects of the Dust Bowl still impact the area.
Farmer Showcase:
Kris Verett
Follow Kris Verett, a fourth generation Texas cotton farmer in Crosby County, as he discusses his journey, struggles, and successes in implementing regenerative agricultural practices in a semi-arid environment. Kris is not afraid of change on the farm and has seen massive improvements in soil health across his land after optimizing conservation systems following a harsh 2011 drought.
Farmer Showcase:
Jeremy Brown
Jeremy Brown, a fourth generation cotton farmer, successfully balances economics and regenerative agriculture in the harsh, arid, and sandy conditions of Dawson County, TX. Follow his story as he discusses cover crops and the subsequent benefits he has seen in the soil health of his land.
Farmer Showcase:
David Warren
Regenerative and organic agriculture can be successful in the semi-arid and harsh conditions of West Texas. Follow fourth generation farmer, David Warren, as he discusses the improvements he has seen on his land and the fulfillment he receives every year continuing his family’s legacy.