Improving Phosphorus Recovery in Aquaponic Systems through Environmental Manipulation of the Plant Rhizosphere Microbiota

Scope of Work – Soil Microbiology, Ecology, and Biochemistry Lab. This lab will coordinate water and waste sample analyses with the University of Kentucky Regulatory Services Soil Testing Lab; oversee P fractionation studies; isolate and characterize P-solubilizing and mineralizing bacteria to supplement metagenomics analysis; conduct enzyme analyses to follow the distribution and activity of P mineralization in the AP system; coordinate with the UK root rhizosphere lab to assess the distribution and activity of root-bound P transformation activity in the rhizosphere; conduct P mineralization studies for terminal wastes derived from the AP studies.