In South Dakota, "problematic soils" — soils whose physical properties have the potential to expand, collapse or erode — negatively affect the fertility of the land, agricultural production and crop health. Under certain climatic conditions, these soils can also cause infrastructure, like roads and bridges, to crumble. With an ever-changing climate, soil erosion is expected to increase, worsening the problem.
A new project from South Dakota State University is looking to address this issue by using a rather unusual substance: dental plaque.
Aritra Banerjee is an assistant civil engineering professor at SDSU. Since earning his doctorate from the University of Texas at Arlington in 2017, he has been studying problematic soils and believes dental plaque could offer a sustainable solution.
"The inspiration for the proposed project stems from the observation that dental plaque needs specialized tools to be dislodged from teeth after hardening," Banerjee said. "If the process can be replicated to bind soil particles together, it will result in stronger soils that are resistant to erosion and may mitigate scouring."
Through a $299,797 National Science Foundation-backed project, Banerjee and his research team will explore the feasibility of using biofilms, such as dental plaque and sulfate-reducing bacteria, to stabilize problematic soils and prevent soil erosion.
Research process First, the research team will determine what strain of bacteria will grow best in the soil. Each strain of bacteria found in the dental plaque will be cultured and tested. The strain that grows and binds best in the soil will be utilized.
"We are using strains of bacteria that are commonly found in dental plaque as the biofilms," Banerjee said. "The bacteria present in the biofilms will be utilized to regenerate the plaque in the soil so that it binds together."
Click here to read more sdstate.edu
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Categories: South Dakota, Crops, Weather