Abstract 1060 Analyses of Farmland Soil Samples with Differing Tillage Practices: a Comparison of Bacteriological and Fungal Presence, Activity, and Impact on Soil

In the world of agriculture, a common practice of farmers is to till the soil in order to prepare for crop cultivation. Soil is a very complex system comprised of solids, liquids, gases, microorganisms, fungi, bacteria, and more. While conventional tilling is thought to be helpful for soil fertility, it may be having the opposite effect. Tilling, whether mechanized or not, disrupts the soil and exposes organisms and microbial systems to the air. This tilling agitates soil systems and impacts the microbial populations of different bacteria and fungi. Fungal populations particularly take longer to grow than bacteria and would; therefore, be impacted to a greater extent. Soil microbial populations specifically are important for soil fertility by way of mineral aggregation, moisture retention, decomposition, and adhesive properties. Field trials are necessary to gain insight into the microbial interactions in the soil and how this affects soil fertility. This study analyses different farm field soil samples in Springfield, Ohio with the purpose of comparing fields under different tilling conditions and how the condition impact the microbial populations as well as other factors important in soil health such as pH, organic content, nitrate levels, phosphorous levels, cation exchange capacity, and DNA concentration. This research was made possible by the Virginia Ellis Franta Fund, Chemistry Department, Wittenberg University.