"Synthesis, function, and genetic variation of sorgoleone, the major biological nitrification inhibitor in sorghum" with Drs. Sakiko Okumoto, Bill Rooney, and Guntur Subbarao

When we fertilize our crops, some of the nitrogen from that fertilizer gets converted into different forms through processes called nitrification and denitrification. When non-plant available forms of nitrogen exit the soil through water or as gas, it's a serious environmental problem. Thankfully, plants have some pretty nifty ways to prevent nitrification, such as biological nitrification inhibition or BNI, a process that manages the bacteria that cause nitrification. In this episode, Sakiko, Bill, and Guntur join me to discuss sorgoleone, a product of sorghum roots that plays a key role in the BNI process.

Tune in to learn:

· What sorgoleone is

· How it helps

· What challenges breeders face in increasing it

· What challenges researchers face in moving this research out into farms

If you would like more information about this topic, this episode's paper is available here: https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.70066

This paper is always freely available.

Contact us at podcast@sciencesocieties.org or on Twitter @FieldLabEarth if you have comments, questions, or suggestions for show topics, and if you want more content like this don't forget to subscribe. If you'd like to see old episodes or sign up for our newsletter, you can do so here: https://fieldlabearth.libsyn.com/.

If you would like to reach out to Sakiko, you can find her here:
sakiko.okumoto@agnet.tamu.edu

If you would like to reach out to Bill, you can find him here:
william.rooney@ag.tamu.edu

If you would like to reach out to Guntur, you can find him here:
gunturs0148@jircas.go.jp

If you would like to reach out to Megan Baker from our Student Spotlight, you can find her here:
megbaker1100@gmail.com

Resources

CEU Quiz: Coming soon

Transcripts: https://www.rev.com/app/transcript/Njk5NDlkNTQ3MGMxYTkxMWE5MmU5ODhhc2RIRkw0Vm9MSkJ5/o/VEMwMjQ2NTEyODQ4

AgriLife Today Article: https://agrilifetoday.tamu.edu/2024/09/12/texas-am-agrilife-researchers-identify-novel-approach-to-minimize-nitrogen-loss-in-crops/

BNI consortium conference: JIRCAS organizes International BNI-consortium meetings in Tsukuba, Japan, every two years. The next BNI-consortium meeting will be in the first week of December 2026. Most BNI-researchers working with JIRCAS BNI-team are invited for this meeting along with researchers who wish to enter into this research and establish collaborative linkages with other members of this group.

Field, Lab, Earth is Copyrighted by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.

We're trying something a little bit different. In addition to our regular episodes with Abby, we'll be adding a monthly bonus episode with Jim Cudahy, the CEO of the Societies. In this first episode, Jim has a chat with the three Society presidents, discussing current challenges and opportunities for the Societies, including ways that members can get the most out of our programs, but guests will vary a lot from there! Please give a listen and let us know what you think. If there are specific guests or topics you want us to cover, let us know!

Contact us at podcast@sciencesocieties.org or on Twitter @FieldLabEarth if you have comments, questions, or suggestions for show topics, and if you want more content like this don't forget to subscribe. If you'd like to see old episodes or sign up for our newsletter, you can do so here: https://fieldlabearth.libsyn.com/.

If you would like to reach out to Jim, you can find him here: https://tinyurl.com/yeysfjw4

If you would like to reach out to Wade, you can find him here: https://tinyurl.com/864khur7

If you would like to reach out to Felix, you can find him here: https://tinyurl.com/39h2zy3a

If you would like to reach out to Aaron, you can find him here: https://tinyurl.com/4yanbf7y

Resources

Transcripts: https://www.rev.com/app/transcript/Njk3MjVkNWMzZWJkMTZmYTQzZTc5YTZmaXN3TVBMLWdkZlgz/o/VEMwOTU5NjUyMjUz

Societies homepage: https://www.sciencesocieties.org/

American Society of Agronomy: https://www.agronomy.org/

Crop Science Society of America: https://www.crops.org/

Soil Science Society of America: https://www.soils.org/

Field, Lab, Earth is Copyrighted by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.

"The critical period of cover crop management: A framework for maximizing biomass potential and minimizing volunteers with buckwheat" with Dr. Andrew McKenzie-Gopsill

Buckwheat can be a powerful driver of ecosystem services in potato rotations grown in Canada, but with its long-lived seeds and ability to make a whole lot of them in a short time, it can also pose a serious volunteer problem. In this episode, Andrew joins me to discuss how creating a framework to reduce volunteers can help keep this helpful plant from turning into a fearsome weed.

Tune in to learn:

· How potato farming is done in Canada

· What ecosystem services buckwheat provides

· What qualities can turn buckwheat from a helpful crop to a difficult to control weed

· How combining tools from weed management can help keep buckwheat under control

If you would like more information about this topic, this episode's paper is available here: https://doi.org/10.1002/agj2.70097

This paper is always freely available.

Contact us at podcast@sciencesocieties.org or on Twitter @FieldLabEarth if you have comments, questions, or suggestions for show topics, and if you want more content like this don't forget to subscribe. If you'd like to see old episodes or sign up for our newsletter, you can do so here: https://fieldlabearth.libsyn.com/.

If you would like to reach out to Andrew, you can find him here:
andrew.mckenzie-gopsill@agr.gc.ca

Resources

CEU Quiz: https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning-Center/Courses/Course-Detail?productid=%7bAEC405A7-85F1-F011-8407-6045BD006BB3%7d

Transcripts: https://www.rev.com/app/captions/Njk2OTMwMDM0NzRlNjAzMGE4ZTBiM2JlUGhMWW10UnF3c0h2/o/Q1AwODE3NDYyMDk1

Atlantic Grains Council: https://atlanticgrainscouncil.ca/

PEI Potato Board: https://peipotatoagronomy.com/

Canadian Weed Science Society, of which Andrew will be president as of Nov 6th 2025. https://weedscience.ca/

Agri-Food and Agriculture Canada: https://agriculture.canada.ca/en

New Brunswick Potato Board: https://www.potatoesnb.com/

Field, Lab, Earth is Copyrighted by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.