UofL students are conducting research on bacteria in soil to determine what bacteria can be used as a self-renewing fertilizer. Biology professor Paul Himes is leading this research study in hopes of renewing damaged soil in polluted areas. Determining what bacteria is the most beneficial could lead to the rejuvenation of soil and the possibility of plants being able to grow there once again.
鈥淲here there is nothing growing, we can turn this soil that鈥檚 not useful into something that we can use for crops,鈥 Himes said.
Himes鈥 students, who are undergraduates, have dug up soil samples from a plot on university property where hemp and kenaf plants are growing. The samples are then taken to a lab to see if they can determine which helpful bacteria might grow under certain conditions. The research could prove to be an economic boon.
鈥淲e can make use of land that is right now not useable and hopefully that can be an economic boost for the state鈥 Himes said.
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