Research Statement

My research interests lie in sustainable utilization of agricultural byproducts for improving the crop nutrient use efficient (nitrogen and phosphorus), soil and environmental health. Improving on the already build nutrient management decision support systems is the one tool that have opportunities to further improve nutrient recycling within agricultural productions systems without impairing the environment. My research focus within Nutrient Management Spear Program is to build on New York Phosphorus index (Farmer decision support system) and identifying beneficial management practices for land application of organic nutrient sources generated by agricultural production and industrial activities.

Education

• 2017-2021 Ph.D – Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA. Thesis title: Recapture and reuse of nitrogen and phosphorus from rendered animal materials to enhance nutrient use efficiency and produce quality in agricultural crops.
• 2014-2016 M.Sc. – Agronomy, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India.
• 2009-2013 B.Sc. – Agriculture, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, India.

Publications

Submitted/ In Preparation

• Zhang, Z., Jatana, B.S., Gill, J., Campbell, B., Suseela, V., Tharayil, N. (20XX) Cross inoculation of rhizobiome from a congeneric ruderal plant (Andropogon virginicus) imparts drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays). The Plant Journal (Submitted- under review)
• Jatana, B.S., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (20XX) Integrated application of rendered animal byproducts and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers maintained the maize growth, and improved nitrogen recovery in Cecil clay loam soils. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems (Submitted- under review)
• Jatana, B.S., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (20XX) Nitrogen chemical forms: as a tool to enhance the aroma and phytonutrient content in fruits. (In preparation)
• Jatana, B.S., Edayilam, N., Tharayil, N. (20XX) Arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi and phosphorus solubilizing microbes sequester the contaminants without hindering the P mobilization and plant P uptake from low grade phosphate rock. (In preparation)
• Jatana, B.S., Gami, S.K., Czymmek, K.J., Ketterings, Q.M. (20XX) Sustainable disposal of acid whey in conjunction with manure can regulate manure physiochemical properties and reduce ammonia volatilization losses. (In preparation)

Peer Reviewed Publications

• Jatana, B.S., Ram, H., Gupta, N., Kaur, H., (2021) Wheat response to foliar application of salicylic acid under different sowing environments. Journal of Crop Improvement, https://doi.org/10.1080/15427528.2021.1971131
• Jatana, B.S., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Gerard, P., Tharayil, N., (2021) Arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi and phosphorus solubilizing fungi mutually enhance the mobilization and plant uptake of phosphorus from meat and bone meal. Frontiers in Soil Science, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2021.757839
• Jatana, B.S., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (2020) Regulating the nutrient release rates from proteinaceous agricultural byproducts using organic amendments and its effect on soil chemical and microbiological properties. Biology and fertility of soils, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-020-01446-z
• Jatana, B.S., Ram, H., Gupta, N. (2020) Application of seed and foliar priming strategies to improve the growth and productivity of late sown wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Cereal Research Communications, https://doi.org/10.1007/s42976-020-00036-x

Congress and Meetings:

• Jatana, B.S., Lee, J.H., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (2021) Mineral forms of nitrogen differentially regulate the aroma and phytonutrient content of the strawberry fruits. Agronomy Society of America- Soil Science Society of America-Crop Science Society of America annual meeting, Salt Lake City Utah, USA (Oral presentation)
• Jatana, B.S., Lee, J.H., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (2021) Global metabolomics reveal nitrogen fertilization as a robust tool to enhance phytonutrient content in strawberry fruits. Third annual Virtual Metabolomics Association of North America, Conference (Oral presentation)
• Jatana, B.S., Lee, J.H., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (2021) Nitrogen mineral forms as a robust tool to enhance aroma and secondary metabolites content in strawberry fruits. Third annual Virtual Metabolomics Association of North America, Conference (Poster)
• Jatana, B.S. (2020). Animal materials as fertilizers. Piedmont research and education center, virtual field day, Clemson University (Audio:Visual presentation)
• Jatana, B.S., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (2020). Evaluating the produce quality of strawberries grown under different mineral forms of nitrogen fertilizers. Agronomy Society of America- Soil Science Society of America-Crop Science Society of America annual meeting, Virtual (Oral presentation)
• Jatana, B.S., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (2020). Can different nitrogen forms regulate the phytonutrient content in berries? Agronomy Society of America- Soil Science Society of America-Crop Science Society of America annual meeting, Virtual (Oral presentation).
• Jatana, B.S., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (2020). Integrated use of organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilizers to improve the crop nitrogen use efficiency and to reduce the nitrogen leaching losses. Southern Agronomy Society of America meeting, Louisville, Kentucky (Oral presentation)
• Jatana, B.S., Kitchens, C., Ray, C., Tharayil, N. (2020). Different mineral forms of nitrogen can regulate the produce quality of strawberries. Agronomy Society of America- Soil Science Society of America-Crop Science Society of America annual meeting, Virtual (Poster)