AgEmerge Podcast 157 with Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi and Dr. Charles Rice

Two soil science powerhouses from Kansas State University: Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi and Dr. Charles Rice explore a fundamental but often overlooked question—are all soil nutrients the same?

*** Show notes and Links ***

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Not all nutrients are created equal. The source matters. The form matters. And the way nutrients interact with soil minerals, microbes, and organic matter? It’s a whole other level of complexity.

We also talk about carbon—how it moves, how it’s stored, and how it could be the key to building resilient soils that thrive for generations.

Visit their work here:
Dr. Ganga Hettiarachchi: https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/research/faculty-labs/soil-environment-chem/
Dr. Charles Rice: https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/rice-charles/

This episode is packed with groundbreaking insights for scientists and farmers. Click below to watch or listen and as always, let us know if you have any questions or guest ideas by emailing kim@asn.farm.

*** More About AgEmerge Podcast 157 Guests***

Ganga Hettiarachchi was born and raised in a suburb of Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka. Although not from a farm, she chose to study agriculture instead of any pure science field when she entered the university. She selected soil chemistry as her area of emphasis while getting her B.S. degree at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, then went on to get her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in soil chemistry at Kansas State University.

After working in research positions at the US Environmental Protection Agency (USA) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)/the University of Adelaide in Australia and a faculty position at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka, she joined the Agronomy faculty at Kansas State University in 2008. She is currently a Professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry and teaches soil chemistry and environmental quality courses. Her research program is focused on soil biogeochemistry with particular focus on 1) bioavailability of potentially toxic elements, their uptake by crops, and potential availability to humans, and 2) fate, transformation, and sequestration of nutrients, including carbon in soils. She is a fellow of both the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) and the American Society of Agronomy. She was named the 2021 recipient of the Jackson Soil Chemistry and Mineralogy Award by SSSA, which recognizes soil scientists who have made outstanding contributions to the field of soil chemistry and mineralogy.

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Charles (Chuck) Rice is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the Vanier University Professorship at Kansas State University. He is a Professor of Soil Microbiology in the Department of Agronomy. He earned his degrees from Northern Illinois University and the University of Kentucky. Dr. Rice teaches courses and conducts research on soil carbon and nitrogen, soil health, microbial ecology, and climate change impacts on agricultural and grassland ecosystems. His research includes work in several countries, especially Brazil. He has advised over 50 graduate students and 18 post-doctorates and has over 250 publications.

Dr. Rice has also served in numerous capacities with professional societies including President of the Soil Science Society of America in 2011. Internationally, he served on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to author a report on Climate Change in 2007 and 2014 and was among scientists recognized when that work won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. He is a Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2017, he received the “International” awards from the Soil Science Society of America and the American Society of Agronomy and was named the Hugh Hammond Bennett Awardee from the Soil and Water Conservation Society which recognizes exceptional service and national and international accomplishments in the conservation of soil, water, and natural resources. In 2020, Dr. Rice was recognized as Educator of the Year by the Mid America CropLife Association and received the honorary title of “National Associate” of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Rice chaired the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine from 2016-2022. In 2022, Dr. Rice received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Society of Agronomy.