BELOW-GROUND SOIL MICROBIAL FUNCTIONING AND STRUCTURE ACROSS SIX RANGELAND SITES IN THE CENTRAL US: IMPLICATIONS FOR RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE TO DROUGHT

The major goal of this project is to complete a researchproject as a major chapter of the PD's PhD dissertation project. This project has the major goal of expanding the knowledge on belowground response to drought across 6 sites over a mean annual precipitation gradient. The objectives are listed below:Publish three manuscripts from the project in high impact journals.Attend and present at 6 professional conferences during the project.Mentor an undergraduate student and assist them in conducting an independent research project.Finish dissertation project and obtain PhD.Set up and execute greenhouse project.Analyze all relevant data.Share all available data with land managers, policy makers, and farmers.