Dr. Che-Jen (Jerry) Hsiao
Postdoctoral Fellow
hsiaob@tamu.edu
Dr. Hsiao’s research experiences lies in the realm of soil-plant-microbe interactions and nutrient cycling processes in grasslands and agricultural ecosystems. His current postdoctoral research is aimed at understanding the impacts of long-term woody plant encroachment, herbivory, fire, and their interactions on the biogeochemistry of soil C, N, P, and S in juniper-oak savannas in the southern Great Plains. Results from his studies will increase our ability to forecast changes in ecosystem function following land cover and land use changes. During his Ph.D. program, Dr. Hsiao’s research focused on soil health, i.e., the interaction between management practices and pedogenesis on soil microbial structure and function in the soil profile. That research spanned the disciplines of soil biology, chemistry, and pedogenesis. His results advanced our understanding of (i) microbial properties in claypan and post-settlement alluvium soils, (ii) the responses of soil microbe to corn/winter wheat/soybean rotation in conventional tillage and no-till cropping systems, and (iii) the vertical changes of soil microbial properties in response to 28 years of tillage and fertilization management practices.
Education:
Ph.D. Agronomy, Kansas State University, 2018
M.S. Microbiology & Biochemistry, National Taiwan University, 2008
B.S. Biotechnology, National Taiwan University, 2006
Publications:
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G, Rice, C. 2020. Effect of long-term application of manure and fertilizer on soil microbiology with depth. Soil Biology and Biochemistry (in preparation).
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G, Rice, C. 2019. Temporal variability in soil microbial properties in a corn-wheat-soybean system. Soil Science Society of America Journal 83: 1696–1711. doi:10.2136/sssaj2019.05.0160
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G., and Rice, C. 2019. Changes in soil microbiology under conventional and no-till production during crop rotation. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 5 (2), https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7746
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G, Rice, C. 2018. Vertical changes of soil microbial properties in claypan soils. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 212: 154-164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2018.03.012
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Rice, C., Hettiarachchi, G., Zeglin, L. 2018. Soil health profile in claypan soils. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 4 (3), https://dx.doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.7575
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Rice, C., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G. 2017. Key components of healthy soils and their role in crop production. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 3 (2), https://dx.doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1385
Sassenrath, G., Little, C.R., Hsiao, C.J., Shoup, D. E., Lin, X. 2017. Cover crop system to control charcoal rot in soybeans. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 3 (2), https://dx.doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1383
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Rice, C., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G. 2016. Soil microbial activity with depth in claypan soils of southeast Kansas. Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 2 (3), http://dx.doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.1202
Presentations:
Hsiao CJ, Hyodo A, Boutton TW. 2020. Carbon and nitrogen isotopic evidence for changes in land cover and ecosystem processes in a juniper-oak savanna. Ions@Work Symposium 2020, Texas A&M University.
Hsiao CJ, Hyodo A, Boutton TW. 2020. Soil CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from a juniper-oak savanna in the southern Great Plains. Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop, Texas A&M University.
Hsiao CJ, Hyodo A, Boutton TW. 2020. Soil carbon and nitrogen storage in calcareous soils of the southern Great Plains. Soil Survey and Land Resource Workshop, Texas A&M University.
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Rice, C., Zeglin, L. 2017. Temporal changes in soil microbial properties in claypan soils. Soil Science Society of America 2017 Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL.
Sassenrath, G.F., Hsiao, C.J., Kulesza, S., Alarcon, V.J. 2017. Improving soil health through conservation management of claypan soils in southeast Kansas. Soil and Water Conservation Society Annual Meeting, Madison, WI.
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Rice, C., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G. 2016. Soil microbial properties in claypan soils. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Phoenix, AZ. Online at https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2016am/videogateway.cgi/id/26982?recordingid=26982
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Rice, C., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G. 2016. Soil microbial properties with depth in claypan soils. Governor’s Conference on the Future of Water in Kansas, Manhattan, KS.
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Rice, C., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G. 2016. Soil microbial properties with depth in claypan soils. Research and the State Forum, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
Hsiao, C.J., Sassenrath, G., Rice, C., Zeglin, L., Hettiarachchi, G. 2015. Soil microbial properties with depth in claypan soils of Southeast Kansas. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN. Online at https://scisoc.confex.com/crops/2015am/webprogram/Paper92351.html
Honors, Awards, Distinctions:
2019 Nominated: SSSA Emil Truog Soil Science Dissertation Award
2018 Certified Professional Soil Scientist, Soil Science Society of America
2018 N. Amer. Colleges & Teachers of Agriculture, Grad Student Teaching Award
2017 Honorable Mention, poster competition, 2017 SSSA Meeting
2015 Study Abroad Scholarship, Ministry of Education, Taiwan
Leadership and Service Activities:
2018 – now Reviewer: J. Soil Water Conser.; J. Plant Nutr. Soil Sci.
2019 Judge: Ecological Integration Symposium, Texas A&M University
2019 Judge: Student Research Week, Texas A&M University
2018 Presenter: Exploring Science, Technology, and Engineering camps
2017 – 2015 Presenter: Kids Field Day, Manhattan, KS
2017 – 2016 Member: Toastmasters International, Manhattan, KS
2017 Lab Manager: Soil Microbial Ecology Lab, Kansas State University
2017 Contributor: Soils Laboratory Manual – Kansas State Univ. Edition
2016 President: Taiwanese Student Association, Kansas State University
2015 Treasurer: Taiwanese Student Association, Kansas State University
2015 Guest Speaker: Taiwan International Student & Scholar Services