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- David R. Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future (ACSF) Faculty Fellow
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Solomon, Dawit
Senior Research Associate
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- Senior Research Associate, Crop and Soil Sciences (CSS), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
My areas of expertise are in soil fertility and land degradation, sustainable agriculture, biogeochemistry, instrumental chemical analysis including synchrotron-based micro- and nano-spectromicroscopy and imaging approaches for environmental science research
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Affiliations
Research
research overview
- I have been involved in both basic and applied researches that investigate the fundamental impacts of human activities and global warming on the Earth’s biogeochemical cycling of major elements (C, N, P and S) and sustainability of the environment both at the regional and global level using wet-chemical, total element, stable isotope (13C, 34S, 35S), gas-liquid chromatographic, nuclear magnetic resonance (13C and 31P) spectroscopy techniques. My research is focused mainly on identifying and quantifying the processes and causes of soil degradation in natural and managed ecosystems. Soil organic matter (SOM) and critical nutrients associated with it are important attribute for sustainability in terrestrial ecosystems and that knowledge of the amount, structural characteristics, formation, stabilization and destabilization pathways of SOM are critical to understanding of global biogeochemical cycles of elements and the impact of climate change. The central goal of my current research is, therefore, to investigate the in situ spatial arrangement of minerals, polyvalent metal-ions, organic C functionalities and other architectural features of organo-mineral assemblages at the microscopic and sub-microscopic level, and element-specific information about local electron mode and compositional environments of adsorbing atoms and surficial interactions, micro- and nano-scale heterogeneity in spatial allocations and other molecular-level features of organo-mineral assemblages using novel experimental and non-destructive high resolution synchrotron-based spectromicroscopic imaging (Sr-FTIR-ATR, STXM and NEXAFS) techniques involving elements such as C, N, Ca, Fe, Al, Si, S and P. Such information will allow us to obtain process-oriented biogeochemical evidence the nano- and micro-scale molecular-level stabilization mechanisms and the in situ spatial association of organic C functionalities and their interaction with metal ions and soil minerals responsible for the preservation of the bulk of soil organic C in terrestrial ecosystems and will help to advance our ability to manage soils in a way to allow more C to be stored and adds to the options for mitigation of climate change. I am interested in studies that involve evaluating and identifying pollution sources and implementing pollution prevention practices, develop technologies for restoring degraded lands and for management and restoration of wetlands. My future carrier interest is to use my knowledge in these areas and contribute to issues related to agricultural sustainability through teaching, applied research and outreach in areas where there are environment and natural resources management related problems such pollution or land degradation. I have also a strong interest to be involved in development and outreach activities geared towards increasing agricultural productivity and food security in a sustainable manner based on either using locally available techniques or through the development and transfers of effective and environmentally sound technology.
research activities
co-principal investigator on
- BLACK CARBON STOCKS IN SOIL OF THE UNITED STATES awarded by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE-USDA 2008 - 2013
- BRIDGING SCALES FROM NANO-TO MICRO-SCALE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF ORGANIC MATTER IN MINERAL ASSEMBLAGES USING SYNCHROTRON-BASED FTIR AND NEXAFS SPECTROMICROSCOPY awarded by NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE-USDA 2008 - 2012
- NANO-SCALE BIOGEOCHEMISTRY OF ORGANIC CARBON ACROSS A LONG-TERM MINERALOGICAL GRADIENT awarded by NATL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 2008 - 2012
- SUSTAINABLE SOIL BIOCHAR SYSTEMS TO ENHANCE SOIL FERTILITY AND CROP PRODUCTIVITY IN ETHIOPIA awarded by MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION 2012 - 2013
keywords
- biogeochemical cycling, biogeochemistry, spectroscopy, synchrotron-based micro- and nano-spectromicroscopy, carbon cycle, carbon sequestration, soil science, geoecology
Publications
individual publications
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academic article
- Micro- and nano-environments of carbon sequestration: A multi-element STXM-NEXAFS assessment of black carbon and organomineral associations.. Science of the Total Environment. 438:372-388. 2012
- Micro- and nano-environments of carbon sequestration: Multi-element STXM-NEXAFS spectromicroscopy assessment of microbial carbon and mineral associations.. Chemical Geology. 329:53-73. 2012
- C 1s K-edge near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy for characterizing the functional group chemistry of black carbon. Organic Geochemistry. 42:1055-1064. 2011
- Speciation and long- and short-term molecular-level dynamics of soil organic sulfur studied by X-ray absorption near-edge structure spectroscopy. Journal of Environmental Quality. 40:704-718. 2011
- Wavelet analysis of soil variation at nanometre- to micrometre-scales; an example of organic carbon content in a micro-aggregate. European Journal of Soil Science. 62:617-628. 2011
- Black carbon affects the cycling of non-black carbon in soil. Organic Geochemistry. 41. 2010
- C 1s NEXAFS study of changes in black carbon chemistry as a result of interaction with clay minerals. Canadian Light Source Activity Report, Saskatoon. 38-39. 2010
- Nano-scale spatial biogeocomplexity of Organomineral assemblages using C K-, Ca L2,3- and Fe L2,3-edges NEXAFS spectromicroscopy . Canadian Light Source Activity Report. 32-33. 2010
- Anthropogenic and climate influences on biogeochemical dynamics and molecular-level speciation of soil sulfur. Ecological Applications. 19. 2009
- Anthropogenic and climate influences on biogeochemical dynamics and molecular-level speciation of soil sulfur. . Ecological Applications. 19:989-1002. 2009
- Biogenic calcium phosphate transformation in soils over millennial time scales. Journal of Soil and Sediment. 9:194-205. 2009
- Carbon (1s) NEXAFS spectroscopy of biogeochemically relevant organic reference compounds. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 73:1817-1830. 2009
- Atmospheric SO2 Emissions since the late 1800s change organic sulfur forms in humic substance extracts of soils. Environmental Science and Technology. 42:3550-3555. 2008
- Spatial complexity of soil organic matter forms at nanometre scales. Nature Geoscience. 1:238-242. 2008
- Stability of biomass-derived black carbon in soils. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 72:6096-6078. 2008
- Long-term impacts of anthropogenic perturbations on dynamics and speciation of organic carbon in tropical forest and subtropical grassland ecosystems. Global Change Biology. 13:511-530. 2007
- Molecular signature and sources of biochemical recalcitrance of organic C in Amazonian Dark Earths. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 71:2285-2298. 2007
- Organic matter stabilization in soil microaggregates: implications from spatial heterogeneity of organic carbon contents and carbon forms. Biogeochemistry. 85:45-57. 2007
- Black carbon increases cation exchange capacity in soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 70:1719-1730. 2006
- Nanoscale biogeocomplexity of the organo-mineral assemblage in soil: application of STXM microscopy and C 1s-NEXAFS spectroscopy. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 70:1708-1718. 2006
- Soil organic sulfur forms and dynamics in the Great Plains of North America as influenced by long-term cultivation and climate . Geoderma. 133:160-172. 2006
- Sulphur speciation and turnover in soils: evidence from sulphur K-edge XANES spectroscopy and isotope dilution studies. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 38:1000-1007. 2006
- Carbon K-edge NEXAFS and FTIR-ATR spectroscopic investigation of organic carbon speciation in soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 69:107-119. 2005
- Long-term dynamics of phosphorus forms and retention in manure-amended soils. Environmental Science & Technology. 39:6672-6680. 2005
- Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy for mapping nano-scale distribution of organic carbon forms in soil: application to black carbon particles. Global Biogeochemical Cycles. 19. 2005
- Phosphorus speciation in manure and manure-amended soils using XANES spectroscopy . Environmental Science & Technology. 39:7485-7491. 2005
- Sulphur speciation and biogeochemical cycling in long-term arable cropping of subtropical soils: evidence from wet-chemical reduction and S K-edge XANES spectroscopy. European Journal of Soil Science. 56:621-634. 2005
- Sulfur K-edge X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) Spectroscopy as a Tool for Understanding S Dynamics. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 67:1721-1731. 2003
- Sulfur K-edge XANES spectroscopy as a tool for understanding sulfur dynamics in soil organic matter. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 37:1721-1731. 2003
- Phosphorus forms and dynamics as influenced by land use in the subhumid Ethiopian highlands. Geoderma. 105:21-48. 2002
- Soil Organic Matter Composition in the Sub-humid Ethiopian Highlands as Influenced by Deforestation and Agricultural Management. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 66:68-82. 2002
- Soil organic matter dynamics in the subhumid agroecosystems of the Ethiopian highlands: evidence from natural 13C abundance and particle size fractionation. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 66:969-978. 2002
- Soil organic matter in the subhumid Ethiopian highlands as influenced by deforestation and agricultural management. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 66:68-82. 2002
- Carbon and nitrogen mineralization in cultivated and natural savanna soils in Northern Tanzania. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 33:301-309. 2001
- Land use effects on amino sugar signatures of chromic Luvisols in the semiarid tropics. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 33:33-40. 2001
- Sulfur fractions in particle-size separates of the subhumid Ethiopian highlands as influenced by land use changes. Geoderma. 102:41-59. 2001
- Effects of Deforestation on Phosphorus Pools in Mountain Soils of the Allay Range, Khyrgyzia. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 31:134-142. 2000
- Effects of Deforestation on Phosphorus Pools in Mountain Soils of the Allay Range, Khyrgyzia.. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 31:134-142. 2000
- Land use effects on soil organic matter properties of chromic Luvisols in the semiarid tropics: Carbon nitrogen lignin and carbohydrates. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 78:203-218. 2000
- Loss of phosphorus from soil in semiarid northern Tanzania as a result of cropping: evidence from sequential extraction and 31P NMR spectroscopy. European Journal of Soil Science. 51:699-708. 2000
- Soil Organic Matter Pools Quantity and Quality in Mountain Soils of the Allay Range, Kyrgyzia, affected by land use change. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 31:407-413. 2000
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chapter
- Organic carbon chemistry in soils observed by synchrotron-based spectroscopy. Synchrotron-based Techniques in Soils and Sediment. 2010
- Synchrotron-based near-edge X-ray Spectroscopy of NOM in soils and sediments. Biophysico-Chemical Processes Involving Natural Nonliving Organic Matter in Environmental Systems IUPAC Series on Biophysico-Chemical Processes in Environmental Systems. 2009
- Effects of deforestation on organic matter properties of mountain soils of the Alay Range, Kyrgyzia: a geoecological case study in High Asia. Environmental Changes in High Asia. 83-89. 2000
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conference paper
- Phosphorus Speciation in Poultry Manure and Manure-applied Soils Using XANES Spectroscopy. Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America annual meeting. 2004
- Using carbon k-edge XANES to assess organic matter stabilization in microaggregates during 100 years of cropping. Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America annual meeting. 2004
- Catena-Studie zum Umsatz von organischem C, N und S in stabilisotopen-markierter Streu an Waldstandorten im äthiopischen Hochland. Mitt. Dtsch. Bodenkundl. Ges.. 2003
- Biogeochemical Cycling of Sulfur in Soil. Proceedings of the Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union. 2002
- Sulfur K-edge XANES spectroscopy in soil organic matter study. Proceedings of the Agronomy Society of America, Crop Science Society of America and Soil Science Society of America annual meeting. 2002
- Effects of Deforestation on Organic Matter Properties of Mountain Soils of the Allay Range, Khyrgyzia: A Geoecological Case Study in High Asia. Environmental Changes in High Asia. 2000
- Influence of Organic Refuses Addition to Soil on the Behavior of Terebuthylazine. Entering the Third Millennium with a Common Approach to Humic Substances and Organic Matter in Water, Soil and Sediments. Proceedings of the International Humic Substances, Society. 2000
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conference poster
- Black carbon humic acids: Do They Exist? 2009
- Nano-scale biogeochemistry of C, N, Ca, Fe and Si in organo-mineral assemblages 2009
- Characterization of black carbon using NEXAFS spectroscopy 2008
- Molecular-level biogeochemical dynamics of organic sulfur revealed by XANES spectroscopy 2008
- Macromolecular Speciation of Organic Matter in Black C rich Anthrosols: Insight from 13C CP-MAS NMR and Synchrotron Based C (1s) NEXAFS and FTIR-ATR Spectroscopy 2006
- Land use Effects on Sulfur Fractions in Fine Earth and Particle-size Separates of Soils in Southern Ethiopian Highlands 2000
- Land use Effects on Sulfur Fractions in Fine Earth and Particle-size Separates of Soils in Southern Ethiopian Highlands 2000
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document part
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report
- C 1s NEXAFS study of changes in black carbon chemistry as a result of interaction with clay minerals 2010
- Nano-scale spatial biogeocomplexity of Organomineral assemblages using C K-, Ca L2,3- and Fe L2,3-edges NEXAFS spectromicroscopy 2010
- Nitrogen Speciation in Soils by Near-Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (NEXAFS) Spectroscopy and Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM) 2008
- Catena-Studie zum Umsatz von organischem C, N und S in stabilisotopen-markierter Streu an Waldstandorten im äthiopischen Hochland 2003
- Long-term Carbon Stabilization in Soils - The Role of Aggregates as Revealed by Synchrotron Based FTIR Spectroscopy 2002
- Sulfur K-edge X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) Spectroscopy as a Tool for Understanding Sulfur Dynamics in Soil Organic Matter Following Land Use Changes 2002
- Influence of Organic Refuses Addition to Soil on the Behavior of Terebuthylazine. Entering the Third Millennium with a Common Approach to Humic Substances and Organic Matter in Water, Soil and Sediments. 2000
- Economics and Policy Context For the Biological Management of Soil Fertility (BMSF) in Ethiopia" 2009
Service
service to the profession
- Ethiopian Soil Science Society
- Provided Training for Environmental Scientists on "Ssynchrotron-based STXM-NEXAFS and Sr-FTIR data acquisition training for environmental scientists"
- Cornell University MPS program at Bahir Dar Ethiopia Developed a course module for and lectured - graduate level courses related to Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems for MPS students enrolled in the joint Cornell and Bahir Dar Uniersity University program in Ethiopia 2008
reviewer or editor for
Background
education and training
- ALS, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory 2008
- Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory 2007
- Cornell University 2002
- Ph.D. in Geoecology/Soil Sciences, University of Bayreuth 2001
- M.S. in Soil and Water, Wageningen Agricultural University 1994
- International Agricultural Center 1993
- Alemaya University of Agriculture 1989
awards and honors
- Ph.D. fellowship award, 1996
- M.Sc. fellowship award, 1992
Other
college
- CALS
research keyword
- biogeochemical cycling, biogeochemistry, spectroscopy, synchrotron-based micro- and nano-spectromicroscopy, carbon cycle, carbon sequestration, soil science, geoecology
name prefix
- Dr.