Production and Deployment of Photosynthetic Nitrogen-Fixing Biofertilizers

The soils in arid environments of the Western United States are experiencing increasing pressure from mining, energy extraction, ranching, and population. These pressures lead to erosion, landscape degradation, and reduced biodiversity, that is shortly followed by unsustainable environments and degraded economies. The purpose of this project is to examine the factors that promote the reestablishment of the native photosynthetic microorganisms that are responsible for regulating the fertility and productivity arid ecosystems.