Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Current Competitive Grant

Investigation of bacteria transport and resistance mechanisms and implications for water quality from confinement swine and beef grazing production systems in Iowa

Project ID: E2012-05

This 3-year grant for $162,100 was awarded in 2012.

Location: Floyd, Story counties

This research team will investigate the fate and transport of bacteria from land that receives manure applications. A monitoring study will examine the impact of different agricultural systems on water quality and address emerging issues related to antibiotic resistance in pathogens. In addition, investigators will study the mechanisms of pathogen transport, specifically, if pathogens are attached to manure, soil or sediment particles during transport, and identify related environmental factors.

Michelle Soupir

Michelle Soupir Michelle Soupir is an assistant professor in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at Iowa State University. Her research focuses on soil and water quality, nonpoint source pollution control, watershed management and water quality monitoring. She uses both lab and field scale studies to examine the occurrence, fate and transport of pathogens, pathogen indicators and contaminants of emerging environmental concern such as antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria to surface and groundwater systems. [Contact lead investigator]

Co-Investigator(s):

Matt Helmers, ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering; Michael Thompson, ISU Agronomy; Laura Jarboe, ISU Chemical and Biological Engineering; Antonio Mallarino, ISU Agronomy; and Ramesh Kanwar, ISU Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering


This competitive grant project is part of the Leopold Center's Ecology Initiative.

Topics: Manure nutrient and compost management, Soils and agronomy, Water quality, quantity and management