Associate Professor
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences | Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences
Hometown: Chongqing, China
University of Wisconsin–Madison Associate Professor Xia Zhu-Barker is a soil biogeochemist in the Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences whose research focuses on soil health, nitrogen cycling, nitrate leaching, greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable agricultural systems. Her work integrates field experiments, laboratory studies, stable isotope techniques, and data science approaches to better understand how soil management influences water quality, climate resilience, and ecosystem sustainability. She collaborates closely with farmers, industry partners, and interdisciplinary research teams to develop practical solutions for climate smart agriculture and nutrient management.
Talks:
Soil Biogeochemistry, Land Management, and Environmental Sustainability
Understanding how biogeochemical processes control the stability of agroecosystems in terms of carbon and nitrogen cycling, water movement, resource use efficiency, food production and quality, and the fate of pollutants. We are currently engaged in projects focused on soil health management practices in various agricultural systems, nutrient management associated with dairies and feed lots, trace gas capture and analysis (C and N species), the storage and cycling of C in soils, and the use of isotopic tracers within all these systems. The mission of our team is to contribute to the long-term viability of agroecosystems by integrating biogeochemical, ecological, environmental, agronomic, economic, and social knowledge into the food, energy, and water aspects of management decisions.