Soil, Science, Sustainability: Katie Lewis Shapes Farming’s Future

KAY LEDBETTER

LUBBOCK, TEXAS

For Katie Lewis, Ph.D., every soil sample, every field trial and every long day in the West Texas sun comes down to one thing – helping farmers build a future that lasts.

That commitment runs deep. Lewis grew up on a farm, married a farmer, and now raises her children on the same type of land her research aims to protect.

As a Texas A&M AgriLife Research soil chemistry and fertility scientist and professor in the Texas A&M Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, she works each day to ensure that future generations of Texas farmers can thrive.

Lewis, stationed at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Lubbock, like many Texas farmers, has experienced firsthand the hardships and seasonal ups and downs of the market.

“I want to ensure they can farm the land and do so in an environmentally and economically sustainable way,” Lewis said, noting her children will likely follow in her or her husband’s footsteps.

‘Science drives me’

The love of science showed up early. As a child, Lewis carried around a cigar box with batteries and wires, begging her parents for an at-home science kit. An inspirational teacher who made every lesson feel like a discovery and a standout high school chemistry class only fueled the fire and guided her choice in higher education.

“Her passion and real-world application made me see chemistry as a field full of possibilities,” Lewis said.

Lewis earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and, given her life on the farm, a minor in soil and crop sciences was a natural fit.

“I fell in love with the dynamics of soil – the chemistry and biology involved,” she said. “I love the science. I love answering questions and facing challenges. It is what drives me to get up every morning. It is very personal to me.”

Mentors who shaped the scientist

Two decades ago, Lewis was selling ag products and rodeoing on the weekend – not yet imagining the difference she would make in the world of soil science.

She credits advisors and mentors like Frank Hons, Ph.D., a retired soil scientist; Terry Gentry, Ph.D., professor of soil and aquatic microbiology; David Zuberer, Ph.D., professor emeritus in soil microbiology; and Jamie Foster, Ph.D., a forage agronomist, who showed her there were always challenges and questions to answer.

“They taught me to think outside the box, because by doing so, we can make big impacts,” she said. “And they taught me to think for myself and not be afraid of standing by the science.”

Big impacts, field by field

Now in her 11th year with AgriLife Research, Lewis turns that early curiosity into practical solutions for producers. When she considers where her work is moving the needle for farmers, three themes rise to the top: nutrient management, resilient cropping systems and soil health.

For High Plains cotton, her research is revitalizing soil nutrient management recommendations and demonstrating which nutrients have the greatest impact across the region. This work moves toward her goal to find environmentally and economically sustainable management strategies for farmers and their cropping systems.

One focus is on organic amendments. She is studying the use of manure and the incorporation of organic nutrient sources into production systems.

In cotton, potassium consistently emerges as a difference-maker.

“We can see big returns on our investment for potassium applications, because cotton has a high demand for potassium,” she said. “And nitrogen management strategies are important. So, focusing on what each crop needs as it progresses can save on inputs and help farmers be more productive.”

Running parallel is research on cover crops, which can be a tool to address yield limitations tied to water deficiencies while improving soil structure and protecting sandy soils from wind erosion. Cover crops optimize nitrogen application strategies and extend the farm’s long-term viability.

“We can confidently say they can be successfully used in the High Plains where irrigation is available,” Lewis said. “In dryland systems, a more profitable system would be a rotation of cotton and wheat or cotton and sorghum.”

More recently, Lewis is tackling carbon dynamics in semi-arid environments – work backed by more than $15 million in grant funding over the past few years to address resilient agricultural practices on the High Plains.   ∆

KAY LEDBETTER

TEXAS AGRILIFE