About

Zhenli He is a professor in the Department of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences at the University of Florida, affiliated with the Indian River Research and Education Center. His research focuses on biogeochemical processes and the management of nutrients and contaminants within soil-plant-water systems. He is dedicated to waste management for sustainable agriculture and environmental quality, soil quality and ecological health, as well as the remediation of contaminated or degraded soil and water systems. His work aims to enhance understanding and management of soil fertility, environmental chemistry, and ecosystem health to promote sustainable agricultural practices and environmental protection.

Research topics

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Agronomy
• Food science
• Horticulture
• Environmental science
• Environmental chemistry
• Soil science
• Ecology

Selected publications

• The integrated effect of salinity, organic amendments, phosphorus fertilizers, and deficit irrigation on soil properties, phosphorus fractionation and wheat productivity

  Scientific Reports · 2020 · 175 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Environmental science
  • Agronomy
  • Soil science

  Soil degradation due to global warming, water scarcity and diminishing natural resources negatively impacts food security. Soil fertility deterioration, particularly phosphorus (P) deficiency, remains a challenge in the arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, field experiments were conducted in different geographical locations to investigate the effects of organic amendments coupled with P fertilization and irrigation on soil physical-chemical properties, and the growth, yield and quality of wheat. Application of P fertilizers combined with organic amendments mitigated soil salinity, increased organic matter content, available water, hydraulic conductivity and available macronutrients, but decreased soil bulk density. Application of organic amendments slightly increased total Cd, Ni and Pb in soil, but Cd and Ni concentration was below allowable limits whilst Pb reached a hazardous level. Soil P fractions were significantly increased with the combined application of mineral P and organic amendments irrespective of salinity and irrigation. Crop growth yield and quality of wheat improved significantly in response to the integrated application of mineral P and organic amendments. In conclusion, the combination of mineral P sources with organic amendments could be successfully used as a cost-effective management practice to enhance soil fertility and crop production in the arid and semi-arid regions stressed with water scarcity and natural resource constraints.

  DOI

• Foliage application of selenium and silicon nanoparticles alleviates Cd and Pb toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

  The Science of The Total Environment · 2020 · 347 citations

  • Environmental chemistry
  • Chemistry
  • Agronomy
  DOI

Frequent coauthors

• Xiaoe Yang

  Zhejiang University

  395 shared

• Peter J. Stoffella

  University of Florida

  280 shared

• D. V. Calvert

  133 shared

• Shengke Tian

  Zhejiang University

  84 shared

• Tingqiang Li

  Zhejiang University

  75 shared

• V. C. Baligar

  Beltsville Agricultural Research Center

  70 shared

• Xiaoping Xin

  Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

  70 shared

• Patrick H. Brown

  University of California, Davis

  69 shared

Education

• PhD, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences

  Zhejiang University

  1988

• M.S., College of Resources and Environmental Sciences

  Zhejiang University

  1984

• B.S., College of Resources and Environmental Sciences

  Zhejiang University

  1981

Similar researchers at University of Florida

• Steven T DeKoskyh-162
• Matthew Farrerh-133
• George Christouh-133
• Mark A Atkinsonh-129
• Christiaan Leeuwenburghh-125