Peer-reviewed publications – Google Scholar
#: corresponding author
Yang, Q., Liu, Q., Dong, K., Zhang, K., Wu, C., Yin, R., Xu, L., Feng, Z., Yang, T. and Ge, T. Host genotype-enriched rhizosphere microbes enhance pea (Pisum sativum L.) yield. Plant and Soil, 2026 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-026-08597-2
Wang, H., Wu, S.H., Zhang, K., Chen, K.H., Vilgalys, R. and Liao, H.L. Multiple hypervariable markers improve mycobiome classification in metatranscriptome and metagenome data. Communications Biology, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-09820-7
Netto-Ferreira, J.B.; Wilson C.H.; Zhang, K; Maltais-Landry, G. Sustainable intensification with winter crops stimulates soil nitrogen availability and microbially-mediated N cycling but does not result in substantial benefits to subsequent corn. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2026, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-025-01967-5
Luo, H.; Zhang, Z.; Fang, X.; Wang Z.; Liu, Z.; Yang, Y.; Zhang, K.#, Yi, Z.; Ding, M. Rhizosphere abundant bacteria enhance buckwheat yield, while rare taxa regulate soil chemistry under diversified crop rotations. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2025, 393, 109781. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2025.109781
Wang, H.; Zhang, K.#; Tappero, R.; Victor, T; Bhatnagar, J.M.; Vilgalys, R.; Liao, H.L. Inorganic nitrogen and organic matter jointly regulate ectomycorrhizal fungi-mediated iron acquisition. New Phytologist, 2025, 245: 2715-2725. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.20394
Lofgren, L.; Nguyen, N.; Kennedy, P.; Pérez Pazos, E.; Fletcher, J.; Liao, H.L.; Wang, H; Zhang, K.; Ruytinx, J.; Smith, A.; Ke, Y.H.; Cotter, H.; Engwall, E.; Hameed, K.; Vilgalys, R.; Branco, S. Suillus: an emerging model for the study of ectomycorrhizal ecology and evolution. New Phytologist, 2024, 242, 1448-1475. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19700
Zhang, K.; Zentella, R.; Burkey, K., Liao, H.L.; Tisdale, R. Long-term tropospheric ozone pollution disrupts plant-microbe-soil interactions in the agroecosystem. Global Change Biology, 2024, 30, e17215. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.17215
Zhang, K.; Wang, H.; Tappero, R.; Bhatnagar, J.; Vilgalys, R.; Barry, K.; Grigoriev, I.V.; Kew, W.; Eder, E.K.; Nicora, C.D.; Liao, H.L. Ectomycorrhizal fungi enhance pine growth by stimulating iron-dependent mechanisms with trade-offs in symbiotic performance. New Phytologist, 2024, 242, 1645-1660. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.19449
Luo, H.; Wang, C.; Zhang, K.; Ming, L.; Chu, H.; Wang, H. Elevational changes in soil properties shaping fungal community assemblages in terrestrial forest. Science of The Total Environment, 2023, 900: 165840. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165840
Erhunmwunse, A.; Queiroz, L.; Zhang, K.; Mackowiak, C.; Blount, A.; Dubeux, J.; Liao, H.L. Changes in soil microbial diversity and community composition across bahiagrass and rhizoma peanut pastures. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2023, 59: 285-300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-023-01701-z
Zhang, K.; Zentella, R.; Burkey, K.O.; Liao, H.L.; Tisdale, R.H. Microbial community dynamics responding to nutrient allocation associated with soybean cultivar ‘Jake’ozone adaptation. Science of The Total Environment, 2023, 864: 161008. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161008
Shen, Q.; Zhang, K.#; Voroney. P.; Meng, L.; Xu, J.; Brookes, P.C. Biodiesel Co-Product enhances microbial stability and beneficial microbial communities along a gradient of soil water content. Science of the Total Environment, 2023, 856: 159204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159204
Zhang, K.#; Maltais-Landry, G.; James, M.; Mendez, V.; George, S.; Wright, D.; Liao, H.L. Absolute microbiome profiling highlights the links among microbial stability, soil health, and crop productivity under long-term sod-based rotation. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2022, 883-901. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-022-01675-4
Zhang, K.; Maltais-Landry, G.; George, S.; Grabau, Z.; Small, I.; Liao, H.L. Long-term sod-based rotation promotes beneficial root microbiomes and increases crop productivity. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2022, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-022-01626-z
Zhang, K.; Schumacher, L.; Maltais-Landry, G.; Grabau, Z.; Wright, D.; Ian, S.; Liao, H.L. Integrating perennial bahiagrass into the conventional rotation of cotton and peanut enhances interactions between microbial and nematode communities. Applied Soil Ecology, 2022, 204254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2021.104254
Zhang, K.; Tappero, R.; Ruytinx, J.; Branco, S.; Liao, H.L. Disentangling the role of ectomycorrhizal fungi in plant nutrient acquisition along a Zn gradient using X-ray imaging. Science of the Total Environment, 2021,149481. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149481
Shen, Q.; Song J.; Zhang, K.; Voroney. P.; Li, J.; Xu, J.; Brookes, P.C. The effects of soil incorporation depth of Biodiesel Co-Product (BCP) additions on N leaching losses and on genes involved in soil nitrogen cycling in an acidic Chinese tea soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 2021, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-021-01558-0
Zhang, K.#; Maltais-Landry, G.; Liao, H.L. How soil biota regulate C cycling and soil C pools in diversified crop rotations. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2021, 108219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2021.108219
Shen, Q.; Redmile-Gordon, M.; Song, J.; Li, J.; Zhang, K.; Voroney, P.; Xu, J.; Brookes, P.C. Amendment with biodiesel co-product modifies genes for N cycling (nirK, nirS, nosZ) and greenhouse gas emissions (N2O, CH4, CO2) from an acid soil. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2021, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-021-01546-4
Zhang, K.; Bonito, G.; Hsu, C.M.; Hameed, K.; Vilgalys, R.; Liao, H.L. Mortierella elongata Increases Plant Biomass among Non-Leguminous Crop Species. Agronomy, 2020, 10, 754. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10050754
Zhang, K.; Chen L.; Li Y.; Brookes P.C.; Xu J.; Luo Y. Interactive effects on soil pH and substrate quality on microbial utilization. European Journal of Soil Biology, 2020, 96, 103151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2020.103151
Shen Q.; Zhang, K.; Song J.; Shen J.; Xu J.; Inubushi K.; Brookes P.C. Contrasting biomass, dynamics and diversity of microbial community following the air-drying and rewetting of an upland and a paddy soil of the same type. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2018, 871-5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-018-1308-3
Luo, Y.; Zang, H.; Yu, Z.; Chen, Z.; Gunina, A.; Kuzyakov, Y.; Xu, J.; Zhang K.; Brookes, P.C. Priming effects in biochar enriched soils using a three- source-partitioning approach: 14C labelling and 13C natural abundance. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2017, 28-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.12.006
Zhang, K.; Chen, L.; Li, Y.; Brookes, P.C.; Xu, J.; Luo, Y. The effects of combinations of biochar, lime, and organic fertilizer on nitrification and nitrifiers. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 2017, 77-87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-016-1154-0
Luo, Y.; Yu, Z.; Zhang, K.; Xu, J.; Brookes, P.C. The properties and functions of biochars in forest ecosystems. Journal of Soils and Sediments, 2016, 2005-2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1483-5
Chen, L.; Luo, Y.; Xu, J.; Yu, Z.; Zhang, K.; Brookes, P.C. Assessment of bacterial communities and predictive functional profiling in soils subjected to short-term fumigation-incubation. Microbial Ecology, 2016, 240-251. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-016-0766-0
Book chapter
Lira Jr, M. A.; Zhang, K.; Erhunmwunse, A.; Liao H.L.; Freitas, A.D.S.; Leal, V.C.; Jaramillo, D.M. Biological nitrogen fixation in dry regions. In book: Forage Systems in Arid and Semiarid Regions. 2025. 10.29327/5681481.1-8