FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Trent Roberts in the U of A's Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and the U of A System Division of Agriculture has received the Early Career Award from the Soil Science Society of America.

Roberts is assistant professor of soil fertility and soil testing in Bumpers College's Department of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences. He focuses on soil fertility and plant nutrition, and the development of new soil test methods. He investigates soil-based nitrogen tests for fertilizer management in crop production with specialization in rice, wheat and corn. He also develops analytical methods for soil and plant analysis, including fractionation of soil organic nitrogen with an emphasis on identifying potentially mineralizable nitrogen.

SSSA's Early Career Award recognizes professionals who have made outstanding contributions in soil science within seven years of completing their final degree.

Roberts has been a member of the faculty since 2010. He earned his bachelor's degree in plant and soil sciences from Oklahoma State University in 2003, his master's degree in soil and water science from the University of Arizona in 2006, and his doctorate in soil fertility and plant nutrition from the U of A in 2010.

He is a member of the SSSA, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America and the Rice Technical Working Group.

SSSA is the largest soil-specific society in the United States. Members advance the field of soil science and provide information about soils in relation to crop production, environmental quality, ecosystem sustainability, bioremediation, waste management, recycling and wise land use.

About the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences: Bumpers College provides life-changing opportunities to position and prepare graduates who will be leaders in the businesses associated with foods, family, the environment, agriculture, sustainability and human quality of life; and who will be first-choice candidates of employers looking for leaders, innovators, policy makers and entrepreneurs. The college is named for Dale Bumpers, former Arkansas governor and longtime U.S. senator who made the state prominent in national and international agriculture.

About the University of Arkansas: The University of Arkansas provides an internationally competitive education for undergraduate and graduate students in more than 200 academic programs. The university contributes new knowledge, economic development, basic and applied research, and creative activity while also providing service to academic and professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the University of Arkansas among only 2 percent of universities in America that have the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University of Arkansas among its top American public research universities. Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas comprises 10 colleges and schools and maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio that promotes personal attention and close mentoring.