Jeanette Norton

Plants, Soils, & Climate (PSC)

Professor | Soil Microbiology/Ecology | Graduate Program Coordinator


Jeanette M. Norton

Contact Information

Office Hours: Varies, email for appointment
Office Location: AGRS 340
Phone: 435-797-2166
Email: jeanette.norton@usu.edu

Educational Background

PhD, Soil Science, (Soil Microbiology), University of California, Berkeley, 1991
Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in the Rhizosphere of Pinus ponderosa seedlings
BS, Forest Biology, (Biochemistry), State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 1980

Biography

Dr. Jeanette M. Norton (Jenny) is Professor of Soil Microbiology in the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, an Ecology Center Associate and an Adjunct Professor in Biology at Utah State University. Dr. Norton graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the State University of New College of Environmental Science and Forestry in 1980, received her PhD. in Soil Science (Microbiology) under the mentoring of Prof. Mary Firestone at University of California, Berkeley in 1991 and gained further experience as a post-doctoral researcher at the NSF Center for Microbial Ecology, Michigan State University with Professor Eldor Paul and Professor James Tiedje. Dr. Norton has been faculty at USU since 1993 with a focus on the microbial ecology of reactive nitrogen in terrestrial systems.

Teaching Interests

Soil and Environmental Microbiology, Soils Health and Fertility, Soil Analytical Techniques Laboratory, Global Change, Sustainability and Waste Management

Research Interests

Dr. Norton’s research focuses on understanding key organisms in the nitrogen and carbon cycles of terrestrial system on many different levels; from individual genes to ecosystem processes. Key areas of research interest include: the ecology of nitrification and genomics of ammonia oxidizing bacteria, microbial carbon and nitrogen cycling in soils, DNA probes for enzymatic functions, microbial / plant interactions in waste management, and role of microbial community structure in biogeochemistry and bioremediation.

Awards

Fellow of the Soil Science Society of America, 2022

Soil Science Society America

The Student Presentation Award, 2021

SACNAS Diversity in STEM

Excellence in Advocacy Award 2021 , 2021

ASA, CSSA and SSSA science policy advocacy

Faculty University Service Award CAAS, 2019

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY -CAAS

2014-2015 Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year, 2014

College of Agriculture

Undergraduate Research Mentor of the Year, 2003

College of Agriculture


Publications | Abstracts

  • Reeve, J., Norton, J.M, MacAdam, J.W, (2019). Utilization of tannin-containing forages for sustainable beef production in the Intermountain West. Soil Science Society of America

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

    Publications | Book Chapters

  • Norton, J.M, Schimel, J.P, (2011). Chapter 27.2 Nitrogen Mineralization Immobilization Turnover: Handbook of Soil Science. CRC Press
  • Norton, J.M, Stark, J.M, (2011). Regulation and measurement of nitrification in terrestrial systems: Methods in Enzymology. Elsevier, Methods in Enzymology
  • Norton, J.M, (2011). Diversity and environmental distribution of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria: Nitrification. ASM Press
  • Norton, J.M, (2008). Nitrification in Agricultural Soils. Nitrogen in Agricultural Systems, Agronomy Monograph 49.
  • Norton, J.M, (1999). Nitrification. Handbook of Soil Science, M. Sumner (Editor), CRC Press, Inc., FL
  • Norton, J.M, (1999). Nitrogen Mineralization and Immobilization Turnover. Handbook of Soil Science, M. Sumner (Ed), CRC Press, Inc., FL

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Journal Articles

Academic Journal

  • Norton, J.M, Ouyang, Y., (2019). Controls and Adaptive Management of Nitrification in Agricultural Soils. Frontiers in Microbiology Frontiers, 10, 1931. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01931
  • Aaronson, J.K, Kulmatiski, A., Forero, L.E, Grenzer, J., Norton, J.M, (2023). Are Plant–Soil Feedbacks Caused by Many Weak Microbial Interactions?. Biology MDPI, 12:11, 1-17. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12111374
  • Habteselassie, M.Y, Woodruff, L., Norton, J.M, Ouyang, Y., Sintim, H., (2022). Changes in Microbial Communities in Soil Treated with Organic or Conventional N Sources. Journal of Environmental Quality/ Wiley
  • Ouyang, Y., Reeve, J.R, Norton, J.M, (2022). The quality of organic amendments affects soil microbiome and nitrogen-cycling bacteria in an organic farming system. Frontiers of Soil Science, Frontiers, 2, Front. Soil Sci. 2:869136. doi: doi.org/10.3389/fsoil.2022.869136
  • Duhan, N., Norton, J.M, Kaundal, R., (2022). deepNEC: a novel alignment-free tool for the identification and classification of nitrogen biochemical network-related enzymes using deep learning. Briefings in Bioinformatics, 23:3, 1-16. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/bib/bbac071
  • Chen, J., Norton, J.M, Kratsch, H., Sun, Y., Rupp, L.A, (2021). Nodulation of Shepherdia ×utahensis ‘Torrey’ and the diversity of symbiotic Frankia strains. HortScience, 56:7, 762-768. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI15726-21
  • Chen, J., Kratsch, H., Norton, J.M, Sun, Y., Rupp, L.A, (2020). Nodulation and plant growth of Shepherdia x utahensis ‘Torrey’ topdressed with controlled-release fertilizer. HortScience, 55:12, 1-7. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI15260-20
  • Butcher, K.R, Norton, J.M, (2020). Physical mechanisms for soil moisture effects on microbial carbon-use efficiency in a sandy loam soil in the Western United States. Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 150, 107969. doi: doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2020.107969
  • Nayfach, S., Roux, X., IMG/M Data Consortium, , Norton, J.M, Eloe-Fadrosh, .A, (2020). A Genomic Catalogue of Earth’s Microbiomes. Nature Biotechnology, doi: doi.org/10.1038/s41587-020-0718-6
  • Ouyang, Y., Norton, J.M, (2020). Short-term nitrogen fertilization affects microbial community composition and N mineralization function in an agricultural soil. Applied and Environmental Microbiology/ASM, 86:5, e02278-19. doi: 10.1128/AEM.02278-19
  • Mundepi, A., Norton, J.M, Cabrera, M., Habteselassie, M., (2019). Ammonia Oxidizers as Biological Health Indicators of Elevated Zn and Cu in Poultry Litter Amended Soil. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, Springer Nature, 230, 239. doi: doi.org/10.1007/s11270-019-4283-x
  • Woodruff, L.K, Habteselassie, M.Y, Norton, J.M, Boyhan, G.E, Cabrera, M.L, (2019). Yield and nutrient dynamics in conventional and organic sweet corn production systems. Agronomy Journal, 111:5, doi: 10.2134/agronj2018.09.0625
  • Sedlacek, C., McGowan, B., Suwa, Y., Sayavedra-Soto, L., Laanebroek, H.J, Stein, L.Y, Norton, J.M, Klotz, M.G, Bollmann, A., (2019). A physiological and genomic comparison of Nitrosomonas cluster 6a and 7 ammonia oxidizing bacteria. Microbial Ecology, 78:4, 985–994. doi: doi.org/10.1007/s00248-019-01378-8
  • Ouyang, Y., Reeve, J., Norton, J.M, (2018). Soil enzyme activities and abundance of microbial functional genes involved in nitrogen transformations in an organic farming system . Biology and Fertility of Soils/ Springer, 54:4, 437-450. doi: doi.org/10.1007/s00374-018-1272-y
  • Kulmatiski, A., Beard, K.H, Norton, J.M, Heavilin, J.E, Forero, L., Grezer, J., (2017). Live long and prosper: plant-soil feedback, lifespan and landscape abundance covary. Ecology, 98:12, 3063-3073. doi: 10.1002/ecy.2011
  • Ouyang, Y., Norton, J.M, Stark, J.M, (2017). Ammonium availability and temperature control contributions of ammonia oxidizing bacteria and archaea to nitrification in an agricultural soil . Soil Biology and Biochemistry /Elsevier, 113:October, 161-172. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2017.06.010
  • Rice, M.C, Norton, J.M, Stein, L.Y, Kozlowski, J., Bollmann, A., Klotz, M.G, Sayavedra-Soto, L., Woyke, T., Shapiro, N., Goodwin, L.A, (2017). Complete genome of Nitrosomonas cryotolerans ATCC 49181, a phylogenetically distinct ammonia-oxidizing bacterium isolated from arctic waters. Genome Announcements/ American Society Microbiology, 5:11, e00011-17. doi: 10.1128/genomeA.00011-17
  • Rice, M.C, Norton, J.M, Valois, F., Bollmann, A., Bottomley, P.J, Klotz, M.G, Laanbroek, H.J, Suwa, Y., Stein, L.Y, Sayavedra-Soto, L., Woyke, T., Shapiro, N., Goodwin, L.A, Huntemann, M., Han, C., Chum, A., Kyrpides, N., Mavromati, K., Markowitz, V., Palaniappan, K., Ivanova, N., Schaumberg, A., Pati, A., Liolios, K., Nordberg, H.P, Cantor, M.N, Hua, S.X, (2016). Complete genome of Nitrosospira briensis C-128, an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium from agricultural soil. Standards in Genomic Sciences/BioMed Central, 11, 46. doi: 10.1186/s40793-016-0168-4
  • Ouyang, Y., Norton, J.M, Stark, J.M, Reeve, J., Habteselassie, M.Y, (2016). Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria are more responsive than archaea to nitrogen source in an agricultural soil.. Soil Biology and Biochemistry/Elsevier, 96, 4-15. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2016.01.012
  • Morris, K.A, Stark, J.M, Bugbee, B.G, Norton, J.M, (2016). The invasive annual cheatgrass releases more nitrogen than crested wheatgrass through root exudation and senescence. Oecologia, doi: DOI 10.1007/s00442-015-3544-7
  • Nolan, N.E, Kulmatiski, A., Beard, K.H, Norton, J.M, (2015). Activated carbon decreases invasive plant growth by mediating plant-microbe. AoB Plants, 7, plu072. doi: doi: 10.1093/aobpla/plu072
  • Jumadi, O., Hiolaa, S., Halaa, Y., Norton, J.M, Inubushi, K., (2014). Influence of Azolla (Azolla microphylla Kaulf.) compost on biogenic gas production, inorganic nitrogen and growth of upland kangkong (Ipomoea aquatica Forsk.) in a silt loam soil. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition /Taylor and Francis, 1-9. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00380768.2014.942879
  • Habteselassie, M.Y, Xu, L., Norton, J.M, (2013). Ammonia-Oxidizer Communities in an Agricultural Soil treated with Contrasting Nitrogen Sources. Frontiers in Microbiology, 4, 326. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2013.00326:326
  • Bollmann, A., Sedlacek, C.J, Norton, J.M, a., (2013). Complete genome sequence of Nitrosomonas sp. Is79 – an ammonia oxidizing bacterium adapted to low ammonium concentrations. . Standards in Genomic Sciences, 7:3, 469-482. doi: doi:10.4056/sigs.3517166
  • Suwa, Y., Norton, J.M, Bollmann, A., Klotz, M.G, Stein, L.Y, Laanbroek, H.J, Arp, D.J, (2011). Genome Sequence of Nitrosomonas sp. Strain AL212, an Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacterium Sensitive to High Levels of Ammonia.. Journal of Bacteriology/American Society Microbiology, 193, 5047-5048. doi: 10.1128/jb.05521-11
  • Campbell, M.A, Chain, P.S, Dang, H., El-Sheikh, A.F, Norton, J.M, Ward, N.L, Ward, B.B, Klotz, M.G, (2011). Nitrosococcus watsonii sp. nov., a new species of marine obligate ammonia-oxidizing bacteria that is not omnipresent in the world’s oceans.Calls to validate the names “Nitrosococcus halophilus” and “Nitrosomonas mobilis.”. FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 76:1, 39-48.
  • Koper, T.E, Stark, J.M, Habteselassie, M.Y, Norton, J.M, (2010). Nitrification exhibits Haldane kinetics in an agricultural soil treated with ammonium sulfate or dairy waste compost. . FEMS Microbial Ecology, Federation of European Microbiological Societies, Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 74, 316-322. doi: DOI:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.00960.x
  • Xu, L., Teng, Y.L, Li, Z.G, Norton, J.M, Luo, Y.M, (2010). Enhanced removal of polychlorinated biphenyls from alfalfa rhizosphere soil in a field study: the impact of a rhizobial inoculum. Science of the Total Environment, Elsevier B.D. , 408:5, 1007-1013. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.11.031
  • Yupanqui-Zaa, C.L, McLean, J.E, Dupont, R.R, Norton, J.M, Sorensen, D.L, (2010). Dechlorinating and iron reducing bacteria distribution in a TCE-contaminated aquifer. Groundwater Monitoring and Remediation, 30, 46-57.
  • Norton, J.M, Klotz, M.G, Stein, L.Y, Arp, D.J, Bottomley, P.J, (2008). Complete genome sequence of Nitrosospira multiformis, an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium from the soil environment.. Applied and Environmental Microbiology ASM, 74, 3559-3572. doi: doi:10.1128/AEM.02722-07
  • Henry, A., Doucette, W.J, Norton, J.M, Bugbee, B.G, (2007). Changes in crested wheatgrass root exudation caused by flood, drought, and nutrient stress. Journal of Environmental Quality, 36:3, 904-912.
  • Henry, A., Doucette, W.J, Norton, J.M, Bugbee, B.G, (2007). Changes in crested wheatgrass root exudation caused by flood, drought, and nutrient stress. Journal of environmental quality, 36:3, 904–912.
  • Stein, L.Y, Arp, D.J, Berube, P.M, Chain, P.S, Hauser, L., Jetten , M.S, Klotz, M.G, Larimer, F., Norton, J.M, (2007). Whole-genome analysis of the ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, Nitrosomonas eutropha C91:implications for niche adaptation. Environmental Microbiology, 9, 2993-3007.
  • Henry, A., Doucette, W.J, Norton, J.M, Bugbee, B.G, (2007). Changes in crested wheatgrass root exudation caused by flood, drought, and nutrient stress. J. Environmental Quality, 36, 904-912.
  • Henry, A., Doucette, W.J, Norton, J.M, Jones, S., Chard, J.K, Bugbee, B.G, (2006). An axenic plant culture system for optimal growth in long-term studies. Journal of Environmental Quality, 35:2, 590-598.
  • Henry, A., Doucette, W.J, Norton, J.M, Jones, S.B, Chard, J.K, Bugbee, B.G, (2006). An axenic plant culture system for optimal growth in long-term studies. Journal of environmental quality, 35:2, 590–598.
  • Habteselassie, M.Y, Miller, B., Thacker, S.G, Stark, J.M, Norton, J.M, (2006). Soil Nitrogen and Nutrient Dynamics after Repeated Application of Treated Dairy-waste. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 70, 1328-1337.
  • Henry, A., Doucette, W.J, Norton, J.M, Jones, S.B, Chard, J., Bugbee, B.G, (2006). An axenic culture system for optimal growth in long-term studies. Journal Environmental Quality, 35, 590-598.
  • Norton, J.M, (2006). Gross nitrogen transformations in an agricultural soil after repeated dairy-waste application. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 70, 1338-1348.
  • Habteselassie, M.Y, Stark, J.M, Miller, B., Thacker, S., Norton, J.M, (2006). Soil nitrogen and nutrient dynamics after repeated application of treated dairy-waste. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 70, 1328-1337.
  • Norton, J.M, (2006). The complete genome sequence of the marine, chemolithoautotrophic, ammonia- oxidizing bacterium Nitrosococcus oceani ATCC19707. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 72, 6299-6315.
  • Norton, J.M, (2004). Microbial nitrogen transformations in response to treated dairy waste in an agricultural soil. Soil Science Society America Journal, 68, 1867-1874.
  • Norton, J.M, (2004). Soil morphology and organic matter dynamics under cheatgrass and sagebrush-steppe plant communities. Journal of Arid Environments, 57, 445-466.
  • Norton, J.M, (2004). Urease-encoding genes in Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria. Applied Environmental Microbiology, 70, 2342-2348.
  • Norton, J.M, (2003). Complete genome sequence of the ammonia oxidizing bacterium and obligate chemolithoautotroph Nitrosomonas europaea. Journal of Bacteriology, 185, 2759:2773.
  • Norton, J.M, (2003). Contrasting responses of Intermountain West grasses tosoil nitrogen. Journal of Range Management, 56, 282-290.
  • Norton, J.M, (2003). Nitrogen effects on seed germination and seedling growth. J. Range Management, 56, 646-653.
  • Norton, J.M, (2002). Diversity of ammonia monooxygenase operon in autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. Archives of Microbiology, 177, 139-149.
  • Norton, J.M, (2000). Effect of long-term, biennial, fall-applied ammonia and nitrapyrin on soil nitrification. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. Journal, 64, 228-234.
  • Norton, J.M, (2000). Microbial control of nitrate concentrations in an agricultural soil treated with dairy waste compost or ammonium fertilizer. Soil Biology Biochemistry, 32, 1453-1457.
  • Norton, J.M, (1999). Aeration and moisture effects during windrow composting on the N fertilizer value of composts. Applied Soil Ecology, 11, 17-28.
  • Norton, J.M, (1999). The amo operon in marine, ammonia-oxidizing gamma proteobacteria. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 180, 21-29.

Professional Journal

  • Bollmann, A., Sedlacek, C.J, Norton, J.M, (2024). Metagenome-assembled genomes of two nitrifying microorganisms from the freshwater archaeal ammonia-oxidizing enrichment culture BO1. Microbiology Resource Announcements

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Technical Reports

Other Reports

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Publications | Other

Other

  • Norton, J.M, (2015). Nitrosospira briensis C-128, complete genome. GenBank/ National Center for Biotechnology Information
  • Norton, J.M, J., (2014). Nitrosospira briensis C-128, whole genome shotgun sequencing project.
  • Norton, J.M, (2005). Functional diversity in autotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria from agricultural soils. MS Thesis Dept. of Biology *
  • Norton, J.M, (2005). Shifts in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria community structure and nitrogen transformations with dairy waste application in an agricultural soil. PhD. Dissertation Dept. Plants, Soils and Biometeorology *
  • Norton, J.M, (2003). Nitrosococcus oceani ure gene cluster, complete sequence. GenBank accession AF417006 *
  • Norton, J.M, (2003). Nitrosospira briensis urea amidohydrolase alpha subunit (ureC) gene, complete cds. GenBank accession AY158897 *
  • Norton, J.M, (2003). Nitrosospira multiformis urease subunit C (ureC) gene, complete cds. Gene Bank Accession AY168418 *

An asterisk (*) at the end of a publication indicates that it has not been peer-reviewed.

Teaching

PSC 5560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2023
PSC 5530, 6530 - Soil Health and Fertility (QI), Spring 2023
, Fall 2022
PSC 5310 - Soil Microbiology, Fall 2022
PSC 5530, 6530 - Soil Health and Fertility (QI), Spring 2022
PSC 5560, 6560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2021
PSC 5530, 6530 - Soil Health and Fertility (QI), Spring 2021
PSC 5530, 6530 - Soil Health and Fertility (QI), Spring 2020
PSC 5560, 6560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2019
PSC 5530, 6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2019
PSC 5560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2017
PSC 5530, 6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2017
PSC 5530, 6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2016
PSC 5560,6560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2015
PSC 5560,6560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2015
PSC 5530/6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavaibaility, Spring 2015
PSC 5530,6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2015
PSC 5310 - Soil Microbiology, Fall 2014
PSC 5530,6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2014
PSC 4820 - Challenges in Climate Change and Energy, Fall 2013
PSC 5560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2013
PSC 5530,6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2013
PSC 4820 - Challenges in Climate Change and Energy, Fall 2012
PSC 5560,6560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2012
PSC 5530,6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2012
PSC 5560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2011
PSC 6560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2011
PSC 5560 - SOIL ANALYSIS, Spring 2011
PSC 6530 - SOIL NUTR BIOAVAIL, Spring 2011
PSC 5530 - SOIL NUTR BIOAVAIL (QI), Spring 2011
PSC 5530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2011
PSC 6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2011
PSC 5560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2010
PSC 6560 - Analytical Techniques for the Soil Environment, Spring 2010
PSC 5530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2010
PSC 6530 - Soils and Plant Nutrient Bioavailability, Spring 2010

Extension

Collaborative research on microbial community structure in bioremediation, - Ongoing
Stability of weedy plant communities in western rangelands, - Ongoing

Graduate Students Mentored

Phearen Miller, Plants, Soils, and Climate, January 2019
Michael Allred, Plants, Soils, and Climate, August 2018 - December 2018
Avneet Kakkar, Plants, Soils, and Climate, December 2014 - December 2017
Yang Ouyang, Plants, Soils, and Climate, August 2012 - December 2016
Brianne Loya, Plants, Soils, and Climate, January 2012 - May 2012
Mussie Habteselassie, Plants, Soils, and ClimateDecember 2005
Teresa Koper, BiologyDecember 2005
Jose Javier Alzerreca, Plants, Soils, and Climate, September 1996 - May 1999
Wei Shi, Plants, Soils, and Climate, August 1994 - May 1998