Research

Research Interests

Please note: I am not accepting graduate students into my research program at this time.

For the past 15 years, my focus has been on college student success. My academic research interests include the fate of nitrogen and phosphorous in soils amended with biosolids, microbial ecology and activity in agro-ecosystems, and the fate of hormones from dairy wastes.

Refereed Publications

  • Ritchey, E.L., D.D. Tyler, M.E. Essington, M.D. Mullen, and A.M. Saxton. 2015. Nitrogen Rate, Cover Crop, and Tillage Practice Alter Soil Chemical Properties. Agronomy Journal, 107:1259-1268.
  • Keating, M., V. Bhavsar, H. Strobel, L. Grabau, M. Mullen, and M. Williams. 2010. Engaging Agriculture and Non-Agriculture Students in an Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Sustainable Agriculture. NACTA Journal, 54(4): 24-29.
  • Ferris, D.R., J.A. Hattey, and M.D. Mullen. 2010. The Soil Science Profession: Investment, Vestment and Validation. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 74: 453-460.
  • Law, D.M., V. Bhavsar, J. Snyder, M.D. Mullen and M. Williams. 2008. Evaluating solarization and cultivated fallow for Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) control and nitrogen cycling on an organic farm.  Biological Agriculture and Horticulture, 26:175-191.
  • Devine, W.D., Tyler, D.D., Mullen, M.D., Houston, A.E., Joslin, J.D., Hodges, D.G., Tolbert, V.R. and Walsh, M.E. 2005. Conversion from an American Sycamore (platanus occidentalis) biomass crop to a no-till corn (Zea mays L.) system: crop yields and management implications.  Soil and Tillage Research, 87:101-111.
  • Devine, W.D., M.D. Mullen, D.D. Tyler, A.E. Houston, J.D. Joslin, D.G. Hodges, V.R. Tolbert, and M.E. Walsh. Conversion from a Sycamore Biomass Crop to a No-till Corn System: Effects on Soils.  Soil Science Society of American Journal,  68: 225-233.
  • Raman, D.R., E.L. Williams, A.C. Layton, R.T. Burns, J.P. Easter, A.S. Daugherty, M.D. Mullen, and G.S. Sayler. Estrogen Content of Dairy and Swine Wastes.  Environmental Science and Technology, 38: 3567-3573.
  • Abbott, D.E., M.E. Essington, M.D. Mullen, and J.T. Ammons. 2001. Fly ash and lime-stabilized biosolid mixtures in mine spoil reclamation: simulated weathering.  Journal of Environmental Quality, 30: 608-616.
  • Chang, Y-J., A. K. M. Anwar Hussain, J. R. Stephens, M.D. Mullen, D. C. White and A. D. Peacock.   Impact of herbicides on the abundance and structure of indigenous β-subgroup ammonia oxidizer communities in soil microcosms.  Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 20:2462-2468.
  • Howard, D.D., C.O. Gwathmey, M.E. Essington, R.K. Roberts, and M.D. Mullen. 2001. Nitrogen fertilization of no-till cotton produced on loess-derived soils. Agronomy Journal, 93:157-163.
  • Kubikova E., J.L. Moore, B.H. Ownley, M.D. Mullen, and R.M. Augé. 2001. Mycorrhizal impact on osmotic adjustment in Ocimum basilicum during a lethal drying episode. Journal of Plant Physiology 158: 1227-1230.
  • Marshall, S.B., D. Mullen, M.L. Cabrera, C.W. Wood, L.C. Braun, and E.A. Guertal. 2001. Nitrogen budget for fescue pastures fertilized with broiler litter in Major Land Resource Areas of the southeastern U.S.  Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems, 59:75-83.
  • Peacock, A.D., M.D. Mullen, D.B. Ringelberg, D.D. Tyler, D.B. Hedrick, P.M. Gale, and D.C. White. 2001. Soil Microbial Community Response to Dairy Manure or Ammonium Nitrate Applications. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 33:1011-1019.
  • Raman, D. R., A. C. Layton, L. B. Moody, J. P. Easter, G. S. Sayler, R. T. Burns, and M. D. Mullen. 2001. Degradation of estrogens in dairy waste solids: Storage methods and temperature effects. Transactions of the American Society of Agricultural Engineeers, 44: 1881-1888.
  • Gale, P.M., D. Mullen, M. Kirchner, B.N. Duck, D.D. Tyler, C. Cieslik and  J. McClure. 2000. Phosphorus Distribution and Availability in Response to Dairy Manure Applications.  Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, 31:553-565.
  • Marshall, S.B., L. Cabrera, C.W. Wood, L.C. Braun, M.D. Mullen and E.A. Guertal. 1999. Denitrification from Fescue Pastures Fertilized with Broiler Litter.  Journal of Environmental Quality, 28:1978-1983.
  • Mullins, C.A., R.A. Straw, B. Pitt, Jr., D.O. Onks, M.D. Mullen, J. Reynolds, and M. Kirchner.   Response of selected sweet corn cultivars to nitrogen fertilization.  HortTechnology,  9:32-35.
  • Marshall, S.B., C.W. Wood, L.C. Braun, M.L. Cabrera, M.D. Mullen, and E.A. Guertal. 1998. Ammonia Volatilization from Tall Fescue Pastures Fertilized with Broiler Litter. Journal of Environmental Quality, 27:1125-1129.
  • Mullen, M.D., C.G. Melhorn, D.D. Tyler, and B.N. Duck. Biological and biochemical soil properties in no-till corn with different cover crops.  Soil and Water Conservation, 53:219-224
  • Hartel, P.G., J.J. Fuhrmann, W.F. Johnson, Jr., E. Lawrence, C.S. Lopez, M.D. Mullen, H.D. Skipper, T.E. Staley, D.C. Wolf, A.G. Wollum II, and D.A. Zuberer.   Survival of a lacZY-containing Pseudomonas putida strain under stressful abiotic soil conditions.  Soil Science Society of America Journal, 58:770-776.
  • Howard, D.D. and M.D. Mullen. Evaluation of in-furrow and banded starter N-P-K nutrient combinations for no-tillage corn production on soils fertilized with four rates of phosphate and potash.  Journal of Fertilizer Issues, 8:34-39.
  • Mullen, M.D., D.W. Israel, and A.G. Wollum II. 1988. Effects of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) phosphorus nutrition on nodulation and dinitrogen fixation. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 54:2387-2392.
  • Mullen, M.D., D.C. Wolf, T.J. Beveridge, and G.W. Bailey. 1992. Sorption of heavy metals by the soil fungi Aspergillus niger and Mucor rouxii.  Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 24:129-135.
  • Mullen, M.D., D.C. Wolf, F.G. Ferris, T.J. Beveridge, C.A. Fleming, and G.W. Bailey.   Bacterial sorption of heavy metals.  Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 55:3143-3149.
  • Mullen, M.D. and A.G. Wollum, II. 1989. Variation among different cultures of Bradyrhizobium japonicum strains USDA 110 and 122. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 35:583-588.

Peer-Reviewed Book Chapters (all invited)

  • Tanaka, K., M. Williams, K. Jacobsen, and M. Mullen. 2011. Sustainably Growing Farmers of the Future: Undergraduate Curriculum in Sustainable Agriculture at the University of Kentucky.” In K. Bartels and K. Parker (eds.), Teaching Sustainability and Teaching Sustainably in Higher Education. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing. 97-114.
  • Mullen, M.D. 2004. Phosphorus in soils: Biological interactions. In, (D. Hillel, ed.), Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment.  Elsevier Ltd., Oxford, UK.  3: 210-215.
  • Mullen, M.D. 2004. Transformations of phosphorus and other elements.   In, (D. Sylvia et al., ed.) Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology, 2e.  Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle, NJ.  Pp. 463-488.
  • Mullen, M.D.  1998.  Transformations of other elements. In, (D. Sylvia et al., ed.) Principles and Applications of Soil Microbiology.  Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle, NJ. pp. 369-386.

Refereed Conference Proceedings

  • Mullen, M.D., S. Herrick, R. Jordan, K. Lewis and T. Thomas. 2011. A Multi-faceted Model to Impact Retention: Successful Initiatives at the University of Kentucky. Seventh Annual National Symposium on Student Retention, Charleston, SC, Oct. 31 – Nov. 2.
  • Devine, W., M. Mullen, D. Tyler, A. Houston, D. Joslin, D. Hodges, V. Tolbert and M. Walsh.   Integrating woody biomass crops and row crops in rotation. II. Effects on soils. In Transactions of the 17th World Congress of Soil Science: Paper 785, pages 1-9.  Bangkok, Thailand, Aug. 14-21, 2002.
  • Devine, W., D. Tyler, M. Mullen, A. Houston, D. Joslin, D. Hodges, V. Tolbert and M. Walsh.   Integrating woody biomass crops and row crops in rotation. I. Management implications. In Transactions of the 17th World Congress of Soil Science: Paper 786, pages 1-9.  Bangkok, Thailand, Aug. 14-21, 2002.
  • Tyler, D., E. Ritchey, M. Essington, M. Mullen, and A. Saxton. 2002. Cover crop and tillage effects on soil acidity and liming.  In Proceedings of the 5th Annual National Soil Conservation Tillage Cotton and Rice Conference: 20-21.  Tunica, MS Jan. 24-25, 2002.
  • Mahajanashetti, S.B., B.C. English, R.K. Roberts, M. Mullen, and S. Slinsky. 1998. An economic analysis of carryover effects of manure nitrogen on corn silage. In, Animal Production Systems and the Environment, Proceedings Volume II,  Iowa State University Extension Service, July 19-22 1998, pp 717-722.
  • Bandaranayake, W.M., D.D. Tyler, A.E. Houston, M. Shiers, B.C. Bock, J.D. Joslin, F.C. Thornton, and M.D. Mullen.   Vegetative cover effects on infiltration and other soil physical parameters in a no-till loess soil.  In Proceedings of the Seventh National Bioenergy Conference II:785-792.  The Southern Regional Biomass Energy Program,   Nashville, TN  Sept. 15-20, 1996.
  • Mullen, M.D., K.E. Simmons, D.D. Tyler, B.N. Duck, M.B. Daniels, G.V. Wilson, and J.K. Bernard. Water quality in no-tillage systems with no prior manure applications.  In, (Patrick K. Bollich, ed.) Proceedings of the 1993 Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture.  Monroe, Louisiana, June 15-17, 1993.  Louisiana State University Agricultural Experiment Station.  pp. 135-140.
  • Mullen, M.D., D.D. Tyler, B.N. Duck, and G.V. Wilson.   Impacts of short-term  manure applications on silage yields, water quality, and soil N and P concentrations.  Proceedings of the 1993 Southern Soil Fertility Conference.  Memphis, TN, October 12-13, 1993.  Sam Roberts Noble Foundation, Inc., Ardmore, OK.  pp 9-15.
  • Simmons, K.E., M.B. Daniels, M.D. Mullen, D.D. Tyler, B.N. Duck, G.V. Wilson, and J.K. Bernard.   Water quality in no-tillage systems following long-term manure applications.  In, (Patrick K. Bollich, ed.) Proceedings of the 1993 Southern Conservation Tillage Conference for Sustainable Agriculture.  Monroe, Louisiana, June 15-17, 1993.  Louisiana State University Agricultural Experiment Station.  pp. 141-144.
  • Mullen, M.D., and D.D. Howard.   Horizontal and vertical distributions of soil C, N, P, K and pH in continuous no-tillage corn production.  In, M.D.  Mullen and B.N. Duck (eds.), Proceedings of the 1992 Southern Conservation Tillage Conference: Conservation Tillage for Profitable Farming and Environmental Quality.  Special Publication 92-01, Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  July 1992.  pp. 6-10.

Research Bulletins and Reports

  • Coburn, C.B., R.D. Hudgens, and M.D. Mullen.   Environmental effects of engine coolant additives. In, Engine Coolants and Cooling Systems,  Publication SP-1456, SAE Technical Paper Series.  Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale PA
  • Mullen, M.D., and B.N. Duck, editors.   Proceedings of the 1992 Southern Conservation Tillage Conference: Conservation Tillage for Profitable Farming and Environmental Quality.  Special Publication 92-01, Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, Institute of Agriculture, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  137 pp.
  • Mullen, M.D., T.J. Beveridge, F.G. Ferris, D.C. Wolf, and G.W. Bailey. Sorption of heavy metals by intact microorganisms, cell walls, and clay-wall composites.  Environmental Research Brief EPA/600/M-90/004, July 1990.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, GA.
  • Tyler, D.D., M.D. Mullen, and B.N. Duck.   Soil management research in Tennessee.  Tennessee Farm and Home Science.  No. 172, Fall 1994. p. 10-13