Assist. Prof. Dr. Liang Xiao | Low-Carbon | Research Excellence Award
Zhaoqing University | China
Assist. Prof. Dr. Liang Xiao is an Associate Professor at Zhaoqing University whose research advances the scientific understanding of soil carbon sequestration and soil fertility improvement through innovative, sustainable approaches grounded in soil science and environmental biogeochemistry. His work has contributed significantly to the development of new carbon-smart agricultural strategies, highlighted by the pioneering creation of an in-field, in situ oxy-exposure carbonization technology capable of producing biochar through a self-limited oxygen and water-quenched high-temperature pyrolysis mechanism. This breakthrough offers a practical pathway for farmers to produce low-cost biochar while enhancing soil quality and long-term carbon storage. Assist. Prof. Dr. Liang Xiao has also elucidated the sources and accumulation patterns of soil organic carbon in pond-field systems, providing new insight into carbon cycling in flooded agricultural landscapes. His research extends into plant-soil-microbe interactions, revealing the mechanistic role of microbial exopolysaccharides in mediating flood tolerance in maize seedlings, thereby bridging soil fertility management and crop resilience. His scholarly contributions span multiple high-quality journals, covering topics such as waterlogged carbon dynamics, biochar engineering, soil aggregation processes, nutrient-use efficiency, salinity mitigation, and the life-cycle environmental impacts of aquaculture systems. Through interdisciplinary collaborations and active participation in scientific societies, he promotes soil science literacy and supports evidence-based environmental stewardship. His research continues to shape emerging strategies for climate-resilient agriculture, regenerative soil management, and sustainable resource utilization.
Featured Publications
Liang, X., Chen, S., Han, F., Wang, T., Li, Y., Li, W., Yuan, G., & Wu, J. (2025). Unveiling carbon dynamics in year-round waterlogged pond fields: Insights into soil organic carbon accumulation and sustainable management. Carbon Research.
Liang, X., Li, W., Wu, J., Li, Y., Yuan, G., Wang, Y., Xu, Q., Feng, L., Hao, X., & Han, F. (2025). Enhanced carbon retention in Litchi biochar via in-situ limewater coating and self-limited oxygen pyrolysis regulated by water-fire interaction. Biochar.
Liang, X., Xie, X., Larson, S. L., Ballard, J. H., Zhang, Q., Nie, J., Zhang, H., Yuan, G., & Han, F. (2025). Exopolysaccharides from Rhizobium tropici improve flooding tolerance of Zea mays seedlings: Insights from a controlled pot study. Plant and Soil.
Liang, X., Li, Y., Li, W., Yuan, G., Wu, J., Han, F., & Chen, M. (2025). Co-applications of biochar and reduced fertilizer improved soil fertility, nitrogen use efficiency, and yield of Lycium chinense Mill: A two-year field trial. Journal of Soil Science and Plant Nutrition.
Liang, X., Yuan, Q., Li, W., Wu, J., Li, Y., Chen, S., Yuan, G., Wang, T., Ling, J., & Han, F. (2025). Carbon emissions and economic performance of high-density versus traditional Ctenopharyngodon idella aquaculture: Evidence from life cycle assessment methodology and field measurements. Aquaculture International.