Andy Neal

Name	Andy Neal
Job title	Senior Research Scientist - Soil Microbiology
Email address	andy.neal@rothamsted.ac.uk
Department	Net Zero and Resilient Farming
Research cluster	SAS-H: Soil Biology
ORCID	https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4225-1396
Preferred citation	Neal, A. L.
Office	North Wyke

Research outputs

Soil as an Extended Composite Phenotype of the Microbial Metagenome

Neal, A. L., Bacq-Labreuil, A., Zhang, X., Clark, I. M., Coleman, K., Mooney, S. J., Ritz, K. and Crawford, J. W. 2020. Soil as an Extended Composite Phenotype of the Microbial Metagenome. Scientific Reports. 10, p. 10649. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-67631-0

Arable soil nitrogen dynamics reflect organic inputs via the extended composite phenotype

Neal, A. L., Barrat, H., Bacq-Lebreuil, A., Qin, Y., Zhang, X., Takahashi, T., Rubio, V., Hughes, D. J., Clark, I. M., Cardenas, L. M., Gardiner, L., Krishna, R., Glendining, M. J., Ritz, K., Mooney, S. and Crawford, J. W. 2023. Arable soil nitrogen dynamics reflect organic inputs via the extended composite phenotype. Nature Food. 4, pp. 51-60. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-022-00671-z

Microbiome Aggregated Traits and Assembly are More Sensitive to Soil Management than Diversity

Neal, A. L., Hughes, D. J., Clark, I. M., Jansson, J. K. and Hirsch, P. R. 2021. Microbiome Aggregated Traits and Assembly are More Sensitive to Soil Management than Diversity. mSystems. 6 (3), pp. e01056-20. https://doi.org/10.1128/mSystems.01056-20

Effects of cropping systems upon the three-dimensional architecture of soil systems are highly contingent upon texture

Baco-Labreuil, A., Crawford, J. W., Mooney, S. J., Neal, A. L., Akkari, E., Mcauliffe, C., Zhang, X. X., Redmile-Gordon, M. A. and Ritz, K. 2018. Effects of cropping systems upon the three-dimensional architecture of soil systems are highly contingent upon texture. Geoderma. 332, pp. 73-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.07.002

Phylogenetic distribution, biogeography and the effects of land management upon bacterial non-specific Acid phosphatase Gene diversity and abundance

Neal, A. L., Blackwell, M. S. A., Akkari, E., Clark, I. M., Hirsch, P. R. and Guyomar, C. 2018. Phylogenetic distribution, biogeography and the effects of land management upon bacterial non-specific Acid phosphatase Gene diversity and abundance. Plant and Soil. 427, pp. 175-189. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3301-2

Reduction effect of individual N, P, K fertilization on antibiotic resistance genes in reclaimed water irrigated soil

Cui, E., Fan, X., Hu, C., Neal, A. L., Cui, B., Liu, C. and Gao, F. 2022. Reduction effect of individual N, P, K fertilization on antibiotic resistance genes in reclaimed water irrigated soil . Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 231, p. 113185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113185

The molecular size continuum of soil organic phosphorus and its chemical associations

Reusser, J. E., Tamburini, F., Neal, A. L., Verel, R., Frossard, E. and McLaren, T. I. 2022. The molecular size continuum of soil organic phosphorus and its chemical associations . Geoderma. 412, p. 115716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2022.115716

Land-use influences phosphatase gene microdiversity in soils

Neal, A. L., Rossmann, M., Brearley, C., Akkari, E., Guyomar, C., Clark, I. M., Allen, E. and Hirsch, P. R. 2017. Land-use influences phosphatase gene microdiversity in soils. Environmental Microbiology. 19 (7), p. 2740–2753. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.13778

Amendment soil with biochar to control antibiotic resistance genes under unconventional water resources irrigation : Proceed with caution

Cui, E-P., Gao, F., Liu, Y., Fan, X-Y., Li, Z-Y., Du, Z-J., Hu, C. and Neal, A. L. 2018. Amendment soil with biochar to control antibiotic resistance genes under unconventional water resources irrigation : Proceed with caution. Environmental Pollution. 240, pp. 475-484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.143

Crop Type Exerts Greater Influence Upon Rhizosphere Phosphohydrolase Gene Abundance and Phylogenetic Diversity than Phosphorus Fertilization.

Neal, A. L., McLaren, T., Campolino, M. L., Hughes, D. J., Coelho, A. M., De Paula Lana, U. G., Gomes, E. A. and De Sousa, S. M. 2020. Crop Type Exerts Greater Influence Upon Rhizosphere Phosphohydrolase Gene Abundance and Phylogenetic Diversity than Phosphorus Fertilization. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 97 (4), p. fiab033. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiab033

Relationship between soil carbon sequestration and the ability of soil aggregates to transport dissolved oxygen

Zhang, X., Gregory, A. S., Whalley, W. R., Coleman, K., Neal, A. L., Bacq-Labreuil, A., Mooney, S. J., Crawford, J. W., Soga, K. and Illangasekare, T. H. 2021. Relationship between soil carbon sequestration and the ability of soil aggregates to transport dissolved oxygen. Geoderma. 403, p. 115370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2021.115370

The effects of long-term fertilizations on soil hydraulic properties vary with scales

Zhang, X., Neal, A. L., Crawford, J. W., Bacq-Labreuil, A., Akkari, E. and Rickard, W. 2021. The effects of long-term fertilizations on soil hydraulic properties vary with scales. Journal of Hydrology. 539, p. 125890. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2020.125890

Editorial to the Thematic Topic Towards a more sustainable agriculture through managing soil microbiomes

Babin, D., Leoni, C., Neal, A. L., Sessitsch, A. and Smalla, K. 2021. Editorial to the Thematic Topic Towards a more sustainable agriculture through managing soil microbiomes. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 97 (8), p. fiab094. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiab094

Cropping system exerts stronger influence on antibiotic resistance gene assemblages in greenhouse soils than reclaimed wastewater irrigation

Liu, Y., Neal, A. L., Zhang, X., Fan, H., Liu, H. and Li, Z. 2022. Cropping system exerts stronger influence on antibiotic resistance gene assemblages in greenhouse soils than reclaimed wastewater irrigation . Journal Of Hazardous Materials. 425, p. 128046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128046

A nation that rebuilds its soils rebuilds itself- an engineer’s perspective

Johnson, K. L., Gray, N. D., Stone, W., Kelly, B. F. J., Fitzsimons, M., Clarke, C., Blake, L., Chivasa, S., Mtambanengwe, F., Mapfumo, P., Baker, A., Beckmann, S., Dominelli, L., Neal, A. L. and Gwandu, T. 2022. A nation that rebuilds its soils rebuilds itself- an engineer’s perspective. Soil Security. 7, p. 100060. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soisec.2022.100060

Causal Modeling of Soil Processes for Improved Generalization

Neal, A. L., Sharma, S., Crawford, J. W., Kiciman, E., Malvar, S., Rodriguez, E. and Chandra, R. 2022. Causal Modeling of Soil Processes for Improved Generalization. NeurIPS 2022. New Orleans Conference Center 28 Nov 2022

Abundance and phylogenetic distribution of eight key enzymes of the phosphorus biogeochemical cycle in grassland soils.

Garaycochea, S., Altier, N., Leoni, C., Neal, A. L. and Romero, H. 2022. Abundance and phylogenetic distribution of eight key enzymes of the phosphorus biogeochemical cycle in grassland soils. Environmental Microbiology. https://doi.org/10.1111/1758-2229.13159

An overlooked mechanism underlying the attenuated temperature response of soil heterotrophic respiration

Zhang, X., Whalley, P. A., Gregory, A. S., Whalley, W. R., Coleman, K., Neal, A. L., Mooney, S. J., Soga, K. and Illangasekare, T. H. 2022. An overlooked mechanism underlying the attenuated temperature response of soil heterotrophic respiration. Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 19 (192), p. 20220276. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2022.0276

Evolution of the transport properties of soil aggregates and their relationship with soil organic carbon following land use changes

Wang, F., Zhang, X., Neal, A. L., Crawford, J. W., Mooney, S. and Bacq-Lebreuil, A. 2022. Evolution of the transport properties of soil aggregates and their relationship with soil organic carbon following land use changes. Soil & Tillage Research. 215, p. 105226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105226

Influence of organic matter on soil properties: by how much can organic carbon be increased in arable soils and can changes be measured?

Powlson, D. S. and Neal, A. L. 2021. Influence of organic matter on soil properties: by how much can organic carbon be increased in arable soils and can changes be measured? Proceedings of the International Fertiliser Society. 862, pp. 1-32.

Enterotype-like microbiome stratification as emergent structure in complex adaptive systems: A mathematical model

Martin, M. A., Crawford, J. W., Neal, A. L. and Garcia-Gutierrez-Baez, C. 2021. Enterotype-like microbiome stratification as emergent structure in complex adaptive systems: A mathematical model. Fractals: Complex Geometry, Patterns, and Scaling in Nature and Society. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218348X21502108

Poor competitiveness of Bradyrhizobium in pigeon pea root colonization in Indian soils

Chalasani, D., Basu, A., Pullabhotla, S. V. S . R. N., Jorrin, B., Neal, A. L., Poole, P. S., Podile, A. R. and Tkacz, A. 2021. Poor competitiveness of Bradyrhizobium in pigeon pea root colonization in Indian soils . mBio. 12 (4), pp. e00423-21. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.00423-21

Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms

Rivero, M. J., Lopez-Villalobos, N., Evans, A., Berndt, A., Cartmill, A., Neal, A. L., McLaren, A., Farruggia, A., Mignolet, C., Chadwick, D. R., Styles, D., McCracken, D., Busch, D., Martin, G. B., Fleming, H. R., Sheridan, H., Gibbons, J., Merbold, L., Eisler, M., Lambe, N., Rovira, P., Harris, P., Murphy, P., Vercoe, P. E., Williams, P., Machado, R., Takahashi, T., Puech, T., Boland, T., Ayala, W. and Lee, M. R. F. 2021. Key traits for ruminant livestock across diverse production systems in the context of climate change: perspectives from a global platform of research farms. Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 33 (2), pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD20205

Improved sensitivity, accuracy and prediction provided by a high-performance liquid chromatography screen for the isolation of phytase-harbouring organisms from environmental samples

Rix, G. D., Todd, J. D., Neal, A. L. and Brearley, C. A. 2020. Improved sensitivity, accuracy and prediction provided by a high-performance liquid chromatography screen for the isolation of phytase-harbouring organisms from environmental samples. Microbial Biotechnology. 14 (4), pp. 1409-1421. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.13733

Significant structural evolution of a long-term fallow soil in response to agricultural management practices requires at least 10 years after conversion

Bacq-Labreuil, A., Neal, A. L., Crawford, J. W., Mooney, S. J., Akkari, E., Zhang, X., Clark, I. M. and Ritz, K. 2020. Significant structural evolution of a long-term fallow soil in response to agricultural management practices requires at least 10 years after conversion. European Journal of Soil Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.13037

Soil structure, nutrient status and water availability shape Uruguayan grassland prokaryotic communities

Garaycochea, S., Romero, H., Beyhaut, E., Neal, A. L. and Altier, N. 2020. Soil structure, nutrient status and water availability shape Uruguayan grassland prokaryotic communities. FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 96 (12), p. fiaa207. https://doi.org/10.1093/femsec/fiaa207

Development of a reproducible method of analysis of iron, zinc and phosphorus in vegetables digests by SEC-ICP-MS

Dellaquila, C., Neal, A. L. and Shewry, P. R. 2019. Development of a reproducible method of analysis of iron, zinc and phosphorus in vegetables digests by SEC-ICP-MS . Food Chemistry. 308 (2020), p. 125652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125652

Estimation of the iron bioavailability in green vegetables using an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell model

Rodriguez-Ramiro, I., Dellaquila, C., Ward, J. L., Neal, A. L., Bruggaber, S. F. A, Shewry, P. R. and Fairweather-Tail, S. 2019. Estimation of the iron bioavailability in green vegetables using an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell model. Food Chemistry. 301 (15 December), p. 125292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2019.125292

Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) affects soil structure differently depending on soil texture

Bacq-Labreuil, A., Crawford, J. W., Mooney, S., Neal, A. L. and Ritz, K. 2019. Phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) affects soil structure differently depending on soil texture. Plant and Soil. 441 (1-2), p. 543–554. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-019-04144-4

Cover crop species have contrasting influence upon soil structural genesis and microbial community phenotype

Bacq-Labreuil, A., Crawford, J. W., Mooney, S., Neal, A. L. and Ritz, K. 2019. Cover crop species have contrasting influence upon soil structural genesis and microbial community phenotype. Scientific Reports. 9 (7473). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43937-6

Increasing livestock wastewater application in alternate-furrow irrigation reduces nitrification gene abundance but not nitrification rate in rhizosphere

Lui, Y., Neal, A. L., Zhang, X., Cui, E., Gao, F., Fan, X., Hu, C. and Li, Z. 2019. Increasing livestock wastewater application in alternate-furrow irrigation reduces nitrification gene abundance but not nitrification rate in rhizosphere. Biology And Fertility Of Soils. pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00374-019-01361-y

Calcium Exerts a Strong Influence upon Phosphohydrolase Gene Abundance and Phylogenetic Diversity in Soil

Neal, A. L. and Glendining, M. L. 2019. Calcium Exerts a Strong Influence upon Phosphohydrolase Gene Abundance and Phylogenetic Diversity in Soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 139 (December), p. 107613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2019.107613

Variations in soil and plant-microbiome composition with different quality irrigation waters and biochar supplementation

Cui, E., Fan, X., Li, Z., Liu, Y., Neal, A. L., Hu, C. and Gao, F. 2019. Variations in soil and plant-microbiome composition with different quality irrigation waters and biochar supplementation. Applied Soil Ecology. 142, pp. 99-109. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2019.04.026

Effects of cropping systems upon the three-dimensional architecture of soil systems are modulated by texture.

Bacq-Labreuila, A., Crawford, J. W., Mooney, S. J., Neal, A. L., Akkari, E., McAuliffe, C., Zhang, X., Redmile-Gordon, M. A. and Ritz, K. 2018. Effects of cropping systems upon the three-dimensional architecture of soil systems are modulated by texture. Geoderma. 332, pp. 73-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.07.002

Organic phosphorus in the terrestrial environment: a perspective on the state of the art and future priorities

George, T. S., Giles, C. D., Menezes-Blackburn, D., Condron, L. M., Gama-Rodrigues, A. C., Jaisi, D., Lang, F., Neal, A. L., Stutter, M. I., Almeida, D. S., Bol, R., Cabugoa, K. G., Celi, L., Cotner, J. B., Feng, G., Goll, D. S., Hallama, M., Krueger, J., Plassard, C., Rosling, A., Darch, T., Fraser, T., Giesler, R., Richardson, A. E., Tamburini, F., Shand, C. A., Lumsdon, D. G., Zhang, H., Blackwell, M. S. A., Wearing, C., Mezeli, M. M., Almas, A. R., Audette, Y., Bertrand, I., Beyhaut, E., Boitt, G., Bradshaw, N., Brearley, C. A., Bruulsema, T. W., Ciais, P., Cozzolino, V., Duran, P. C., Mora, M. L., De Menezes, A. B., Dodd, R. J., Dunfield, K., Engl, C., Frazao, P. C., Garland, G., Gonzalez Jimenez, J. L., Graca, J., Granger, S. J., Harrison, A. F., Heuck, C., Hou, E. Q., Johnes, P. J., Kaiser, K., Kjaer, H. A., Klumpp, E., Lamb, A. L., Macintosh, K .A., Mackay, E. B., McGrath, J., McIntryre, C., McLaren, T., Meszaros, E., Missong, A., Mooshammer, M., Negron, C. P., Nelson, L. A., Pfahler, V., Poblete-Grant, P., Randall, M., Seguel, A., Seth, K., Smith , A. C., Smits, M. M., Sobaro, J. A., Spohn, M., Tawaraya, K., Tibbett, M., Voroney, P., Wallander, H., Wang, L., Wasaki, J. and Haygarth, P. M. 2018. Organic phosphorus in the terrestrial environment: a perspective on the state of the art and future priorities. Plant and Soil. 427 (1-2), pp. 191-208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-017-3391-x

Reducing water use by alternate-furrow irrigation with livestock wastewater reduces antibiotic resistance gene abundance in the rhizosphere but not in the non-rhizosphere

Liu, Y., Neal, A. L., Cui, E., Zhang, X., Li, Z., Xiao, Y., Du, Z., Gao, F., Fan, X. and Hu, C. 2018. Reducing water use by alternate-furrow irrigation with livestock wastewater reduces antibiotic resistance gene abundance in the rhizosphere but not in the non-rhizosphere . Science of the Total Environment. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.101

Effects of cover crops on phosphatase activity in a clay arable soil in the UK

Reynolds, S. H., Ritz, K., Crotty, F. V., Stoate, C., West, H. and Neal, A. L. 2017. Effects of cover crops on phosphatase activity in a clay arable soil in the UK. Association of Applied Biologists (AAB).

Nanoparticles within WWTP sludges have minimal impact on leachate quality and soil microbial community structure and function

Durenkamp, M., Pawlett, M., Ritz, K., Harris, J. A., Neal, A. L. and McGrath, S. P. 2016. Nanoparticles within WWTP sludges have minimal impact on leachate quality and soil microbial community structure and function. Environmental Pollution. 211 (April), pp. 399-405. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.12.063

Growing innovations for the bioeconomy

Karp, A., Beale, M. H., Beaudoin, F., Eastmond, P. J., Neal, A. L., Shield, I. F., Townsend, B. J. and Dobermann, A. 2015. Growing innovations for the bioeconomy. Nature Plants. 1, p. 15193. https://doi.org/10.1038/nplants.2015.193

Distribution and speciation of iron and zinc in grain of two wheat genotypes

Eagling, T., Neal, A. L., McGrath, S. P., Fairweather-Tait, S., Shewry, P. R. and Zhao, F-J. 2014. Distribution and speciation of iron and zinc in grain of two wheat genotypes. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry - JAFC. 62, pp. 708-716. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf403331p

Systemic defense priming by Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in maize depends on benzoxazinoid exudation from the roots

Neal, A. L. and Ton, J. 2013. Systemic defense priming by Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in maize depends on benzoxazinoid exudation from the roots. Plant Signaling and Behavior. 8, p. e22655. https://doi.org/10.4161/psb.22655

Mycorrhiza-induced resistance: more than the sum of its parts?

Cameron, D. D., Neal, A. L., Van Wees, S. C. M. and Ton, J. 2013. Mycorrhiza-induced resistance: more than the sum of its parts? Trends in Plant Science. 18 (10), pp. 539-545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tplants.2013.06.004

Whole grains, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension: links to the aleurone preferred over indigestible fiber

Lillioja, S., Neal, A. L., Tapsell, L. and Jacobs, D. R. Jr 2013. Whole grains, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension: links to the aleurone preferred over indigestible fiber. Biofactors. 39 (3), pp. 242-258. https://doi.org/10.1002/biof.1077

Iron and zinc complexation in wild-type and ferritin-expressing wheat grain: implications for mineral transport into developing grain

Neal, A. L., Geraki, K., Borg, S., Quinn, P., Mosselmans, J. F., Brinch-Pedersen, H. and Shewry, P. R. 2013. Iron and zinc complexation in wild-type and ferritin-expressing wheat grain: implications for mineral transport into developing grain. Journal Of Biological Inorganic Chemistry. 18, pp. 557-570. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-013-1000-x

Benzoxazinoids in root exudates of maize attract Pseudomonas putida to the rhizosphere

Neal, A. L., Ahmad, S., Gordon-Weeks, R. and Ton, J. 2012. Benzoxazinoids in root exudates of maize attract Pseudomonas putida to the rhizosphere. PLOS ONE. 7, p. e35498 (10pp). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0035498

Can the soil bacterium Cupriavidus necator sense ZnO nanomaterials and aqueous Zn2+ differentially?

Neal, A. L., Kabengi, N., Grider, A. and Bertsch, P. M. 2012. Can the soil bacterium Cupriavidus necator sense ZnO nanomaterials and aqueous Zn2+ differentially? Nanotoxicology. 6, pp. 371-380. https://doi.org/10.3109/17435390.2011.579633

Magnetite biomineralization induced by Shewanella oneidensis

Perez-Gonzalez, T., Jimenez-Lopez, C., Neal, A. L., Rull-Perez, F., Rodriguez-Navarro, A., Fernandez-Vivas, A. and Ianez-Pareja, E. 2010. Magnetite biomineralization induced by Shewanella oneidensis. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 74, pp. 967-979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2009.10.035

What can be inferred from bacterium-nanoparticle interactions about the potential consequences of environmental exposure to nanoparticles?

Neal, A. L. 2008. What can be inferred from bacterium-nanoparticle interactions about the potential consequences of environmental exposure to nanoparticles? Ecotoxicology. 17, pp. 362-371. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-008-0217-x

Field features of the North Wyke Farm Platform: weather, topography, soil, ecosystem services provision index and management

Segura, C., Neal, A. L., Castro-Sardina, L. and Irisarri, G. 2023. Field features of the North Wyke Farm Platform: weather, topography, soil, ecosystem services provision index and management . Rothamsted Research. https://doi.org/10.23637/rothamsted.98y60

Impact of Contrasting Poultry Exposures on Human, Poultry, and Wastewater Antibiotic Resistomes in Bangladesh

Williams, A. D., Rousham, E., Neal, A. L., Amin, M. B., Hobman, J. L., Stekel, D. and Islam, M. A. 2023. Impact of Contrasting Poultry Exposures on Human, Poultry, and Wastewater Antibiotic Resistomes in Bangladesh. Microbiology Spectrum. 11 (6), pp. 10.1128/spectrum.01763-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.01763-23

Andy Neal

Research outputs

Projects