2009-2011, Cheng, W. (PI) and J.M. Blair. Partitioning responses of rhizosphere respiration and soil carbon decomposition to warming and altered precipitation in a grassland ecosystem. US Department of Energy, National Institute for Climate Change Research (Midwestern Region), $246,273.
2009-2011, Cheng, W. Link rhizosphere priming to temperature sensitivity of soil organic carbon decomposition. Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, $90,000.
2007-2009, Cheng, W. (PI) and F.A. Dijkstra. Scaling rhizosphere respiration and priming effects from single plants to field ecosystems. Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, $88,000.
2006-2009, Cheng, W. (PI) and M.K. Firestone. Carbon and nitrogen interchange in the rhizosphere: Sensitivity to temperature and water dynamics. USDA, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, National Research Initiative Competitive Grant Program, $455,000.
2004-2007, Goldstein, A.H., W. Cheng (Co-PI), and D. D. Baldocchi. Controls of canopy photosynthetic activity on roots and soil carbon dynamics in ponderosa pine and oak/savanna ecosystems. Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, $360,000.
2004-2007, Ravelo, C., P. Koch, R. Kudela, M.D. McCarthy and W. Cheng (Co-PI). Acquisition of light stable isotope mass spectrometers for biogeochemistry and environmental change research at University of California, Santa Cruz. National Science Foundation, $637,099.
2003-2006, Cheng, W. (PI) and D.W. Johnson. Patterns of rhizosphere effects on soil organic matter decomposition and nitrogen dynamics. USDA, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, National Research Initiative Competitive Grant Program, $ 324,000.
2002-2004, Goldstein, A., W. Cheng (Co-PI), and Y. Qi. Controls of canopy activities on roots and soil carbon dynamics in a young ponderosa pine forest. Kearney Foundation of Soil Science, $99,000.
2001-2002, Cheng, W. (PI) and M.E. Loik. Creating a New Digital Image Library - WEWU: Windows to the Ecological World Underground. UC Instructional Improvement Program: New Technologies in Teaching, $14,981.
2001-2002, Cheng, W. Explore asymbiotic nitrogen fixation in forest ecosystems using 15N. UCSC Social Sciences Divisional Research Award, $5,880.
1999-2001, Cheng, W. (PI), D.W. Johnson, P.S. Verberg, and R.F. Walker. Rhizosphere respiration and root demography in forest ecosystems. National Science Foundation, $200,000.
1999-2001, Cheng, W. (PI). Supplemental support to the grant entitled “Rhizosphere respiration and root demography in forest ecosystems.” National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU), $16,514.
1998-2002, Cheng, W. (PI) and D.W. Johnson. Rhizosphere processes and soil organic matter decomposition. USDA, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, National Research Initiative Competitive Grant Program, $345,000.
1998-2001, Smith, S.D., J.S. Coleman, R.E. Evans, R. Nowak, W. Cheng (Co-PI), and R.J. Seemann. Effects of elevated CO2 on a Mojave Desert ecosystem. National Science Foundation, $1,300,000.
1998-2000, Coleman, J.S., W. Cheng (Co-PI), R.D. Evans, Y. Luo, and D.W. Johnson. Exploring the sensitivity of different carbon and nitrogen fluxes to variation in the timing of an ecosystem perturbation. Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, $387,126.
1998-2000, Johnson, D.W., W. Cheng (Co-PI) and J.D. Joslin. Effects of elevated CO2 on nutrient cycling in a sweetgum plantation. US Department of Energy, National Institute for Global Environmental Changes (Southeastern region), $290,460.
1998-1999, Johnson, D. W., and W. Cheng (Co-PI). Detecting the effect of elevated CO2 on rhizosphere free-living N2 - fixation using 15N2 - reduction technique. Seed grant, US Department of Energy, $16,500.
1997-1999, Johnson, D.W. and W. Cheng (Co-PI). Ecosystem significance of soil as a long-term sink for anthropogenic additions of N. National Science Foundation, $212,874.
1996-1998, Cheng, W. (PI) and D.W. Johnson. Effects of elevated CO2 on soil carbon storage. Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth (Japan), ¥9,000,000 Japanese Yen.
1993-1997, Cheng, W. (PI), C.R. Carroll, C.A. Hoffman and D.C. Coleman. In situ rhizosphere processes: respiration, exudation and exudate utilization. National Science Foundation, $330,000.