Soils host the largest terrestrial carbon pool on Earth. The sequestration of carbon in soil has been proposed as a solution to mitigate climate change. Carbon sequestration is dependent on the transformation of plant inputs into soil organic matter (SOM), which is mediated by the soil microbial community. A technology that leverages this transformation are soil amendments containing microbial consortia that are specifically designed to enhance SOM formation. Yet, the net effect of soil amendments on SOM stocks often remains unclear and it is unknown if and by which mechanism these amendments enhance the formation of stable SOM. In the BioSoilStock project, SOIL is collaborating with YpHen, a private company and leader in the development of soil microbial consortia amendments. The goal of our collaboration is to develop a methodology to characterize the formation of stable SOM in soils inoculated with microbial consortia and thereby assess the effect of microbial consortia amendments on soil carbon sequestration.
People: Emma DeFrang
Collaborators: Gil Burban, Joao Trabuco
Funding: ENAC transdisciplinary cluster grant