The links between soil microbiome and carbon sequestration
Title: Exploring the links between soil microbiome and carbon sequestration in a cross-section of agricultural soils (arable, pastural, orchards)
Funder: Growing Kent & Medway Business Innovation Voucher
Industry partners: Verdant Carbon
Term: June 2023 to May 2024
Project leader: Matevz Papp-Rupar
Developing ways of increasing carbon sequestration to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and convert it into liquid or solid form is crucial in our quest to arrest climate change. The perennial nature of orchard crops provides a natural sink for carbon dioxide but we need to improve our understanding of the how the soil microbiome (the vast range of microorganisms which contribute to the ecosystem of the soil) in orchard crops, can be manipulated to improve soil carbon storage capability. This would help to reduce the carbon footprint of tree fruit production and offer growers an additional source of income in the form of carbon credits.
The project
In this study, NIAB scientists aim to understand the links between soil microbial abundance/diversity and the volume of carbon sequestered in different agricultural crops (arable, pasture, orchards). They also wish to identify any correlations between levels of specific soil microbes and soil carbon content across the soil profile (10-100 cm) and between soil management practices (regenerative and conventional). Data will also be collected to demonstrate if tailored soil amendments and/or treatments can be used to increase the abundance of microbes associated with increased soil carbon sequestration. The commercial partner Verdant Carbon will use the results to refine their current methods of analysing soil microbial and carbon content, allowing them to provide tailored advice to farmers and growers on how to improve the soil microbiome and carbon storage capacity on their land.