Linking Microbial Functioning to the Fate of Carbon in Soil

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The world's population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050; however, the amount of land available for food and fibre production is steadily decreasing due to land use change and soil degradation. The soil microbiome mediates key ecosystem goods & services, contributing to soil health, soil carbon (C) storage, nutrient cycling, and the greenhouse gas (GHG) balance. Linking the soil microbiome with biogeochemical processes using metagenomic approaches focused on specific functional groups will allow the discovery of microorganisms with unique functional abilities, increase our understanding of the mechanisms driving biological pathways related to soil C and nitrogen (N) losses, and assess to what extent microbial diversity and biogeochemical functioning are affected by agricultural management. Characterizing microbiomes that are associated with sustainable agricultural systems management may allow us to enhance soil biodiversity and soil health, while decreasing nutrient losses and increasing soil C storage and crop productivity for a growing global population. Within the proposed research program, students will obtain highly technical cutting-edge lab skills and experience in applied field sampling techniques and experimental design, preparing them for successful leadership roles in their chosen career. The proposed research program will unravel links between ecological processes and agricultural microbiomes to characterize agricultural management practices that positively influence ecosystem and soil health, and to better understand the mechanisms controlling microbial C and N transformations. This research will help identify agricultural management practices that improve systems-level N retention and the long-term capacity for soil C sequestration, enabling innovative development within the agri-food sector via collaboration with Canadian-owned companies, NGOs, community organizations, and Canadian producers. Improved understanding of microbial C and N dynamics will help the agricultural sector adapt to a changing climate and potentially improve Canadian food security and sovereignty in the long-term. Investment in soil microbiome research with practical applications to Canadian agriculture will enable Canada to potentially participate in a C offset market through valuation of agricultural stewardship that promotes ecosystem services, and to be a leader in sustainable, climate-conscious agri-food systems development.