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Experimental evaluation of microbial biomass as an indicator of soil health under forage management

 

Project Details

  • Project Lead: Terence McGonigle (Brandon University)

  • Collaborators: Alex Koiter (Brandon University), Kaylin Liddle (Brandon University)

  • Years: 2016

  • Project Status: Complete 

  • Funding & In-Kind Support: Manitoba Beef & Forage Initiatives

  • Location: Brookdale Farm 

  • Scope: Research

  • Keywords: Soil Health, Soil Carbon, Grazing Management

Approach

Soil microbes are key to nutrient cycling and soil formation, yet the impact of soil properties on microbe biomass remains unclear. This project evaluated the biomass of microbes in soil as affected by naturally occurring variation in soil organic carbon, clay content, and local topography.

Key Findings

Soil Organic Carbon was greater in topographically low areas. However, clay content was not related to topography.

Microbial biomass carbon showed considerable spatial variability. Microbial biomass carbon increased with higher soil organic carbon and decreased with higher clay content.

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