HiiletBio

More than twice as much carbon is sequestered in the organic matter of our soil as the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Soil carbon stores and increasing the stores have played a key role in slowing down climate change. In recent years efforts have been made to maintain and increase carbon stocks through various measures targeted at fields. However, there is still little Finnish research data on the effects of the measures on soil microbes and soil fauna.

The ability of soil to sequester carbon depends on many factors, including not only soil type and structure, but also the capacity of the terrestrial microbial community to break down organic matter in the soil, as well as the number, species and activity of soil animals. The project studies how modifying activities of the fields affect soil microbes and soil fauna, as well as their diversity and activity. The study also investigates changes in the relationships between harmful and beneficial microbes and soil fauna, as well as the impact of this change on soil aggregation and soil porosity.

The project’s research utilises experimental designs established in autumn 2021 in connection with the HiiletIn project (funder: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 03/2021-12/2023). The project examines how deep plowing alone or the addition of soil amendments to topsoil affects soil microbial and soil fauna and their biomasses. In addition, it is compared whether the community structures of topsoil microbes and soil fauna differ significantly as a result of deep plowing or application of soil amendments, and whether this difference can also be seen in the third growing season after treatment.