Near-surface subsoils (30cm–3m) harbor 65% of global soil C stocks, and deep-rooted plants have the potential to sequester substantial additional C. We postulate that gains in subsoil C are primarily due to microbial activity in the zone surrounding deep roots. However, our knowledge of subsoil microbiology is limited, as the vast majority of soil microbiome studies have been conducted on surface soil. We conducted a national study to investigate the ecophysiology of deep soil microorganisms and will determine whether deep-rooted switchgrass alters the C processing potential of subsoils.
Proposer: Erin Nuccio, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Proposal: Deeply Rooted: Using Metagenomics and Isotope-Assisted Metagenomics to Determine How Switchgrass Alters Subsoil Carbon Sequestration