Soil food web analysis for predicting carbon sequestration in diversified cropping systems
Research collaboration using soil food web characterization to predict and measure carbon sequestration in diversified cropping systems. Leverages long-term field trials in Ohio to quantify soil carbon pools and identify biological markers that indicate whether crop diversification contributes to long-term carbon storage.
Overview
This research collaboration focuses on measuring and predicting soil carbon sequestration in diversified cropping systems by characterizing the soil food web and its relationship to soil carbon pools. Crop diversification strategies, such as corn-soybean-wheat rotations with cover crops, have the potential to sequester soil carbon while increasing farm profitability. The underlying premise is that macro and microorganisms regulate the flow of soil carbon and determine whether a cropping system functions as a carbon sink or source.
The work addresses a critical need in sustainable agriculture: identifying reliable biological indicators that can predict whether farming practices will deliver long-term carbon sequestration benefits. By characterizing key taxa, functional groups, and their interactions with carbon pools, the research aims to develop food web-based markers that signal carbon sequestration potential.
Technical specifications
Research approach:
- Quantification of different soil carbon pools using both archived and fresh soil samples collected from 2018 to 2022
- Characterization of soil food web structure through nematode community analysis to assess ecosystem services
- Shotgun metagenomics to identify functional genes and genetic components involved in carbon cycling
- Multivariate statistical methods and ecological models linking functional characteristics of the food web to carbon responses
Field infrastructure:
- Two identical long-term field trials in Ohio established in 2013 with differing soil properties, temperature, rainfall patterns, and yield history
- Randomized complete block design with four replications per treatment
- Split-plot design incorporating cover crops since fall 2020 to evaluate crop diversification impacts
- Comparison of corn-soybean-wheat rotation against corn-soybean baseline
Validated findings to date:
- Documented benefits of corn-soybean-wheat rotation on soybean productivity and soil fertility
- Observed concomitant changes in microbial community composition linked to crop diversification
Technology readiness level
The research is at an advanced validation stage, building on nearly a decade of long-term field experimentation. Previous work has already documented productivity and soil fertility benefits from diversified rotations alongside changes in microbial communities. The current phase extends this foundation by integrating food web characterization, metagenomic analysis, and ecological modeling to develop predictive markers for carbon sequestration. Ongoing trials continue to monitor crop yield alongside soil carbon and biological measurements, providing a robust dataset for validating food web-based predictors across multiple sites and soil conditions.
About The Ohio State University
The Ohio State University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research university in Columbus, serving one of the nation’s largest student populations and a broad research enterprise. Industry partners engage through an integrated academic medical center for clinical translation, a campus‑adjacent innovation district for co‑located projects, and a statewide extension network that pilots solutions across Ohio. Corporate engagement provides a single front door for sponsored research, talent pipelines, and streamlined agreements. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE, USDA, DoD, and NASA. A dedicated technology transfer office and venture support help protect IP, license technologies, and launch startups.
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