Soil microbiome analysis platform for improving carbon sequestration and soil health
A research-driven approach using next-generation DNA sequencing to characterize soil microbial diversity tied to carbon sequestration and soil health. Leverages 700 DNA extracts from 43 Indiana farm sites under conservation practices to identify microbial populations that drive soil organic matter, aggregate stability, and carbon storage, enabling tailored farm management recommendations and biological measurement tools.
Overview
This solution applies advanced soil microbiome characterization to improve agricultural carbon sequestration and overall soil health. By linking microbial population structure to soil metadata across a broad range of conservation-managed farm sites, the approach identifies the critical microbial communities responsible for carbon storage, aggregate formation, and improvements in soil organic matter. The resulting insights enable tailored farm management strategies and lay the foundation for new biological agents and measurement tools that help growers, agronomists, and sustainability programs track and enhance soil carbon outcomes.
Technical specifications
- Microbial community profiling using Illumina next-generation sequencing targeting the hypervariable region of 16S rDNA to characterize bacterial and archaeal diversity in soil samples
- Soil metadata integration linking sequencing results to soil organic matter (SOM), microbial activity, enzyme assays, aggregate stability, and total carbon measurements
- Multi-site sample archive of approximately 700 DNA extracts collected from 30 Indiana farm sites and 13 Great Lakes edge-of-field project sites representing a range of conservation practices such as no-till and cover cropping
- Statistical analysis framework to correlate microbial population structures with soil health indicators and identify the key taxa responsible for carbon sequestration
- Management-practice mapping that connects duration and intensity of conservation practices to shifts in microbial communities and associated soil health gains
Technology readiness level
The work is currently at an advanced research stage with substantial groundwork already completed. Over five years of field sampling and soil health monitoring have produced a robust dataset and a valuable reserve of 700 DNA extracts ready for sequencing. Existing data already show strong correlations between conservation practices and enhanced microbial activity. The next phase involves DNA sequencing, statistical analysis, and identification of critical microbial populations linked to soil health measures, followed by development of biological agents and measurement tools for practical deployment in farm management systems.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a comprehensive public land‑grant research institution in West Lafayette, Indiana, anchored by a large residential campus. Industry engages through co‑located core facilities, pilot‑scale testbeds, and an adjacent innovation district that brings together labs, corporate R&D space, and maker resources near faculty talent. A statewide Extension network and an established engineering co‑op program connect companies to field sites, workforce pipelines, and pragmatic pathways from concept to deployment across Indiana. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from NSF, DOE, USDA, NIH, and the Department of Defense, and commercialization is managed by a dedicated technology transfer office in partnership with the university’s affiliated research foundation.
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