NCERA_temp59: Soil Organic Matter: Formation, Function and Management
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Draft Project
NCERA_temp59: Soil Organic Matter: Formation, Function and Management
Duration: 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2031
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Objectives
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Comments: 1. Coordinate research collaborations and information exchange on the biochemistry, biological transformations, and physical/chemical fractions of soil organic matter (SOM). Applications of this work can: (a) improve nutrient cycling and use efficiency and soil health in cropping systems; (b) determine soil C storage potential and thresholds; (c) assess the stress and resilience of soils and soil C affected by agricultural and other anthropogenic activities; (d) Improve definition of organic matter fractions (i.e., particulate organic matter, mineral associated organic matter and/or (e) remediate degraded or contaminated soils. -
Comments: 2. Identify and evaluate indicators that can be used to assess soils as a resource for ecosystem services including but not limited to detailed chemical characterizations of physically extracted fractions and interactions among soil microorganisms, plants and SOM -
Comments: 3. Conduct outreach activities for stakeholders including producers, scientists, regulators, and industry personnel as well as training the next generation of scientists to promote the ecological management of soils, including practices that regenerate or sustain functionally of SOM fractions in managed and undisturbed systems.