Current estimates of soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks indicate a need for protection and best management of Canadian soil resources to contribute to climate change obligations; however, there is a lack of understanding of the mechanistic nature of microbially-mediated SOC stabilization and nitrogen (N) transformations in soils, and therefore a current inability to reliably predict how agricultural management may influence soil C and N, particularly in the face of unknown climate change. Research conducted by the ASH group combines ecological theory, applied field research, biogeochemical assays, and metagenomic and metatranscriptomic techniques to characterize microbial functioning in agricultural soils.

Students conduct both greenhouse/lab studies under controlled environments and applied field research examining in situ microbial responses to agricultural management on operational farms within East Central Ontario to link soil health, water quality, insect biodiversity, and plant growth promotion to climate change and land use change. Students actively work to understand the underlying mechanisms and process contributing to the sustainability of our agricultural production systems by increasing our understanding of soil-plant-microbe interactions and the role of diversity in ecosystem functioning.

In the long-term, the research conducted by the ASH lab group will contribute towards the creation of sustainable best management practices to help the agricultural sector adapt to a changing climate and potentially improve Canadian food security and sovereignty. Investment in soil microbiome research with practical applications to Canadian agriculture will enable Canada to be a leader in agri-food systems development, while striving to meet Canada’s climate obligations.