This $500,000 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Activities (IA) program supports a research project at Alabama State University (ASU) to study the impacts of cover crop species on soil properties and ecosystem functioning. The 3-year project, titled "EIR: Interactions Between Cover Plant Species May Improve Edaphic Properties and Strengthen Microbial Trophic Interactions in the Soil Ecosystem," will use a combination of field experiments, lab analyses, and classroom activities to investigate how cover crop biodiversity affects soil structure, fertility, organic matter, and microbial communities. By integrating multi-omics approaches, the project aims to advance the scientific community's understanding of complex belowground interactions and develop frameworks to predict soil biotic and abiotic responses to cover crop diversity. The research team, which includes the principal investigator, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduates, will disseminate their findings through local, regional, and national forums to benefit the broader scientific community and society.
Generated 3/4/25, 5:45 AM