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Revealing effects of regenerative agriculture on soil health


EMSL Project ID
60584

Abstract

Regenerative agricultural practices including no-till and cover crops are intended to enhance soil health. This includes improving the soil's physical structure- it's ability to hold onto water and nutrients and sequester carbon. It also enhances the physical habitat for the soil microbiome and for root growth. Yet, it is hard to convey these effects without clear visual aids. This proposal would address that gap by making these changes in soil structure and health visible to the untrained eye. We propose to develop 3-D X-Ray tomography images of soils collected from a series of paired conventional/regenerative agricultural fields. The images and videos will be primarily used for public education purposes, but could serve as proof-of-concept for a more extensive and quantitative project in the future.

Project Details

Project type
Limited Scope
Start Date
2023-06-01
End Date
2023-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Matthew Wallenstein
Institution
Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC

Team Members

Devin Rippner
Institution
United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service