Project Information
About the EESSAQ Microbiome Project
As part of the Study on the Health Status of Agricultural Soils in Quebec (EESSAQ), a major research initiative conducted by the Research and Development Institute for the Agri-Environment (IRDA) and funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), the EESSAQ-Microbiome project aims to deepen our understanding of the microbial life of Quebec agricultural soils. We study the influence of soil properties and agricultural practices on the composition and functions of microbial communities. In turn, we analyze how these communities affect soil health, crop productivity, and agroecosystem sustainability.
Main Objectives
- Characterize the diversity and structure of microbial communities (prokaryotes, fungi, microeukaryotes) in a wide range of Quebec agricultural soils.
- Identify reliable and sensitive microbial bioindicators to assess soil health and the impact of agricultural practices.
- Develop visualization tools to help producers and advisors promote biologically active and resilient soils.
Soil Biology and Microbiome
Soil is a complex ecosystem harboring phenomenal microbial biodiversity. One gram of soil can contain billions of microorganisms representing thousands of species. These microbes play crucial roles in soil functioning: nutrient cycling (nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon), organic matter decomposition, soil structure, plant disease suppression, etc. The soil microbiome, the entire set of these microorganisms and their genes, is therefore a key player in agricultural soil health.