Effects of Soil Acidification and Liming Treatments on Soil Fungal Community Stratification in Direct-Seed Systems in the Palouse Region of Eastern Washington.

Soil acidification is a huge problem facing agricultural production systems all across the globe.  With as much as 40% of farmed lands suffering from reduced soil pH, very little is understood about the basic structure and function of the associated soil microbial communities in acid agricultural soils. We will answer critical questions regarding the impact of treatments to buffer soil acidity on soil fungal communities and consequently crop yield and quality for wheat, peas, lentils, and garbanzos.