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Title: Understanding the Biology of High Carbon and Low Disturbance Soils: A Key to Soil Health and Sustainable Intensification
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Format: Oral Topical Session
Keywords: nitrogen cycling, soil C and soil health
Session Description: Soil health-promoting practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage and addition of organic amendments are intended to achieve conditions more similar to those in native soils. Higher carbon and reduced disturbance supports more diverse biological linkages leading to tighter coupling of carbon and nitrogen cycling. Improvements in soil microbial habitats can support more efficient microbial community energy conversions that lead to enhanced carbon and nitrogen retention. This session focuses on research related to innovative strategies, processes and diverse functions in agroecosystems that provide ecological and environmental services including plant nutrient delivery, soil and water conservation, greenhouse gas reduction, and soil health.