description
- Microorganisms are responsible for organic carbon mineralization and sequestration in soil, and these processes play a key role in ecosystem sustainability. However, despite the fact that several studies have shown how organic amendments can be used to recover desertified soils, the information regarding the microbial key players and carbon sequestration processes is limited for these areas. The general objective of this proposal is to study the dynamics of organic matter and the function of the microbial community associated with its turnover in desert areas. This proposal includes interdisciplinary aspects that will enrich the knowledge of the fellow and host institution with novel results. We will combine cut-off technologies based on chemical (C analysis), microbiological (microbial activity and biomass), biochemical (enzyme activity and catabolic potential), proteomic (native and non-native based proteomics from organic wastes and soils) and molecular methods (clone libraries, DGGE) to open the “black box” of the soil microbial community related to C transformation in arid and semiarid soils. Several activities are organized: i) Selection of soils with different levels of degradation, ii) evaluation of the addition of new organic materials (sludges, composts, charcoals) in soil microbiological quality; ii) identification of the main physical and chemical carbon sinks; iv) changes in the microbial community structure of soil organic amendment; v) transformations of organic molecules by the microbial community (mineralization of isotopic compounds); and vi) identification of enzymatic processes related to generation of stable organic matter. The experience of the candidate and the host institution (CEBAS-CSIC) is sufficient for the development of these activities.