ClipsMicro: Climate proof soils by steering soil and residue microbiomes

The overall aim of ClipsMicro is to develop and demonstrate agricultural management strategies that improve soil quality while increasing carbon sequestration, lowering GHG emissions and maintaining crop yields through co-creation involving fundamental science and relevant stakeholders, with soil microbial life as a major focus. The central idea is that the soil microbiome is steered towards higher carbon sequestration by adding refined composts to the soil, and towards lower emissions of nitrous oxide by selecting plants that inhibit microbes involved in the production of strong greenhouse gas nitrous oxide. The combination of engineered compost and selected covercops will be applied in sandy soils cropped with Sorghum, to maximally stimulate carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.