World Soil Day

Today we celebrate World Soil Day by bringing you a German study that was published last year, showing the important role of fungi in early pedogenesis (soil formation) in decglaciated ground. This study traced the uptake of amino acids by micro-organisms and it was found that as the soil develops, there is a shift in the micro-organisms involved. 

Shortly after glacial retreat, early soil formation occurs due to the action of fungi (basidiomycete yeasts), which are associated with hight amino acid use efficiency and low respiration, stabilising assimilated carbon.

In later stage soil development, the fungi:bacteria ratio decreases, resulting in increased respiration.

This study shows that fungi are important initial drivers of pedogenesis after glacial retreat. It is important to understand this role, particularly with rising global temperatures which is accelerating the melting of arctic glaciers.

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Principal role of fungi in soil carbon stabilization during early pedogenesis in the high Arctic

Climate warming is causing widespread deglaciation and pioneer soil formation over glacial deposits. Melting glaciers expose rocky terrain and glacial till sediment that is relatively low in biomas…

PaperstarsJuan Carlos Trejos-Espeleta, Juan P. Marin-Jaramillo, Steven K. Schmidt, Pacifica Sommers, James A. Bradley, William D. Orsi