Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MultiSol (Soil multifunctionality: from biodiversity associations to understanding mechanisms)
Reporting period: 2022-09-01 to 2026-02-28
The MultiSol project set out to make a step to putting soil multifunctionality research on a more explicitly mechanistic footing, by developing an improved measurement framework and protocols and by integrating stoichiometric relations in plant-microbe-soil interactions as a key regulator of soil processes and thus functioning and health. In addition, the key career goal was to gain experience in leading projects and the project team.
A key outcome at the end of the project is that the concept of latent variable modelling was operationalized for quantification of soil multifunctionality, focussing on primary production, climate and water regulation and habitat for biodiversity. We developed a comprehensive methodology, including practical experimental setup, internal and external benchmarks, and the subsequent statistical processing, The resulting paper is currently in press with the highly respected academic interdisciplinary journal SOIL and already availble as a pre-print at EGUsphere.
In addition, the project principal investigator (PI) interacted with several other projects (SoilProS, WeDNA, SOB4ES, SOLO), resulting in several joint publications, both published and in preparation (ONE Earth, PLOS Comp. Biol., ISME Communications). In the course of the project the PI (co-)supervised 2 postdocs, 4 PhD candidates, and 11 students at undergraduate and MSc levels and started to develop his own research group and vision and could develop research as well as leadership, networking and negotiation skills.
The project terminated early, due to prolonged illness of the PI and, upon recovery, new employment at a university of applied science. This means parts of the workplan could not be executed, but they remain on the research vision of the PI and will hopefully land in future projects and grant proposals that will be developed in his new employment position.
A key outcome at the end of the project is that the concept of latent variable modelling was operationalized for quantification of soil multifunctionality, focussing on primary production, climate and water regulation and habitat for biodiversity. We developed a comprehensive methodology, including practical experimental setup, internal and external benchmarks, and the subsequent statistical processing, The resulting paper is currently in press with the highly respected academic interdisciplinary journal SOIL and already availble as a pre-print at EGUsphere.
In addition, the project principal investigator (PI) interacted with several other projects (SoilProS, WeDNA, SOB4ES, SOLO), resulting in several joint publications, both published and in preparation (ONE Earth, PLOS Comp. Biol., ISME Communications). In the course of the project the PI (co-)supervised 2 postdocs, 4 PhD candidates, and 11 students at undergraduate and MSc levels and started to develop his own research group and vision and could develop research as well as leadership, networking and negotiation skills.
The project terminated early, due to prolonged illness of the PI and, upon recovery, new employment at a university of applied science. This means parts of the workplan could not be executed, but they remain on the research vision of the PI and will hopefully land in future projects and grant proposals that will be developed in his new employment position.
1.2 Explanation of the work carried out per WP
1.2.1 Work Package 1 - Conceptual formalization.
Satisfactory progress was made on this WP, where the focus was to develop an a priori mechanistic model of the stoichiometric control of soil functions and multifunctionality. Through 1:1 interactions with other scientists, e.g. Prof. Van de Waal, Dr. Bodelier, Prof. Six and others, a first conceptual model was formulated (see Fig. 1 below). However, the idea was to refine the model, or formulate competiting alternative models if appropriate, in a synthesis workshop and this has unfortunately not been done due to illness of the PI.
Fig. 1 Conceptual diagram of stoichiometric control over soil multifunctionality.
Milestone/deliverable Status
M1.1: Operational limits and conditions defined with stakeholders. Not achieved
M1.2: Formally specified stoichiometrically driven soil functioning model (SCM). Achieved in draft form, pending validation by the scientific community
D1.1: Stakeholder workshop report describing their requirements for an SMA. Not achieved
D1.2: Specified SCM deposited in OSF Preregistration repository. Not achieved
D1.3: Manuscript on multivariate soil multifunctionality and its measurement Not achieved
1.2.2 Work Package 2 - An IQ test for soils.
Good progress was made on this WP. We developed the soil multifunctionality assessment method (IQ test for soils) with the input and discussions with experts in the relevant soil disciplines. We tested part of the method in a greenhouse trial, yielding good results compared to similar tests in other labs and countries. We developed a system of internal and external benchmarks, but this remains to be validated. A manuscript of this work is in press in SOIL.
Milestone/deliverable Status
M2.1: First prototype of standardized soil functioning assay tested (v0.1). The first prototype was tested, but not on all soil functions. Partly achieved.
M2.2: Standardized soil functioning assay for five soil functions (beta version, v1.0). Partly achieved, the assay is there, but needs validation.
D2.1: Pre-print published on BiorXiv describing initial soil multifunctionality assay (v0.1) The pre-print was published on EGUsphere. Fully achieved.
D2.2: Make videos demonstrating idea and procedures for SMA v1.0. Not achieved
D2.3: Manuscript describing the developed soil multifunctionality assay (v1.0 Table 1) Achieved, in press in SOIL.
1.2.3 Work Package 3 - Testing the causal model directly in the field.
This WP was not started due to illness of the PI and inability to transfer the project to a new host upon recovery.
Milestone/deliverable Status
M3.1: Field sampling and laboratory analyses completed. Not achieved
M3.2: Formal test of the role of plant-microbe stoichiometry in soil multifunctionality. Not achieved
D3.1: Field and lab data deposited in DataDryad and ENA. Not achieved
D3.2: Manuscript on stoichiometric control of soil multifunctionality. Not achieved
1.2.1 Work Package 1 - Conceptual formalization.
Satisfactory progress was made on this WP, where the focus was to develop an a priori mechanistic model of the stoichiometric control of soil functions and multifunctionality. Through 1:1 interactions with other scientists, e.g. Prof. Van de Waal, Dr. Bodelier, Prof. Six and others, a first conceptual model was formulated (see Fig. 1 below). However, the idea was to refine the model, or formulate competiting alternative models if appropriate, in a synthesis workshop and this has unfortunately not been done due to illness of the PI.
Fig. 1 Conceptual diagram of stoichiometric control over soil multifunctionality.
Milestone/deliverable Status
M1.1: Operational limits and conditions defined with stakeholders. Not achieved
M1.2: Formally specified stoichiometrically driven soil functioning model (SCM). Achieved in draft form, pending validation by the scientific community
D1.1: Stakeholder workshop report describing their requirements for an SMA. Not achieved
D1.2: Specified SCM deposited in OSF Preregistration repository. Not achieved
D1.3: Manuscript on multivariate soil multifunctionality and its measurement Not achieved
1.2.2 Work Package 2 - An IQ test for soils.
Good progress was made on this WP. We developed the soil multifunctionality assessment method (IQ test for soils) with the input and discussions with experts in the relevant soil disciplines. We tested part of the method in a greenhouse trial, yielding good results compared to similar tests in other labs and countries. We developed a system of internal and external benchmarks, but this remains to be validated. A manuscript of this work is in press in SOIL.
Milestone/deliverable Status
M2.1: First prototype of standardized soil functioning assay tested (v0.1). The first prototype was tested, but not on all soil functions. Partly achieved.
M2.2: Standardized soil functioning assay for five soil functions (beta version, v1.0). Partly achieved, the assay is there, but needs validation.
D2.1: Pre-print published on BiorXiv describing initial soil multifunctionality assay (v0.1) The pre-print was published on EGUsphere. Fully achieved.
D2.2: Make videos demonstrating idea and procedures for SMA v1.0. Not achieved
D2.3: Manuscript describing the developed soil multifunctionality assay (v1.0 Table 1) Achieved, in press in SOIL.
1.2.3 Work Package 3 - Testing the causal model directly in the field.
This WP was not started due to illness of the PI and inability to transfer the project to a new host upon recovery.
Milestone/deliverable Status
M3.1: Field sampling and laboratory analyses completed. Not achieved
M3.2: Formal test of the role of plant-microbe stoichiometry in soil multifunctionality. Not achieved
D3.1: Field and lab data deposited in DataDryad and ENA. Not achieved
D3.2: Manuscript on stoichiometric control of soil multifunctionality. Not achieved
The project has resulted in a proposal for benchmarking soils.