A Comparison of Urban and Agricultural Soils Using a Whole Ecosystem Approach

Keywords: urban soils, agricultural soils, soil microbes, DNA,PCR
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Urban areas play an increasingly important role in human life. As of 2021 56.61% of people globally live in urban areas with this number expected to increase to 68% by 2050. Increasing urbanization and the impacts of climate change will cause significant environmental challenges to urban areas, especially to land and soils. Urban soils are an environmental justice issue at the nexus of climate change, environmental degradation, and food deserts. Urban soils are an important environmental justice focus as low income communities disproportionately bear the impacts of contaminated soil. This project conducted a baseline study of the soil microbial communities of a traditional agricultural farm, a high intensity , small acreage regenerative organic farm, and urban soils. The including study of soil microbial diversity is a whole ecosystems focus and is a new approach to determining soil health. Soil samples from each setting were assessed for fungal:bacterial ratios with a microBIOMETER® rapid test. Additional analysis by DNA PRC and DNA genomic sequencing followed Yeates et al. (1998) DNA extraction protocols for fungal and bacterial DNA. Fungal and bacterial signatures and whole community structure are amplified through PCR and DNA sequencing provided genetic information. Understanding microbial communities produced by a range of agricultural approaches informs best practices for urban soils, specifically for regeneration of urban soils for food production.