INTERACTION BETWEEN SOIL CARBON ACCUMULATION AND COMPOSITION WITH GLOMALIN AND SOIL AGGREGATION IN DIVERSIFIED CROPPING SYSTEMS

• Grant number: 25/04744-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri
• Grantee: Marcelo Trybek
• Supervisor: Andre Luiz Custodio Franco
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Indiana University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/05184-7 - INTENSIFIED MANAGEMENT IN REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE: IMPACTS ON INTRAGREGATE ORGANIC MATTER, BP.MS

Abstract

Conservation practices (e.g. cover crop use and no-tillage) are essential for the soil to play its role in carbon (C) sequestration and climate regulation. C sequestration in agroecosystems can be increased by the physical protection of C within soil aggregates, as a result of root action, minimal disturbance and the excretion of substances with a cementing action, such as glomalin-related soil proteins (GRSP). It is well documented that aggregation and soil organic C (SOC) act in a self-reinforcing manner. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of GRSP for both soil aggregation and C sequestration. It is also well documented that certain organic functional groups characterize more stabilized organic forms, contributing more effectively than others to C sequestration and climate change mitigation. However, the relationship and importance of the chemical composition of SOC and GRSP for C sequestration and soil aggregation remains unknown. Therefore, this project aims to elucidate the interaction between SOC, GRSP and soil aggregation for C sequestration in diversified production systems. Using tools such as structural equation model (SEM), the accumulation and chemical composition (obtained by spectroscopy analysis) of SOC and GRSP will be explored in interaction with soil aggregation and multiple chemical and biological indicators.. Therefore, this project aims to elucidate the interaction between SOC, GRSP and soil aggregation for C sequestration in diversified production systems. Using tools such as structural equation modeling (SEM), the accumulation and chemical composition (obtained by spectroscopy analysis) of SOC and GRSP will be explored in interaction with soil aggregation and multiple chemical and biological indicators. Insights derived from the study may reveal the influence of management on the dynamics of C stabilization in macro- and microaggregates, as well as the contribution of GRSP. Finally, this project will contribute to advancing the application of SEM by providing a comprehensive understanding of the intrinsic relationships between soil aggregation, GRSP and C sequestration in tropical soils.