SOIL BIODIVERSITY · KEKS / IRP38
Slovenian Arable Soil Microbiome Atlas.
Mapping the microbial diversity of Slovenian arable soils to connect agricultural management, soil properties and soil health.
Mikrobiološki atlas slovenskih njivskih tal
An atlas activity within KEKS · IRP38
Supported under Slovenia’s Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023–2027.
- Programme
- KEKS consortium · IRP38
- Initial atlas design
- 100 organic + 100 comparable conventional sites
- Atlas research contact
- Dr. Nejc Stopnišek · KIS
ATLAS OVERVIEW
A reference for
Slovenia’s living soils.
We are developing a microbiome atlas of Slovenian arable soils to describe bacterial and fungal diversity and understand how it relates to soil conditions and agricultural management.
The atlas links microbial profiles with soil properties and management histories. It is designed to support comparisons between organic and conventional systems and future research on the conditions that influence the performance of microbial bioproducts.
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
Map diversity.
Understand the context.
Characterise
Describe bacterial and fungal communities across sampled arable soils.
Connect
Relate microbial variation to soil properties and agricultural management histories.
Apply
Build a reference for future soil-health research and context-specific microbial bioproduct use.
ACTIVITIES & EXPECTED OUTPUTS
Comparable samples.
Connected information.
The initial design compares 100 organically managed sites with 100 comparable conventionally managed sites. Microbial data will be interpreted together with soil properties and management information, including recent crop rotations and agricultural inputs.
Expected outputs
- A reference dataset describing soil microbial diversity in sampled Slovenian arable systems.
- Comparisons of microbial communities between organic and conventional management.
- Evidence linking microbial variation with soil and management context.
- A foundation for models of microbial bioproduct performance and future agricultural microbiome research.
These are intended outputs. Atlas publications and public data resources will be linked here when available.
THE KEKS CONSORTIUM
Part of a wider
knowledge partnership.
The atlas is an activity within KEKS, the Slovenian consortium for organic agriculture. The consortium connects research, education, agricultural advisory organisations and farms to develop and exchange knowledge for organic farming.
The University of Maribor’s Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences leads the KEKS consortium. KIS participates as a project partner; the atlas is one of the consortium’s planned research outputs.
KEKS programme and partnership at KISFUNDING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Supported through KEKS / IRP38.
The Soil Microbiome Atlas is developed within KEKS, supported under intervention IRP38 of Slovenia’s Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan 2023–2027. Co-financed by the European Union.
Atlas talnega mikrobioma nastaja v okviru KEKS, intervencije IRP38 Strateškega načrta skupne kmetijske politike 2023–2027.
Intervention: Consortia of knowledge institutions supporting the transition of agriculture towards green, digital and climate neutrality.
ATLAS CONTACT
Connect with
the atlas team.
For research collaborations, sampling enquiries or information about the soil microbiome atlas, contact Dr. Nejc Stopnišek at the Agricultural Institute of Slovenia.
nejc.stopnisek@kis.si