Healthy Soils Support Healthy Trees – The Amazing Soils Genomics

Urban trees are vital to our urban ecosystems. Green industry professionals understand the benefits large mature trees provide and their effects on health and quality of life of residents. However, urban trees face various challenges, including soil degradation, pollution (including deicing salts and pesticides), invasive pests, compaction, extreme weather conditions and many other stress factors.  Most urban soils are destroyed by the development process.

Soil Genomics is a fascinating new field that explores how microbes in the soil affect the health and growth of plants. It is like a DNA test, but for soil. It provides better understanding the composition and function of the soil microbial communities, such as how they support urban trees, mitigate environmental stresses such as pollution and changing climate, open nutrients pathways for trees, and defend trees against pests. This knowledge can be used to develop more effective strategies for managing urban soil health, such as promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms and improving soil structure and nutrient availability. The improved tree health helps to reduce the need for human intervention like pesticide.

This presentation shares cutting-edge knowledge with green industry professionals and provides ways to grow trees for the long term benefits with significantly reduced costs and resources. Since July 2023, soil samples from across USA have been analyzed. The results will be revealed with insights in soil microbiome of situations like overwatering, soil compaction, extreme heat, pollutants (including deicing salts-image above-and heavy metals from brownfield sites), as well as application of pesticides, soil stimulants and organic matters.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn the benefits of healthy trees and the importance of nurturing them to maturity and maintaining the them healthy
2. Understanding the basics of soil genomics supports local testing and building the database to improve soil health.
3. Understanding the factors that affect the soil microbiome lead us to treat soils differently
4. Practice and support technologies that promote and boost the soil microbiome and the underground community that includes microbials, insects, organic matter, water, and air.