Microbiology Commons^™

Exploring The Effects Of C-Amendment On The Soil Microbial Community In A Puget Lowland Prairie, Jessica Wong

Summer Research

Scotch broom is a non-native plant that has invaded plant communities worldwide. Able to grow on a variety of soil conditions, Scotch broom associates with soil bacteria to fix nitrogen (N) from the atmosphere, elevating soil N and crowding out native plant species by encouraging the growth of non-natives like itself. Adding carbon (C) has been used in previous studies to lower soil N and restore native plant growth. However, little is known about C-amendment’s effects on the soil microbial community that correspond to changes in soil N and plant community composition. Recent studies have shown that C-amendment increases microbial …