Microbial nitrogen metabolism from stored topsoil in an semi-arid environment

The study seeks to explore long term storage of topsoil on the and its effects on the soil microbiome. The soil is sourced from semi-arid soils in Western Australia and has been removed for storage as a part of mining operations and has been stored for post mining restoration. The aim is to investigate the taxa that are present in the denuded low-nutrient conditions and their metabolic capability in nitrogen cycling. Nitrogen enrichment was used on soil samples to determine what taxa respond to soil amendments. The goal is to find candidate taxa that form the cornerstone of ecological activity needed for restoration efforts of post land use ecosystems.