BENEATH THE SURFACE: LEVERAGING SOIL DNA FOR BETTER CROP MANAGEMENT
Soil health is foundational to agricultural success — so understanding the complexities within it can significantly enhance crop yields and sustainability. Mapping soil DNA is one way to better understand that intricacy.
During AgriGold’s Specialty Products Conference this summer, Dr. Prasanna Kankanala, Director of Research & Development at Trace Genomics, presented groundbreaking insights into soil DNA mapping and its transformative potential for agriculture.
Key Takeaways:
- Inside the complex ecosystem of soil health, microbial life is crucial for nutrient cycling, disease suppression and plant growth.
- Trace Genomics uses metagenomic sequencing to provide a detailed analysis of soil microbiomes, surpassing traditional testing methods.
- The technology from Trace Genomics offers economic benefits by optimizing crop management and improving disease diagnosis for growers and retailers.
A Holistic View of Soil Health
Understanding soil requires a holistic approach that goes beyond traditional chemistry tests. The soil environment is a complex ecosystem, rich with microbial life that plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling, disease suppression and plant growth.
Trace Genomics: Revolutionizing Soil Analysis
Founded in Ames, Iowa, Trace Genomics leverages advanced metagenomic sequencing to unravel the complexities of soil microbiomes. Unlike traditional methods that identify less than one percent of soil microbes, metagenomic sequencing provides a comprehensive analysis of all microbial DNA. This offers a detailed view of previously hidden microbial functions.
From Low-Definition to High-Definition Analysis
Traditional soil testing methods, such as amplicon sequencing, measure the presence of known microbes and estimate their functions. In contrast, Trace Genomics’ metagenomic sequencing identifies and measures the functional capabilities of all microbes, known and unknown.
This shift from low-definition to high-definition analysis is like switching from a basic fingerprint to a complete genetic profile.
On-Field Success Stories
The practical applications of this technology are impressive. For instance, the platform successfully identified the first occurrence of charcoal rot in soybeans and corrected a misdiagnosis of soybean stem canker.
These accurate identifications, validated by university plant pathology departments, demonstrate the technology’s potential to improve disease management in crops.
Economic Benefits for Retailers and Growers
Retailers can increase sales of proprietary products and build trust with their customers through data-backed product recommendations.
Growers benefit from optimized product placement, which helps maximize yields, minimize waste, reduce risk and empower better environmental management.
From Soil to Actionable Insights
Trace Genomics provides actionable insights across seven key decision areas: seed selection, seed treatment, in-season disease management, phosphorus fertilizers, phosphorus chelating agents, biologicals and nitrogen fertility. The company’s comprehensive soil diagnostics cover more than 225 pathogens across 70 crops, and help growers make informed management decisions year-round.
By unlocking the hidden potential of soil microbiomes, Trace Genomics empowers farmers and agronomists to make smarter, data-driven decisions that enhance productivity and sustainability.
As precision agriculture becomes even more of a norm in the future, embracing such innovative technologies will be key to meeting the growing demands of global food security.
Reach out to your local AgriGold representative to learn more about our support of cutting-edge technology like soil DNA mapping.
