BIOSPAS, a comprehensive soil biology project in Argentina

WALL, LG; ACOSTA F; AGUILAR M; BEDANO JC; BIANCHINI A; CARMONA M; DOMINGUEZ L; DUCASSE D; ERIJMAN L; GALANTINI J; GALLY M; GONZÁLEZ ANTA G; GUERRA G; IGLESIAS M; LORENZATTI S; MARONA R; MORRÁS H; ROMAGNOLI, J; ROMERO A; VALVERDE C; ZORREGUIETA A

Upssala, Suecia

Workshop; TerraGenome Workshop; 2009

BIOSPAS is the Spanish acronym of Soil Biology and Sustainable Agricultural Production, a Research Project organized under the auspices of the Argentinean Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation. The project combines a consortium of scientists belonging to twelve public academic institutions, a non-governmental organization and two private agro-companies. The aim of this project is to generate the knowledge that will allow understanding the dynamics between the biological processes happening in the soil and productivity in no-tillage agriculture managements. BIOSPAS proposes that efficient and sustainable production of agricultural commodities can take place in an increasingly environment-friendly manner on the basis of deeper, more detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the systems we manage. BIOSPAS means to put the creativity of academic institutions and entities into action, and by doing so, to boost our potential for the development and creation of wealth and value. The study of the soil carried out in this Project observes jointly and simultaneously several qualitative and quantitative biological and edaphic parameters: organic mater fractions; enzymatic activities; fatty acids profiles; glomalin fraction; microbial diversity on DNA basis; metagenomic analysis of nitrogen cycle and P mobilization; culturable bacteria with emphasis in Pseudomonas group, P solubilizers, free N2 fixers, and cellulolitics; meso and macrofauna; biofilm formation; mycorriza analysis; diseases expressed in the areas of studies; physic and microphysic of the soil structure;  and mathematical analysis of total data. Our goal is to understand how these parameters are related to each other at different management situations, and to what extent they explain productivity variation. We will compare at least 3 situations or use of soil: 1) very good agricultural management with historically no-tillage management that aim at sustainability practices such as intensive crop rotation and nutrient reposition, 2) their counterpart, mono-cropping without reposition, which is definitely unsustainable, and 3) natural environment, as base line or control. Due to its magnitude and complexity, BIOSPAS is organized in 6 different thematic projects with independent funding instruments, where several research groups participate. BIOSPAS is interested in cooperation with similar or complementary projects operating in other countries.