Biology & Biotechnology

Microbiomes, soil health & ecosystems

Explore 14 articles covering in-depth insights and practical guidance on microbiomes, soil health & ecosystems.

13 min read·

Explainer: Microbiomes, soil health & ecosystems

A practical primer on how soil and environmental microbiomes drive ecosystem health, carbon cycling, and agricultural productivity. Healthy soil microbiomes contain 10,000–50,000 bacterial species per gram and can sequester 0.5–1.5 tonnes of CO₂ per hectare annually, while microbial inoculant markets are projected to reach $14B by 2028.

14 min read·

Microbial inoculants vs compost vs cover crops: soil health restoration approaches compared

Head-to-head comparison of three leading soil health restoration strategies. Microbial inoculants cost $10–50 per acre with yield boosts of 5–15% in responsive soils, compost applications at 2–5 tonnes per acre deliver $50–200 ROI per acre over 3 years, and cover crops reduce erosion 70–90% while building organic matter 0.1–0.3% annually.

15 min read·

Microbiome & soil health program costs in 2026: testing, treatment, and long-term ROI

Complete cost and ROI guide for soil microbiome management programs spanning testing, treatment, and monitoring. Advanced metagenomic soil testing costs $150–500 per sample versus $25–75 for traditional chemical tests, while comprehensive soil health programs delivering microbial inoculants plus cover cropping show 150–300% ROI over 5-year horizons through yield gains and input reduction.