# Understanding plant-soil linkages to inform rangeland restoration in California > [!abstract] Summary > This page highlights preliminary findings about how plant-soil linkages influence soil organic matter formation to inform restoration in California rangelands. This is based on ongoing research in the [[Coastal Soil Horizons & Ecology Lab (C-SHEL)]], funded by the California State University [Agricultural Research Institute](https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/research/ari). > **Principle Investigator:** Yamina Pressler > **Co-investigators:** Stewart Wilson, Jeremy James > Interested in learning more or getting involved? Please [[contact me]]. # Long-term passive restoration at Swanton Pacific Ranch, CA **Research question:** How does long-term passive restoration from prior tillage influence above and belowground carbon? **Approach:** Undergraduate students, Sophia Forstmann and Maxwell Farmer, designed an observational study comparing locations that had been historically tilled and passively restored to sites with no evidence of prior tillage ("old-growth grasslands"). We delineated the sites and measured plant and soil carbon at several plots within each site. > [!Tip] Highlights > - Plant and soil carbon are spatially heterogeneous within the coastal rangelands at Swanton Pacific Ranch > - Location differences had greater influence on plant and soil carbon than long term passive restoration after tillage > - We found no differences in soil organic matter fractions between management types ![[Forstmann-Farmer-CAFES-Symposium-2023.pdf]] ![[Forstmann-Cameron-SERCAL 2024 Poster.pdf]] Check out this [great read](https://theconversation.com/soil-carbon-is-a-valuable-resource-but-all-soil-carbon-is-not-created-equal-129175) about the importance of these two soil organic matter fractions and why we study them! > Thank you to our collaborators, Grey Hayes and Mark Swisher, at Swanton Pacific Ranch! # Rangeland restoration continuum in San Luis Obispo, CA **Research question:** How do grazing management impact plant and soil biodiversity and soil organic matter formation? **Approach:** In collaboration with our project team, graduate student, Nora Bales, designed an observational study evaluating the impact of grazing management by continuous grazing, high-intensity short-duration grazing, and cessation of grazing on plant biodiversity, soil biota, and soil organic matter. > [!Tip] Highlights > - High-intensity short-duration grazing site had highest plant diversity (+2 species on average) with communities characterized by native perennial grasses and forbs > - Soil texture explains variability between plant communities across grazing continuum > - Soil nematode and arthropod abundance was lowest at the continuously grazed site > - No differences in soil organic matter fractions across the management regimes > - Underlying mineralogy may play a role in explaining distribution of soil organic matter ![[Nora_ESA-2023.pdf]] ![[Nielsen-SERCAL-2023.pdf]] ![[Nielsen-Buecheler-SERCAL_poster_2024.pdf]] # Students involved in the project We are proud to be a student-centered research group! Thanks to all our students for their many contributions to this research: - Nora Bales - Maxwell Farmer - Kylee Nielsen - Cody Cameron - Sophia Forstmann - Nabila Wildman - Anna Buecheler - Carly Sussman - Lauren Frost - Alison Snyder If you are interested in getting involved, check out our [[open positions]] and read more about [[how to get involved with research as an undergraduate]]. > [!idea] More soil info! > If you made it all the way to the end, you may be interested in more soil goodness. Check out some of my writings aimed to help folks [[learn about soil]]. You also might like to explore our soil educational resources at [For the Love of Soil](https://www.fortheloveofsoil.org/). Enjoy!