In our UW Microbiome Initiative proposal, we described a few projects that could directly benefit from the Microbiotron, which we’ve listed below as examples of possible future uses of the Microbiotron:

Whitman lab: We are currently investigating the factors that determine fire-responsiveness in microbes, under a DOE award. The Microbiotron would allow us to add a critical component to our planned experiments – plants. Interactions between roots and charcoal in soils post-fire are likely critical for plant re-establishment after fires and to soil microbial mineralization of C. However, our current setup only allows us to measure small-scale soil incubations under the highly controlled conditions that we require. With the Microbiotron, we would be able to grow replicated and testable plant systems that would allow us to monitor trace gas fluxes, sample microbial communities over time, and monitor root growth.

Lankau lab: With a recently funded NSF CAREER award we are investigating soil microbial impacts on tree seedling drought and heat tolerance. The Microbiotron will enhance the level of experimental control and allow for repeated sampling of rhizosphere communities and root growth. We are also investigating trade-offs and synergies between microbially mediated functions for potato crop health with support from the Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association. The Microbiotron’s ability to track N and P uptake by plants as well as gaseous and aqueous losses would substantially increase the potential value and impact of these studies.

Silva lab: We seek to understand the impact of management practices (cover cropping, rotational diversity, fertility inputs, time under organic management) on organically-managed farms on soil microbial community structure and function.  In particular, we are interested in how microbial community structure relates to coupled nitrogen-carbon cycling, and nitrogen use efficiency of crops provided with a range of fertility inputs. The Microbiotron would greatly enhance these studies with its ability to fully capture nitrogen inputs and losses in a replicated, controlled environment.

Jackson lab: We are investigating soil C stabilization under alternative cropping systems and management scenarios with funding from DOE-Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center. The Microbiotron’s ability to continually monitor soil and moisture levels will allow us to sample microbial activity and headspace CO₂ flux when conditions are equivalent in various chambers. In addition, the Microbiotron will allow us to discern plant-mediated impacts from environmental drivers. Similar work is underway in a collaboration with the Wisconsin DNR where we are examining soil microbiota responses to grazing of public lands. Moreover, the Microbiotron will enable a second run at a NASA C Cycle proposal seeking to relate soil processes to remotely-sense hyperspectral imagery (collaborative with Townsend lab).

Panke-Buisse lab: Our ongoing project at the USDA ARS Dairy Forage Research Center is the characterization of the silage microbiome and the improvement of dairy ration nutrition to reduce waste and mitigate environmental impacts of the dairy agroecosystem. The proposed instrument’s versatility and range of incorporated sampling and analysis schema will allow for a depth and breadth of real-time monitoring during forage ensiling that is not currently feasible. Of particular merit is the ability to non-destructively sample the solid phase for downstream nucleic acid-based microbial estimates at multiple time points in conjunction with other metrics. The application of this instrument for the monitoring of forage fermentation stands to accelerate existing research projects and make possible new inquiries about the role of the silage microbiome.