Soil contains communities of organisms involved in processes important to agriculture. Investigating their DNA adds another layer of information to the farm's physical and chemical soil assessment.
Define the question before testing
Marker sequencing and metagenomics answer different questions. The method, sampling and preservation must be defined with the laboratory according to the objective: comparing communities, investigating specific groups or exploring genetic potential.
Interpret the findings together
The resulting profile gains context when combined with fertility, organic matter, crop and management information. The presence of DNA alone does not demonstrate organism activity or pesticide degradation. Potential functions require appropriate investigation and validation.
From interpretation to monitoring
In Terrapure's approach, the results help formulate hypotheses and plan comparisons. Changes in the soil and crop must be measured using dedicated protocols, without treating microbial diversity as an automatic promise of productivity.
Further reading: Mendes, Mendes and Andreote. Explorando o sequenciamento genético do microbioma do solo na agricultura [Exploring genetic sequencing of the soil microbiome in agriculture]. Embrapa Meio Ambiente, Documentos 140, 2025.
View the Embrapa publication ↗