The Soil Health Research and Extension Center

The Soil Health Research and Extension Center (SHREC) is a cross-disciplinary research and extension hub focused on integrative soil health, offering comprehensive testing services to address stakeholder and researcher needs.

About SHREC

The Soil Health Research and Extension Center (SHREC) provides results, recommendations, and education to Vermont farmers and agricultural service providers. SHREC will have a wide variety of soil health testing capabilities including: 

  • soil respiration
  • phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) to measure fungal to bacterial ratios 
  • biologically active carbon (POXC) 
  • aggregate stability 
  • autoclaved citrate extractable (ACE) protein 
  • total carbon and total nitrogen 
  • available water capacity 
  • and other testing 

In addition to soil health testing, SHREC will provide applied research, outreach, and education throughout the state. 

Contact

The first phase of the lab will be functional by fall 2024, but Vermont farmers and agricultural service providers can start connecting with the lab now. 

Soil Health Indicator Webinar Series

Introduction

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The SHREC team produced the following series to provide an audience ranging from educators to farmers to better understand soil health indicators. This features talks from Heather Darby, Lindsey Ruhl, Joshua Faulkner, and Deb Neher of the University of Vermont and Caitlyn E. Hicks Pries of Dartmouth College.

Introduction to Soil Health Indicators and Testing

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Introduction to Soil Health Indicators and Testing 

Dr. Heather Darby, Professor of Agronomy and Lindsey Ruhl, Research Specialist, Extension, University of Vermont

 

 

Crushing It: Soil physical properties, compaction, aggregate stability, and soil health

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Crushing It: Soil physical properties, compaction, aggregate stability, and soil health

Dr. Joshua Faulkner, Research Associate Professor, University of Vermont

 

Biological Indicators: what, how, and why

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Biological Indicators: What, How, and Why

Dr. Deborah Neher, Professor Emerita, University of Vermont
 

 

Is soil health connected to carbon persistence? What management practices promote long-term carbon storage?

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Is soil health connected to carbon persistence? What management practices promote long-term carbon storage? 

Dr. Caitlyn E. Hicks Pries, Dartmouth College