We have launched a new research group in Soil Biology with the aim of elucidating soil biological functions that link agricultural productivity with environmental sustainability. By bringing together researchers with diverse expertise—such as plant-microbe interactions, methane-producing microorganisms, and microbial inoculants—we are developing an integrated research approach to understand soil microbial communities as a whole.
At the same time, each member continues to pursue their own specialized research interests, including the utilization and conservation of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal genetic resources, the dynamics of soil methanogenic microorganisms in rice paddies, and the evaluation of microbial inoculants and biochar application under practical field conditions.
