Microbial communities in degraded and agricultural soils of northern Peru Metagenome
This project investigates the diversity, structure, and potential functional roles of soil microbial communities across altitudinal gradients in northern Peru using metabarcoding approaches targeting 16S rRNA and ITS regions. Soil samples were collected from different elevation ranges, representing contrasting environmental conditions and degrees of soil degradation. The study integrates physicochemical soil parameters, including pH, organic matter, and heavy metal concentrations, to evaluate their influence on microbial community composition. By linking microbial diversity with environmental gradients, this project aims to identify key taxa associated with soil resilience and degradation processes, providing insights into ecosystem functioning and potential applications in sustainable agriculture, such as biofertilizers, bioremediation, and biological control.