Ademir S.F. Araujo1, Erika V. de Medeiros2, Diogo P. da Costa2, Lucas W. Mendes3, 4, Maurício R. Cherubin4, 5, Raphael M. Beirigo6, George R. Lambais5, Vania M.M. Melo7, Rodrigo M. Santana8, Vanessa N. Kavamura9, Arthur P.A. Pereira4, 7
1 Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
2 Federal University of the Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil
3 Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
4 Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON), University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
5 Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
6 Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, Paraíba, Brazil
7 Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
8 Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal, Paraíba, Brazil
9 Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
2 Federal University of the Agreste of Pernambuco, Garanhuns, Pernambuco, Brazil
3 Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
4 Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (CCARBON), University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
5 Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, University of Sao Paulo, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
6 Federal University of Paraiba, Areia, Paraíba, Brazil
7 Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
8 Federal University of Campina Grande, Pombal, Paraíba, Brazil
9 Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, UK
Abstract
Desertification in Brazil’s Caatinga is driven by largely overlooked belowground degradation. Integrating whole-soil microbial indicators into policy enables earlier diagnosis, function-based restoration, and climate-resilient dryland management. We discuss how soil biodiversity can be positioned as an early indicator, a restoration target, and a governance tool within the Caatinga Microbiome Initiative.
Keywords
soil microbiome, microbial ecology, soil restoration, semiarid soils
