University of Idaho to showcase Deep Soil Ecotron at symposium

New $19 million facility for advanced soil ecosystem research to host event in Moscow

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:22am

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The University of Idaho is unveiling its new Deep Soil Ecotron, a $19 million facility funded by a National Science Foundation grant, with a two-day symposium on April 6-7 in Moscow. The ecotron houses the largest intact soil columns ever unearthed, which researchers will use to study soil ecosystem processes and microbial communities at unprecedented depths. The symposium will feature presentations, discussions, and tours of the facility.

Why it matters

The Deep Soil Ecotron represents a major investment in understanding the complex relationships between deep soil communities and processes, and how they respond to environmental changes. This research has important implications for agriculture, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem health, as the deep soil plays a critical but often overlooked role in these areas.

The details

The ecotron contains 24 lysimeters, three of which hold the largest intact soil columns ever extracted, measuring 10 feet deep. These columns, taken from the University of Idaho's Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, will allow researchers to manipulate and study factors like climate, plant communities, and soil types to gain new insights. The facility is heavily instrumented, enabling remote monitoring and adjustment of variables like moisture, greenhouse gas levels, and soil temperature.

  • The Deep Soil Ecotron celebrated its soft opening in May 2025.
  • The two-day symposium is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, April 6-7, 2026.

The players

University of Idaho

A public research university located in Moscow, Idaho, that is home to the new Deep Soil Ecotron facility.

Michael Strickland

Professor in the Department of Soil and Water Systems at the University of Idaho and a principal investigator on the Deep Soil Ecotron project.

Zachary Kayler

Associate Professor in the Department of Soil and Water Systems at the University of Idaho and a principal investigator on the Deep Soil Ecotron project.

Markus Kleber

Professor at Oregon State University and a pioneer in explaining how carbon is sequestered in the soil profile.

Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center (SOAC)

The University of Idaho facility where the large intact soil columns were extracted for the Deep Soil Ecotron.

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What they’re saying

“I think that kind of mixed audience lends itself to surprises in terms of conversations and ideas and answers.”

— Zachary Kayler, Associate Professor, Department of Soil and Water Systems

“All of the research we're doing in CALS and the Department of Soil and Water Systems is available for these growers and producers to access. The Deep Soil Ecotron is part of it, and it's all tied together.”

— Zachary Kayler, Associate Professor, Department of Soil and Water Systems

What’s next

The first research project at the Deep Soil Ecotron will soon commence, studying how the introduction of a deep-rooted plant at the surface of a soil core influences carbon at varying depths below ground. Researchers also plan to increase soil temperature to see how much of the new carbon deposited into the soil remains.

The takeaway

The Deep Soil Ecotron represents a major investment in understanding the critical but often overlooked role that deep soil communities and processes play in areas like agriculture, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem health. The facility's advanced capabilities will enable groundbreaking research that could have far-reaching implications for the future of sustainable land management.