Microbial farming for habitat recovery in the Taiwanese mountains

Abstract

Microbial farming for habitat recovery in the Taiwanese mountains Professor Tzen-Yuh Chiang's team at National Cheng Kung University looks toward microbial farming in the mountains slopes of South Taiwan to aid habitat recovery, as low-land slopes have been affected by climate change. The team have taken soil structures and underground water into account when helping these slope habitats recover, using sustainable engineering methodologies to stabilize the slopes with vegetation, allowing new species to grow strong roots to increase the adhesive forces in soil. Their other methodologies of accelerating habitat recovery for slope farms include through the revegetation of native plants from neighboring forests, and understanding the importance of soil health with a high diversity of microbes that can interact with plant roots.