This work was completed in April, 2024.  The cloth background pieces for each were buried in experimental plots with mango and citrus, in Greenhouse #10 at Sultan Qaboos University for one month in the spring of 2023.  One set of plots has only received conventional fertilizer for 5 years (NPK), and the other set of plots has only received compost and liquid fish fertilizer.  The smaller cloths were either buried next to mango trees, or next to citrus trees, in each experiment.  The experiment is replicated, detailed analysis of the soil nutrient status, tree growth, and soil DNA profiles have also been collected.  The names of the bacterial and fungal phyla have been added with florescent thread, and a few of the genus names with UV sensitive ink stamps.  Photos of the experiment in Greenhouse #10 are posted below.

Organic farming piece under natural light

Organic farming piece with UV/blacklight

Conventional/NPK farming piece under natural light

Conventional/NPK farming piece with UV/blacklight

Greenhouse # 10 (in Oman) about 6 months after planting the experiment.

These photos show the two main treatments; conventional/NPK on the left, and organic farming with compost and mulch on the right.

Greenhouse #10 in spring 2023 when cloths were buried and dug for this project

Title sign for these 2 pieces

Photography credit for these images to David Mayes, professional photographer, Manhattan, Kansas.  https://davidmayes.com/