A new study shows that both living and dead microbes in the soil can act as early signs of soil health when regenerative farming practices are used. Researchers from North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Emory University conducted the study, focusing on how these tiny organisms can signal changes in soil carbon levels long before direct measurements are possible. Regenerative agriculture aims to improve soil health by using practices like reduced tillage and cover cropping, and the study explored how these methods affect soil carbon storage in agroforestry systems—where trees like loblolly pine and pecan are grown alongside crops. The researchers measured several biological factors, including enzyme activity, microbial biomass (the number of living microbes), and microbial necromass (the remains of dead microbes). These factors help estimate the amount of carbon stored in the soil. Soil carbon is essential for maintaining soil health, as it supports nutrient cycling, biological activity, and the structure of soil ecosystems. In particular, microbial necromass is effective at storing carbon over long periods because the carbon from dead microbes can form strong chemical bonds with soil minerals, creating a stable reservoir of carbon. The study found differences between the pecan and pine systems. Pecan trees had higher total biomass, and their broadleaf foliage decomposed more easily than the needle-like leaves of loblolly pine. This difference influenced soil microbial respiration and how enzymes responded to various cover crop treatments. These findings suggest that biological indicators like enzyme activity and microbial communities can provide early clues about how soil nutrient cycling is changing due to regenerative practices. Interestingly, the study found no major difference in soil carbon levels between minimum-tillage and no-tillage methods. However, minimum-tillage was preferred because it offers additional benefits, such as reducing weed growth, without slowing the buildup of carbon in the soil. The results highlight that microbial biomass and necromass can serve as powerful early indicators of soil health, giving scientists a way to estimate carbon storage well in advance of direct measurements. The study, titled "Soil Carbon Cycle Proxies in a Regenerative Land Management System," was published in the Journal of Natural Resources and Agricultural Ecosystems. It was co-authored by researchers from Emory University and NC A&T State University, including Murray Sternberg, K. Taylor Cyle, Milon Barmon, Jack Kagan, Gwen Read, Biswanath Dari, John Kimes, Randall Quillian, and Manoj Kumar Reddy Sangireddy.