Abstract: An analytics system uses soil health indicators to determine metrics for soil samples. In an embodiment, the analytics system receives metadata describing a soil sample, where the metadata indicates one or more types of crops grown in a geographical location having the soil sample. The analytics system determines nucleic acid sequence reads of the soil sample. The analytics system determines taxonomic information of the nucleic acid sequence reads. The analytics system determines microbial composition of the soil sample using the taxonomic information. The analytics system determines reference metrics of soil samples from geographical locations in which the one or more types of crop were grown. The analytics system determines a metric of the soil sample using the microbial composition and the reference metrics. The analytics system transmits the metric to a client device.

Abstract: A method of selecting a treatment recommendation for nitrogen loss in a field includes measuring a first characteristic of a soil sample that is related to biologic nitrogen loss to produce a measured value. A second characteristic of the soil sample is measured and is used to select a sample group for the soil sample. The measured value is scaled based on the soil sample group the soil sample is placed into to form a scaled measure and the scaled measure is used to select a treatment recommendation.

Abstract: A method of indicating a characteristic of a soil sample of a field includes measuring a co-factor in the soil sample and using the co-factor to place the soil sample in a soil sample group. The characteristic of the soil sample is measured and then is scaled based on the soil sample group. The scaled measure is displayed to better represent the characteristic of the soil sample relative to soil samples of the sample group.

Abstract: A method of selecting a treatment recommendation to improve sustainable farming of a field includes obtaining soil from the field and measuring biologic content in the soil. The biologic content is used to determine an ability of the soil to sequester a greenhouse gas and the ability of the soil to sequester the greenhouse gas is used to select a treatment recommendation to increase the ability of the soil to sequester the greenhouse gas.

Abstract: An analytics system uses soil health indicators to determine metrics for soil samples. In an embodiment, the analytics system receives metadata describing a soil sample, where the metadata indicates one or more types of crops grown in a geographical location having the soil sample. The analytics system determines nucleic acid sequence reads of the soil sample. The analytics system determines taxonomic information of the nucleic acid sequence reads. The analytics system determines microbial composition of the soil sample using the taxonomic information. The analytics system determines reference metrics of soil samples from geographical locations in which the one or more types of crop were grown. The analytics system determines a metric of the soil sample using the microbial composition and the reference metrics. The analytics system transmits the metric to a client device.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an analytics system determines nucleic acid sequence reads of genetic material in a soil sample from a geographical location. The analytics system determines a first set of measures of a plurality of gene functions represented in the nucleic acid sequence reads. The analytics system determines a second set of measures of a plurality of metabolic pathways of microorganisms present in soil at the geographical location. The analytics system determines a third set of measures of a plurality of soil health indicators of the soil at the geographical location, the plurality of soil health indicators including a plurality of levels of granularity. The analytics system determines a measure of an agronomic attribute of the soil at the geographical location as a function of the first, second, and third sets of measures.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an analytics system determines nucleic acid sequence reads of genetic material in a soil sample from a geographical location. The analytics system determines a first set of measures of a plurality of gene functions represented in the nucleic acid sequence reads. The analytics system determines a second set of measures of a plurality of metabolic pathways of microorganisms present in soil at the geographical location. The analytics system determines a third set of measures of a plurality of soil health indicators of the soil at the geographical location, the plurality of soil health indicators including a plurality of levels of granularity. The analytics system determines a measure of an agronomic attribute of the soil at the geographical location as a function of the first, second, and third sets of measures.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection of pathogens and other microbes using nucleotide analysis is described. Aligned and unaligned nucleotide sequences are utilized to predict the presence or absence of pathogens and other microbes.

Abstract: A system and method for the detection of pathogens and other microbes using nucleotide analysis is described. Aligned and unaligned nucleotide sequences are utilized to predict the presence or absence of pathogens and other microbes.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an analytics system determines nucleic acid sequence reads of genetic material in a soil sample from a geographical location. The analytics system determines a first set of measures of a plurality of gene functions represented in the nucleic acid sequence reads. The analytics system determines a second set of measures of a plurality of metabolic pathways of microorganisms present in soil at the geographical location. The analytics system determines a third set of measures of a plurality of soil health indicators of the soil at the geographical location, the plurality of soil health indicators including a plurality of levels of granularity. The analytics system determines a measure of an agronomic attribute of the soil at the geographical location as a function of the first, second, and third sets of measures.

Abstract: Methods for quantifying the efficiency of nucleic acid extraction from a sample comprising a mixture of species are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises adding an initial amount of one or more spike-ins to the sample, extracting nucleic acids from the sample, quantifying the amount of the one or more spike-ins in the extracted nucleic acid sample, and comparing the initial amount of the one or more spike-ins to the quantified amount of the one or more spike-ins.

Abstract: Methods for quantifying the efficiency of nucleic acid extraction from a sample comprising a mixture of species are provided. In some embodiments, the method comprises adding an initial amount of one or more spike-ins to the sample, extracting nucleic acids from the sample, quantifying the amount of the one or more spike-ins in the extracted nucleic acid sample, and comparing the initial amount of the one or more spike-ins to the quantified amount of the one or more spike-ins.

Abstract: An analytics system uses soil health indicators to determine metrics for soil samples. In an embodiment, the analytics system receives metadata describing a soil sample, where the metadata indicates one or more types of crops grown in a geographical location having the soil sample. The analytics system determines nucleic acid sequence reads of the soil sample. The analytics system determines taxonomic information of the nucleic acid sequence reads. The analytics system determines microbial composition of the soil sample using the taxonomic information. The analytics system determines reference metrics of soil samples from geographical locations in which the one or more types of crop were grown. The analytics system determines a metric of the soil sample using the microbial composition and the reference metrics. The analytics system transmits the metric to a client device.