

# Event Details

- **Event Name**: Restoring Soil Health and Microbial Communities with Native Plants
- **Event Start and End Date**: Mon, 16 Feb, 2026 at 07:00 pm
- **Event Description**: MICHIGAN BOTANICAL SOCIETY
SOUTHWESTERN CHAPTER PROGRAM

Restoring Soil Health and Microbial Communities with Native Plants

Dr. Kathryn Docherty
Professor of Biological Sciences
Western Michigan University

Monday February 16, 2026 @ 7:00 PM (Socializing begins at 6:30)
Western Michigan University, 2708 Wood Hall, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49009

The tallgrass prairie biome was once one of the largest continuous ecosystems on the planet, which was responsible for forming the most fertile and productive soil type (Mollisols) in North America. Today, 99% of that original ecosystem has been disrupted. With that disruption, many soil health benefits such as water infiltration, soil carbon storage, and specialized microbial communities, have also been altered.  But, through the efforts of many non-profit groups, farmers, and individual property owners, native prairie plants - and the ecosystem benefits they provide - are making a come-back. In this talk I will discuss several of ongoing projects in my research group at WMU that highlight the work of many dedicated land stewards and community partners. First, we’ll examine how prairie strips, or prairies installed the length of an agricultural field adjacent to crops, can help improve soils while providing pollinator habitat. Next, we’ll think more about the choices that farmers and conservationists face when installing a prairie, and how those choices might affect soils, plants, and microbes in the long term. Finally, we’ll explore an exciting new project in my group that is examining how native plants installed by home owners in the City of Kalamazoo affect soil health compared to traditional lawns.

Dr. Kathryn Docherty is a soil microbial ecologist and a faculty member at Western Michigan University since 2011. Her research interests are in understanding how restoring disturbed land to native grassland installations influences soil microbial communities, plant-soil-microbe interactions, and soil health. Before joining the faculty at WMU she conducted her PhD research at the University of Notre Dame (2001-2007) and then postdoctoral work at the University of Oregon (2007-2010) and the National Ecological Observatory Network (2010-2011).

All indoor programs are at Western Michigan University, 2708 Wood Hall, 1903 West Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo MI 49009. Socializing begins at 6:30 pm and the programs begin at 7:00 pm. Non-members are always welcome to join us for programs and fieldtrips.
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/kalamazoo/restoring-soil-health-and-microbial-communities-with-native-plants/200029615233331
- **Event Categories**: health-wellness
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 20

## Ticket Details

- **Ticket URL**: http://facebook.com/200029615233331?utm_source=AllEvents.in&utm_medium=event-discovery-platform&utm_campaign=kalamazoo-events

## Event venue details

- **city**: Kalamazoo
- **state**: MI
- **country**: United States
- **location**: Wood Hall - Western Michigan University
- **lat**: 42.28255107538
- **long**: -85.616607410596
- **full address**: Wood Hall - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo,MI,United States

## Event Organizer details

- **affiliate_id**: 2
- **organizer**: Michigan Botanical Society, Southwestern Chapter (https://allevents.in/org/michigan-botanical-society-southwestern-chapter/14877671)

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: banner
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/8e1606b601779f006f952209d91e90c4cd0aea505af02921f1c8d4b4f4d723ab-rimg-w1200-h900-dcbed1dd-gmir?v=1770850581
- **Alt text**: thumbnail
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events6/banners/8e58a2efe7487834dd13d57e4dfa9dc6d084ccaba6aa8bdbe81de1ea76e1bb86-rimg-w300-h300-dcbfd1dd-gmir?v=1770850581

## FAQs

- **Q**: When is the event happening?
  - **A:** Mon, 16 Feb, 2026 at 07:00 pm
- **Q**: Where is the event happening?
  - **A:** Wood Hall - Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo,MI,United States
- **Q**: Who is organizing the event?
  - **A:** Michigan Botanical Society, Southwestern Chapter
- **Q**: What type of event is this?
  - **A:** health-wellness
- **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Restoring Soil Health and Microbial Communities with Native Plants ?
  - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents.

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