New endowment supports soil ecology research at KBS

A new endowment has been created to support soil ecology research at the W.K. Kellogg Biological Station. The Dazil Soil Sciences Endowment Fund will provide funding for research projects and other activities that focus on the understanding of soil ecosystems and soil health.

The Dazil Soil Sciences Endowment Fund was established by James D. Fett and Therese Sprunger, and it shares a name with Dr. Christine Dazil Sprunger, assistant professor of soil health in MSU’s Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.

Dazil Soil Sciences Endowment Fund

A description of the endowment’s origins tells a moving story—that of a young woman in Haiti, Carline Dazil, who died shortly after childbirth of a heart condition called peripartum cardiomyopathy. Before her death, Carline asked a nurse, Therese Sprunger, to adopt her unnamed, newborn child. Therese named that child Christine Dazil Sprunger, who not only survived but thrived, distinguishing herself as a scholar in the field of soil sciences.

Christine Sprunger

Research in the Sprunger Lab at KBS, which was established in 2022,  focuses on understanding how agricultural practices influence soil and rhizosphere processes for enhanced agronomic performance and ecological function, and particularly, how crop diversity and perenniality influence soil food webs, nutrient cycling, and soil health. The lab also is interested in how sustainable agriculture can contribute to climate mitigation via carbon sequestration.

“I selected soil science as an area of study during my undergrad to honor my Haitian roots,” said Dr. Sprunger. “Haiti has experienced acute and chronic soil degradation that has debilitated food production across much of the country. Haiti’s situation is a reminder of how precious soils are for a myriad of ecosystem services.” She continued, “Moreover, it provides an excellent example of why the field of soil health is so critical as it is foundational to food production, nutrient regulation, and climate change mitigation.

“The Sprunger lab is honored to be supported by the Dazil Endowment, which will be used to train MSU students in the areas of soil health and ecology.”

For more information about the Dazil Soil Science Endowment Fund or to learn how you can support research, education and outreach at KBS, visit kbs.msu.edu/support or write to givingtokbs@msu.edu.