The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) provides standardized, continentally distributed observations of soil chemical, physical, and biological properties. Consistent, spatially and temporally resolved data facilitate synthesis of broad-scale patterns and how they change over time – yet may not lead to mechanistic understanding of the drivers of observed trends. The power of NEON datasets are enhanced when paired with experiments and more advanced observational studies. This talk will present several examples where the pairing of standardized datasets with targeted experiments is catalyzing transformative insights into how soils work. Moreover, I propose a general path forward for soil-oriented research networks.
