The Alpine landscape provides a unique setting for studying soil biodiversity. Steep mountain slopes, deep valley soils, and varying altitudes create diverse habitats, while a humid Alpine climate, characterized by cool summers, freezing winters, and frequent rainfall, shapes life above and below ground.

To investigate how these ecosystems respond to climate stress, the BIOservicES partner, the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), leads research in the Alpine region. At experimental grassland sites in Trin, Switzerland, researchers are studying how Alpine soils respond to increased temperatures and reduced precipitation.

Where did the second soil sampling campaign take place?

From 4 to 8 May 2026, the BIOservicES team returned to Trin, Graubünden, Switzerland, for the second soil sampling campaign in the Alpine region. Sampling took place at a similar time of year and followed largely the same approach as during the first campaign in 2024.

This ongoing research addresses key stakeholder questions by examining the interactive effects of climate change and management intensity, specifically the effects of varying cutting and fertilization frequencies on soil response.

The Alpine landscape itself creates very different soil conditions. As observed during the first campaign, soils on mountain slopes tend to be shallow, while valleys contain deeper deposits of rock, gravel and fine material. The geology of the Trin area is particularly distinctive, having been shaped by a major rockslide around 10,000 years ago and continuing to be influenced by erosion and landslides.

How was the second sampling campaign carried out?

Researchers revisited the same experimental sites as during the first campaign, taking new samples from different spots within those locations.

The team followed the established BIOservicES sampling protocol, keeping methods consistent with 2024 aside from a few minor tweaks.

To simulate future climate conditions, samples were collected both inside and outside experimental rainout shelters and warming chambers, designed to simulate reduced precipitation and increased temperatures. The overall sample count per location remained the same as during the previous campaign.

Why return to the same Alpine soils?

Two sampling campaigns allow BIOservicES to examine changes over time rather than relying on observations from a single point.

For two years, the climate experiment has reduced precipitation and increased temperature, providing insights into long-term soil and ecosystem responses to climate stress.

This is particularly relevant in the Alpine region, where earlier data showed that different species react to heat and drought in unique ways.

What has the team observed so far?

During the second campaign, researchers observed visible differences in vegetation and plant diversity between grasslands with different management intensities.

They also noticed that vegetation exposed to the experimentally drier and hotter conditions was more advanced in its development than vegetation in the corresponding control plots. At the same time, the experimental plots produced less biomass than the control plots. 

Detailed laboratory analyses, including chemical, physical, and biological properties, will validate initial observations and reveal deeper soil responses below the surface.

What can the experiment tell us about climate change?

This experiment is important for understanding how increasing temperatures and drought may affect the functioning and biodiversity of Alpine soils under future climate conditions. By comparing soils exposed to reduced rainfall and warming with control soils, we hope to determine how these climate stresses influence soil organisms, nutrient cycling, and overall soil health, and whether the effects differ between grasslands with different management intensities.

Was the second campaign easier than the first?

One advantage of returning to the same region was the team’s deeper knowledge of the sites and local conditions. Unlike the first campaign, when the team had to become familiar with a complex Alpine sampling environment, the second campaign went smoothly.

This time, everything went according to plan, although logistics remained a challenge. Working far from the institute meant arranging accommodation for a 10-person team and securing enough cooling space for the large number of samples.

What happens to the samples next?

After the fieldwork, samples were shipped to BIOservicES partner labs across Germany, Italy, Belgium, and Spain (including CSIC, UPCT, TUM, WU, CREA, and ILVO).

All samples arrived safely and are now undergoing detailed chemical, physical, and biological testing. First results are expected by the end of 2027 and will help researchers understand the effects of climate change.

Who led the Alpine sampling campaign?

The Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) led the fieldwork in Trin, coordinating the Alpine soil sampling campaign.

This article is part of our Sampling Europe’s Soils series, following the second BIOservicES campaign across the continent. Read our field stories from the Atlantic Region and Mediterranean Region, and stay connected as our journey continues.