**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE USE OF COVER CROPS IS WIDELY RECOMMENDED AS A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH BETWEEN AND DURING CROP CYCLES. HOWEVER, WHILE THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS THE USE OF COVER CROPS AS A MEANS TO IMPROVE SOIL HEALTH THERE REMAINS A KNOWLEDGE GAP IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW DIFFERENT COVER CROP SPECIES SHAPE SOIL MICROBIOMES AND IN TURN, HOW THE SOIL MICROBIOME INFLUENCES DESIRED FUNCTIONS RELATED TO SOIL HEALTH. PREVIOUS RESEARCH BY OUR TEAM AND OTHERS HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT THE COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY OF THE SOIL MICROBIAL COMMUNITY CAN BE INFLUENCED BY THE PRESENCE OF SPECIFIC CARBON-BASED MOLECULES, SECONDARY METABOLITES, AND SIGNALING CHEMICALS THAT ENTER THE SOIL THROUGH ROOT EXUDATION. FURTHERMORE, WE KNOW THAT THERE CAN BE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES IN ROOT EXUDATE COMPOSITION BETWEEN PLANT SPECIES. HENCE, THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT THE USE OF DIFFERENT COVER CROP SPECIES AS A MEANS TO ALTER THE SOIL MICROBIOME FOR DESIRED FUNCTION VIA ROOT EXUDATION. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO EVALUATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE ROOT EXUDATE COMPOSITION OF DIFFERENT COVER CROP SPECIES, OBSERVABLE ALTERATIONS IN THE MICROBIOME COMPOSITION AND DIVERSITY, AND DESIRED SOIL FUNCTIONS. IN ADDITION, WE WILL EVALUATE THE EXTENT TO WHICH SHIFTS IN SOIL MICROBIAL COMPOSITION PERSIST INTO THE FOLLOWING CASH CROP. IMPROVING OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THESE RELATIONSHIPS WILL PROVIDE FUNDAMENTAL KNOWLEDGE THAT CAN BE APPLIED TO SELECTING AND POTENTIALLY BREEDING COVER CROPS TO ACHIEVE DESIRED SOIL HEALTH BENEFITS AND IMPROVE OVERALL AGROECOSYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY.