Catalyst-Activated Cycle (CAC) – Manuscript 2: Microbial Succession and Functional Recovery in the Rhizosphere

The Catalyst-Activated Cycle (CAC) establishes a regenerative soil framework in which controlled microbial resets initiate measurable ecological recovery. Building on the mechanistic foundation of Manuscript 1 (M1), this second paper quantifies how microbial succession reorganizes soil ecosystems following catalyst application and how that reorganization generates functional and climate benefits. Across replicated field trials in Maine and New Brunswick, soil communities transitioned predictably from pathogen-dominated to resilient, functionally redundant networks dominated by Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Trichoderma. These successions corresponded with sustained yield recovery and significant increases in the Functional Resilience Quotient (FRQ)—a composite metric integrating network cohesion, suppressiveness, gene redundancy, and resource-use efficiency. Higher FRQ values were associated with 23 % less nitrogen fertilizer and 22 % less diesel use, confirming that biological recovery drives measurable Avoided Emissions (AE). Concurrent stabilization of microbial necromass established a durable carbon pathway consistent with Sequestered Emissions (SE). Verification protocols governed by the Catalyst-Activated Cycle Data Stewardship Council (CDSC) align CAC performance data with ISO 14064 and SBTi-FLAG standards, providing a transparent link between soil biology and climate accounting. This manuscript is part of a six-paper series describing the Catalyst-Activated Cycle (CAC), a framework for measuring soil functional recovery, agronomic performance, and climate outcomes.