Biogeochemistry and environmental assessment
Our research is focused on the importance of soils for agriculture and forestry, for ecosystems functions and for human health. Soil processes are central in biogeochemical cycles, i.e. the recirculation of elements in biotic and abiotic systems. Central research topics are how these cycles are affected by land use, management and a changing climate. The research is conducted at several scales; from process studies on molecular or microbiological level, to regional and national assessments. The group contributes to the development of process-oriented models that describes the storage and transport of different elements in the plant-soil system.
Besides research, an important part of our work involves environmental assessment and the group is responsible for two monitoring programs; the Swedish Forest Soil Inventory and the National Monitoring of Agricultural Soils and Crops. In addition, the group coordinates a large number of long-term experiments on agricultural land. The group is responsible for the Swedish submission to UNFCCC and the Kyoto protocol of green-house gases fluxes for the land-use sector. Our activities in terrestrial radioecology are unique for Sweden and the group is responsible for maintaining a national preparedness team and a radiation laboratory.
Our teaching commitment includes the responsibility for courses in soil science at the bachelor and master levels. Further, the group has substantial activities within post-graduate education and coordinates two research schools.
Our research areas
Other tasks