Anke Herrmann

My research aims to advance our fundamental understanding of soil processes by exploring the energetic and physicochemical constraints governing soil ecosystem functioning. A central focus is the dynamics of organic matter turnover across diverse soil environments, particularly the role of microbial metabolism and energy transformations in regulating carbon cycling and its feedbacks to the climate system.

I have pioneered terrestrial bioenergetics as an emerging field of soil research, applying thermodynamic concepts and energy-based measurements to advance our mechanistic understanding of soil processes.

Alongside my scientific research, I lead the Soil Nutrient Cycling research group at SLU. I previously served as Head of the Department of Soil and Environment and coordinated Sweden's participation in the European Joint Programme EJP SOIL (2020–2025).

My broader ambition is to connect fundamental scientific understanding with innovative approaches to soil management, environmental sustainability, and evidence-based decision-making.

My research seeks to understand how physical, chemical, and biological processes interact to regulate soil functioning across spatial and temporal scales. By integrating experimental approaches with thermodynamic concepts, I investigate the mechanisms governing microbial metabolism, organic matter transformations, and nutrient cycling under changing environmental conditions.

My research spans four interconnected areas: microbial processes and bioenergetics; soil management and carbon dynamics; soil–plant–microbe interactions; and soil monitoring and scaling. Together, these areas connect fundamental soil science with sustainable land management and contribute to our understanding of agricultural resilience, resource efficiency, and the long-term challenges of food security and preparedness.

Microbial processes and bioenergetics
My research investigates microbial metabolism and energy transformations as fundamental drivers of soil carbon cycling. Using isothermal calorimetry, calorespirometry, and complementary microbial and biochemical analyses, I examine how microorganisms acquire, utilise, and dissipate energy, and how these processes relate to carbon use efficiency, microbial growth, and organic matter decomposition.

Soil management and carbon dynamics
I investigate how agricultural management practices and environmental drivers influence microbial communities, organic matter transformations, and soil carbon dynamics. Particular attention is given to soil structure, substrate availability, and environmental conditions that regulate microbial activity and long-term soil fertility.

Soil–plant–microbe interactions
My research addresses the chemical, biological, and energetic mechanisms governing interactions between soils, plants, and microorganisms. This includes investigating how nutrient availability, stoichiometric relationships, root-derived compounds, and the energetic costs of root growth influence nutrient cycling, microbial functioning, and carbon dynamics.

Soil monitoring and scaling
I contribute to the development and evaluation of approaches for monitoring soil properties and ecosystem functioning across spatial and temporal scales. This includes soil carbon monitoring, biological and functional indicators, and the integration of experimental measurements with spatial information to better understand soil variability and long-term changes in soil functioning.

My research has contributed to advancing a mechanistic understanding of soil processes by introducing energetic and thermodynamic perspectives into soil biogeochemistry. In particular, I have pioneered terrestrial bioenergetics as an emerging field of soil research, demonstrating how energy-based measurements and thermodynamic concepts provide new insights into microbial metabolism and soil carbon cycling.

This work has contributed to conceptual and methodological advances linking microbial energy transformations to ecosystem functioning, including the application of calorespirometry to quantify microbial metabolism (Herrmann et al., 2014; Chakrawal et al., 2020). Its influence on the international research agenda is reflected in the conceptual framework of the German Research Foundation (DFG) Priority Programme SoilSystems.

More recently, this bioenergetic perspective has been extended to plant root functioning, exploring how environmental constraints and root physiological traits influence the energetic costs and carbon use efficiency of root growth (Herrmann & Colombi, 2019; Colombi et al., 2026). This provides a broader framework for understanding the links between energy allocation, plant growth, and carbon cycling in soil–plant systems.

Another important dimension of my research is advancing soil monitoring by integrating biological, chemical, and functional indicators to better understand soil processes and their responses to environmental change and land management. My involvement in the EU SoilHarmony project and the Swedish Soil Biology Monitoring programme, funded by the Swedish Board of Agriculture, contributes to the development and harmonisation of approaches for assessing soil biological functioning across spatial and temporal scales. These initiatives strengthen the scientific basis for long-term soil monitoring at national and European levels.

Together, these contributions reflect my broader ambition to connect fundamental scientific understanding with advances in soil monitoring, sustainable land management, and environmental sustainability.

I have extensive experience in academic leadership, research management, and international scientific collaboration, combining institutional responsibilities with the development and coordination of interdisciplinary research initiatives.

As Professor and Head of the Soil Nutrient Cycling research group at SLU, I provide scientific leadership across a broad research portfolio spanning fundamental soil processes, sustainable nutrient management, and long-term soil monitoring.

Previously, as Head of the Department of Soil and Environment at SLU, I was responsible for strategic and operational leadership, including research development, personnel management, and organisational processes.

At the European level, I coordinated Sweden's participation in the European Joint Programme EJP SOIL (2020–2025), contributing to international research collaboration, capacity building, and the integration of soil research across national and disciplinary boundaries.

I have also coordinated international research initiatives, including AgroMixNorth, which brings together partners from Northern Europe to advance resilient soil management and food preparedness. My leadership experience further includes doctoral education, research capacity building, and the development of international scientific networks.