Haichao Li

I am a researcher in the Soil Nutrient Cycling Group. Currently, I lead a Formas career project about biochar stability in soils, using “bomb carbon” to study its role in carbon sequestration in the context of climate change. My interests also revolve around the interactions between soil texture, soil water content and soil organic carbon dynamics, soil nutrient cycling,  the application of isotopes in biogeochemistry and X-ray CT techniques. 

Background

2025-present, researcher at the Soil Nutrient Cycling Group, Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden.

2022-2024, postdoc researcher at the Research Group of Biogeochemistry of Forest Soils, Department of Soil and Environment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Sweden.

2017-2022, PhD student at the research group of Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management (SoFer), Department of Environment, Ghent University, Belgium

2014-2017, Master of Engineering, Environmental Science, College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A & F University, China

Selected publications

• Li, H., Azzi, E. S., Sundberg, C., Karltun, E., & Cederlund, H., 2024. Can inert pool models improve predictions of biochar long-term persistence in soils?. Geoderma, 452, 117093.
• Françoys, A., Li, H., Mendoza, O., Dewitte, K., Bodé, S., Boeckx, P., ... & Sleutel, S. (2024). Control of landscape position on organic matter decomposition via soil moisture during a wet summer. Soil and Tillage Research, 244, 106277.
• Azzi, E. S., Li, H., Cederlund, H., Karltun, E., Sundberg, C. (2024) Modelling biochar long-term carbon storage in soil with harmonized analysis of decomposition data. Geoderma, 441, 116761.
•  Li, H., Françoys, A., Wang, X., Zhang, S., Mendoza, O., De Neve, S., Dewitte, K., Sleutel, S. (2023) Field-scale assessment of direct and indirect effects of soil texture on organic matter mineralization during a dry summer. Science of The Total Environment, 165749.
•  Li, H., Van den Bulcke, J., Kibleur P., Mendoza, O., De Neve, S., Sleutel, S. (2022) Soil textural control on moisture distribution at the microscale and its effect on particulate organic matter mineralization. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 172, 108777.
• Li, H., Van den Bulcke, J., Mendoza O., Deroo H., Haesaert G., Dewitte K.,  De Neve, S., & Sleutel, S. (2022) Soil texture controls added organic matter mineralization by regulating soil moisture—evidence from a field experiment in a maritime climate. Geoderma, 410, 115690.
• Yin, Y., Yang, C., Li, M., Zheng, Y., Ge, C., Gu, J., Li, H., Duan M., Wang X.  & Chen, R. (2021) Research progress and prospects for using biochar to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions during composting: A review. Science of The Total Environment, 149294.
•  Li, H., Van den Bulcke, J., Wang, X., Gebremikael, M. T., Hagan, J., De Neve, S., & Sleutel, S. (2020) Soil texture strongly controls exogenous organic matter mineralization indirectly via moisture upon progressive drying—Evidence from incubation experiments. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 151, 108051.
• Qian, X., Gu, J., Sun, W., Wang, X., Li, H. (2019) Effects of passivators on antibiotic resistance genes and related mechanisms during composting of copper-enriched pig manure. Science of the total environment, 674, 383-391.
•  Li, H., Duan M., Gu J., Zhang Y., Qian X., Zhang R., Ma J., Wang X. (2017) Effects of bamboo charcoal on antibiotic resistance genes during chicken manure composting. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 140: 1-6.
• Duan M., Li H., Gu J., Tuo X., Sun W., Qian X., Wang X. (2017) Effects of biochar on reducing the abundance of oxytetracycline, antibiotic resistance genes, and human pathogenic bacteria in soil and lettuce. Environmental Pollution, 224: 787-795. 

Supervision of MSc Students

• 2023-2024, Kifilo Ouma. Stability of sludge biochars in soil, SLU.
• 2020-2021, Ugochukwu Victor Ezeakunne, Field assessment of the indirect control of soil texture on organic matter decomposition through soil moisture, Ghent University. 
• 2018-2019, Julius Hagan, Indirect control of texture on soil microbial activity through mediation of moisture, Ghent University.