Soil biology
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Related research topics
Fungi, bacteria and animals form complex communities in soil and interact with plant roots, organic matter and minerals. Soil organisms play an important role in agriculture and forestry and are central to the regulation of carbon and nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
A better understanding of soil biology makes it possible to better predict how ecosystems respond to environmental changes related to forestry, pollution and climate change.
Due to the challenges of studying underground organisms and processes, there are still large gaps in knowledge and a lot to discover.
Research Themes
Climate
There are large amounts of carbon in the soil that can reduce or increase the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Soil biology research is important for understanding how soil organisms and processes affect soil carbon stocks and thus the ongoing climate change. This research helps us to better predict how the climate may develop in the future and affect ecosystems.
Biodiversity
Research also provides knowledge about how agriculture and forestry affect soil biodiversity and the soil processes that these organisms drive, such as nutrient cycling.
Our research can answer questions such as
- How do different soil organisms participate in the build-up and decomposition of soil organic matter?
- How can plants drive important soil processes by living in symbiosis with other soil organisms, e.g. in mycorrhizal interactions with fungi?
- How do climate and environmental changes affect soil organism communities and the processes they drive?
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