Soil Fertility

Basic introduction to section

The research targets the interaction between plant growth, soil fertility, and the biogeochemically mediated turnover of nutrients and carbon in agricultural soils. Key aspects are an enhanced use efficiency of nutrients added in plant residues and animal manure, a reduced emission of greenhouse gasses, reduced losses of nutrients to the environment, and the protection of soil fertility. To meet these goals an improved synchronisation and synlocation of nutrient availability and crop demand is a key research area in the section.

Through basic and applied research, we provide knowledge on:

Ensuring that agricultural soil remains a sustainable resource for production of plant biomass
Mechanisms and quantification of greenhouse gas emissions, phosphorus and nitrogen use efficiency in different agricultural contexts such as arable/perennial crops, tillage systems and waste management incl. digestates and biochar

We:

Do modelling, lab, plot and field scale experiments
Contribute to Aarhus University's research-based policy support contract with the Danish Ministries, especially around nutrient emissions and mitigation options
Run a lab with routine analysis