Basic introduction about the section

Research in the Soil Physics and Hydropedology Section focuses on understanding the critical roles of soil in food security, environmental protection, and climate regulation. Soil is the thin, fragile crust of the earth, fundamental to life, yet under constant threat from erosion, compaction, carbon loss, and sealing. Our research seeks to improve insights into soil's physical, chemical, and hydrological processes, supporting sustainable soil management at local, regional, and national scales.

Section coordinator: Karina Rysholt Christensen, e-mail: kch@agro.au.dk, mobile: +45 4071 1132

We combine fundamental and applied research to provide knowledge about:

the role of soil health in ecosystems, climate mitigation, crop resilience, and sustainable food production
the role of soil structure in water and gas transport, root growth, microbial habitats, and crop productivity
hydrological processes, with a focus on the transport of sediments, nutrients, and contaminants from the root zone to the aquatic environment
how detailed, high-resolution soil maps can support sustainable soil management, precision agriculture, and targeted regulation
the mechanical processes leading to soil compaction, its impacts on crop yield, soil functions, and the environment, as well as the natural processes of soil recovery
how advanced sensor technologies can enhance soil monitoring, high-resolution soil mapping, and understanding of soil properties for precision agriculture, environmental assessment, and sustainable soil management
the ecosystem functions of wetlands, biodiversity, greenhouse gas dynamics, and their potential as nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and sustainable land use

We perform:

the development, testing, measurement, modelling, and mapping of indicators for assessing and benchmarking soil health
quantification of soil structure using classical and cutting-edge methods, including water retention analyses, gas transport measurements, and 3D visualisation with micro-CT, as well as studies on compaction, crop rotation, and soil amendments
experiments at multiple scales to advance end-of pipe solutions such as constructed wetlands and compact filter systems that reduce nutrient losses from agricultural fields
the development of advanced soil maps by integrating measured soil properties with satellite imagery, ground- and drone-based sensor data, and legacy information, analysed using statistical approaches including machine learning and geostatistics
numerical, experimental, and theoretical studies of the mechanical behaviour of agricultural soils, including stress propagation, stress–strain relationships, soil mechanical strength, and the short- and long-term effects of soil deformation
application of both field- and laboratory-based sensor and measurement techniques, including electromagnetic induction, electrical resistance, ground penetrating radar, gamma spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS, FTIR), LIBS, TDR, drones, robots, and advanced laboratory methods, combined with multivariate data analysis and collaboration with industry
interdisciplinary research on wetlands, including mapping, restoration strategies, biogeochemistry, and policy frameworks, aimed at promoting protection, restoration, and sustainable use