Soil Physics and Land Management Group
Research in the chair group Soil Physics and Land Management (SLM) addresses soil physical and hydrological processes at different temporal and spatial scales, and their central role in sustainable land and water management. Specific attention is given to flow and transport processes of water and solutes through and over the soil system, and their effects on crops, vegetation and the groundwater.
Our research
Research in the chair group Soil Physics and Land Management (SLM) addresses soil physical and hydrological processes at different temporal and spatial scales, and their central role in sustainable land and water management.
Our laboratory:
Featured
Microplastics paper highlighted in Sciencemag
A publication lead by SLM researchers is highlighted in Sciencemag:
"Microplastics commonly found in marine environments can cause harm to marine organisms when ingested. Terrestrial environments are also widely polluted with plastics, but little is known about their effect on terrestrial species. Huerta Lwanga et al. have investigated the effect of polyethylene microplastics in plant litter on earthworms. To provide a realistic exposure scenario, the authors added the microplastics to plant litter deposited on the soil surface. They show that environmentally relevant microplastic concentrations led to reduced earthworm growth and elevated mortality as compared to a control. Futhermore, earthworms may transport microplastics into soils, from which they may leach into surface waters."
About us:
Soil 4 Life MOOC is now online!
Learn why soil is so important, how it’s being threatened and what we can do to protect this natural resource so vital to our lives.
Click here to go to the website
Our courses
The Soil Physics and Land Management group teaches a variety of BSc and MSc courses, ranging from soil physics and groundwater modelling courses to courses on impact assessment and policy aspect of sustainable land management.
Go directly to the SLM
Our latest news
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Excellent Education Award for Jantiene Baartman -
Decay of LDPE plastic by bacteria extracted from earthworm's guts -
Incorporating indigenous elements into participatory land use and resource management -
High levels of glyphosate in agricultural soil: ‘Extension of approval not prudent.’ -
Land Use Planning for Enhanced Resilience of Landscapes (LAUREL): Madagascar -
2017 EGU press conference on microplastics by Esperanza Huerta -
Excellent Education Award again for Aad Kessler -
Microplastics paper highlighted in Sciencemag -
Barren land can be made green and fertile again in twenty years -
Vital soil saving techniques being trialled as International Year of Soils and COP21 come to an end