Fertile soils

Carrots growing in the soil

This research theme focuses on how soil biota shape the functioning and productivity of agricultural systems. We investigate how soil organisms contribute to nutrient cycles (N, P and micronutrients) and how this knowledge can be used to strengthen soil ecosystem services and enable more sustainable, efficient agriculture.

Our focus

Efficient nutrient use is essential for sustainable agricultural production. We study how soil biota, including plant roots and mycorrhiza, supply nutrients to crops, and how human activities influence these processes. This understanding is vital for creating reliable agricultural systems that can feed a growing global population.


Our research spans different spatial scales and regions. We examine, for example, how earthworms improve phosphate bioavailability, and how diverse plant mixtures enhance soil quality and reduce nutrient losses. These studies take place in both Europe and China and include interactions with mycorrhizal fungi.


In collaboration with social and plant scientists, we explore how to close the phosphate cycle from human waste back to crop production, and how fertile soils can be created in challenging environments such as the Amazon basin. We also study how better application of micro- and macronutrients can boost crop yields in nutrient-poor soils in Sub-Saharan Africa, ultimately improving grain quality for human consumption.