MJ (Hannah) Vos PhD

MJ (Hannah) Vos PhD

Lecturer / Researcher Soil Fertility

Since September 2022 I joined the Soil Chemistry group as a lecturer/researcher in the theme of Soil Fertility. In my research I focus on the interphase between soil chemistry and soil biology, and I am particularly interested in the effects of earthworms on the availability of the important nutrient phosphorus. Phosphorus (P) is often the limiting factor for plant growth and therefore P fertilisers are widely used in agriculture. However, phosphate rock, the prime source of mineral P fertiliser, is non-renewable, and its long-term availability is increasingly at stake. On the other hand, P fertilisation beyond plant needs imposes large risks to the environment. My research is a clear example of a ‘nature-based solution’ as I look at nature to find a solution for this problem. Therefore, I study the contribution of earthworms to increase the sustainability of agricultural systems by decreasing the use of P fertilisers through improving the utilisation of soil P. I focus on earthworms, as those can temporally and locally increase the level of readily plant-available phosphate in soil and thereby improve the P uptake of grass and enhance its biomass production.

As a lecturer, I supervise BSc and MSc students that want to write their theses in our group, and I am involved in the first years BSc course Principles of Soil Processes (SOC22803) and the second year BSc course Soil Pollution and Soil Protection (SOC21306). I really enjoy explaining the concepts of soil chemistry to the next generation of soil scientists. I particularly enjoy it when I see in my classes that the practical parts help students to understand soil chemical concepts.