Research of Soil Chemistry

The Soil Chemistry Group aims to develop a mechanistic understanding of soil chemical processes on the nano- and molecular scale to better understand soil functions at the field scale. Such soil functions are biomass production, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration and water regulation and purification. We improve our understanding of soil chemical processes by using both cutting-edge analytical techniques and geochemical modelling.

Our group has a strong focus on the soil solution phase and wet chemical analysis, but the soil solid phase increasingly receives our attention and facilities for measurements on this phase are available. Besides developing fundamental knowledge on soil chemical processes, we focus on how the underlying processes and soil functions are influenced by circularity such as the increasing use of residual/waste materials in soils.

Schematic representation of the various scale levels studied by the Soil Chemistry group
Schematic representation of the various scale levels studied by the Soil Chemistry group

By developing, implementing and applying soil chemical knowledge, our research contributes to the sustainable use of our soils and thereby also to attaining the sustainable development goals.

Our research themes