Research activities
The Soil Research Centre carries out internationally renown research in a vibrant, multi-disciplinary environment. We study the role of soil in both pristine and impacted systems in natural, agricultural and industrial contexts. Soils are an exciting interdisciplinary area to research because they are at the interface between geological, atmospheric, biological and hydrological systems. Understanding this "critical zone" is key to effectively managing the vital ecosystem services that support human health and well being. At Reading, our research is focussed on the following themes.
- Biodiversity and soil biology
- Biogeochemistry
- Climate change
- Pollution and remediation
- Past, present and future land use
- Soil - vegetation - atmosphere transfer
- Waste management
Read about some of our recent projects:
- Climate Change and the British Uplands
- Hampshire Avon Demonstration Test Catchment
- Environmental significance of earthworm secreted calcium carbonate
- Mitigation potential of horizontal ground coupled heat pumps
- Soil, health and environment network (SHE-Net)
- The conflicting demands of land use, soil biodiversity and the sustainable delivery of ecosystem goods
- Trophic linkages between above and below ground organisms as a key to successful restoration of biodiversity on ex-arable land across Europe
- Developing experimental approaches in archaeology
- Central Zagros Archaeological Project