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SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

SUSTAINABLE SOILS AND CROPS

We focus our research on improved understanding of the complexity of arable and grassland production systems and what it means for practical land management, food production and environmental goals. 

The department has internationally-acknowledged expertise in the biology, chemistry and physics of soils and soil processes in arable and grassland systems. It has particular expertise in nutrient and pollutant cycling, the recycling of organic manures, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, soil-root interactions, soil and crop (including forage) modelling, soil erosion and nutrient loss, fine sediment dynamics and sediment-associated nutrient and contaminant fluxes at catchment and national scale. We have expertise in innovative crop breeding and in grazing systems, ruminant nutrition, and system economic evaluation with a growing capability in Life Cycle Assessment. We are signatories to the Concordat on Openness in Animal Research in the UK, more detail be found about our animal polices here.

CONTACTS

Rothamsted - Martin Broadley

Prof. Martin Broadley

Science Director

Sustainable Soils and Crops

Sally Murdoch

Executive Assistant to the Science Director

ALL DEPARTMENTAL STAFF

PROJECTS

Surveillance and monitoring

AGZERO+

Bringing together researchers and farmers to test innovative farming systems at scale.

Surveillance and monitoring

UPPER RIVER TAW OBSERVATORY (URTO)

The Upper River Taw Observatory has been established in a landscape with mixed land use to support the integration of science, stakeholder engagement and policy support.

Surveillance and monitoring

SOIL TO NUTRITION (S2N)

Advancing farming systems through an enhanced mechanistic understanding of nutrient use efficiency, productivity and resilience from soil to food product.

Surveillance and monitoring

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS (ASSIST)

Developing and testing innovative farming systems that increase food production & resilience to future perturbations, while reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture.

Surveillance and monitoring

UK-CHINA VIRTUAL JOINT CENTRE FOR IMPROVED NITROGEN AGRONOMY CINAG

Increasing the adoption of sustainable nitrogen management practices in China and the UK through the development of novel indicators of nitrogen use efficiency.

Surveillance and monitoring

DEMONSTRATION TEST CATCHMENTS: DTC 2 (LM0304)

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of combinations of diffuse pollution mitigation measures at catchment scales

Surveillance and monitoring

ROOTS OF DECLINE? ASSEMBLY AND FUNCTION OF THE RHIZOSPHERE MICROBIOME IN RELATION TO CROP YIELD

Investigating and understanding the contribution of root-associated microorganisms to the health of oilseed rape and to maintaining crop yields.

Surveillance and monitoring

SUREROOT

Roots for the future - a systematic approach to root design

Surveillance and monitoring

AFRICA SOIL INFORMATION SERVICE

Information for accelerating sustainable agricultural adaptations in Africa

SCIENCE CLUSTERS

Surveillance and monitoring

AGRONOMY AND NUTRIENT FLOWS

It is essential to optimise the way crops and grassland are managed to enhance yield and nutrient value of produce.

Surveillance and monitoring

ATMOSPHERIC EMISSIONS AND MITIGATION

We are developing process understanding of N and C cycling to quantify and mitigate greenhouse gas and ammonia fluxes in agricultural systems

Surveillance and monitoring

ENVIRONMENT AND SYSTEMS MODELLING

Combining expertise in integrating empirical and modelling approaches to characterise agricultural impacts on resource sustainability and scope for mitigating those impacts

Surveillance and monitoring

GRAZING LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS

We are at a crucial time for livestock agriculture where we need to maximize production and minimize pollution, but great care must be taken when assessing systems due to the complexity of the algorithm required for sustainable intensification.

Surveillance and monitoring

SYSTEMS MODELLING

Our research focusses on evaluating the sustainability of modern agricultural practices and the trade-offs with the provision of environmental goods and services