Plants, Soils and Ecosystems

Plants form the basis of most terrestrial life on Earth. The growth of plants is essential for human societies, providing us with the food we need to survive. Most terrestrial plants are rooted into soil, complex ecosystems involving bacteria, fungi and animals. Researchers in Plants Soils and Ecosystems are working to understand how plants grow, how they are impacted upon by their environment and how they interact with the soil ecosystems. Our research is contributing to growing understanding of the impacts of human activities on natural communities and on how we can improve the productivity and sustainability of agriculture.