Soil health and nutrition optimisation

About this expertise

In short
  • Integrated soil management
  • Nutrient management and fertilisation strategies
  • Tillage and soil structure
  • Soil-borne pests and diseases
  • Long-term field experiments on different soil types
Get in touch with us

Healthy soils are the foundation of future-proof crop production. We study how soil structure, fertilisation and soil life can be brought into balance and translate this into practical solutions – from precision fertilisation and sensor technology to integrated soil quality planning. Our research supports farmers, policymakers and other partners in reducing costs and minimising environmental impact.

Together with farmers and value chain partners, we develop knowledge of physical, chemical and biological soil processes. Using modelling and systems analysis, we translate this knowledge into practical applications for smart organic matter management, innovative tillage and the control of soil-borne pests and diseases.

A key focus is the development of sustainable fertilisation strategies. By applying nutrients efficiently, we reduce nutrient leaching and pressure on water quality. This also lowers greenhouse gas emissions such as CO₂, while ensuring crops receive sufficient nutrients for optimal growth. Through precision fertilisation, we develop solutions that are both effective and sustainable.

Alongside modelling, we carry out field experiments to test and refine soil and fertilisation strategies. These trials show how measures affect yield, costs and the environment at both farm and regional scales. The results provide farmers with directly applicable solutions and offer policymakers and investors a sound scientific basis for sustainable soil management.

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Plants growing in soil, roots are visible.

Call for Partners | SoilAmend: Platform for assessing Quality and Effect of Soil Amendments

Soil amendments are products that are applied to increase crop quality (e.g. efficiency of nutrient use), resilience (e.g. resistance to abiotic stress) and yield.

Earth and grass

Is something up with soil?

Over the past few years there’s been more and more discussion among farmers, advisers, government agencies, funders and the media about agricultural soil, and soils in general. But some reports seem to suggest there’s something fundamentally wrong with our agricultural land. What’s the real story?

Related products, services and facilities (6)

Products, services and facilities
Researcher in greenhouse
Facility

Unifarm – Research facility for plant science

Unifarm provides companies with access to advanced facilities for high-quality plant and crop research. From large-scale field trials and controlled greenhouse experiments to studies with specific plant material, including quarantine organisms – we create the right research environment with professional support. Our experts are client-focused and combine a hands-on approach with technical expertise to ensure professional execution of experiments.

Facility

Trial site Lelystad

Trial site Lelystad is WUR’s largest experimental site, located on young marine clay. With 700 hectares of trial-ready fields, we have the capacity to set up everything from small-scale to very large and complex field experiments. These can be combined with laboratory analyses and high-quality storage facilities.

Facility

Trial site Marwijksoord

On the sandy soils of Drenthe in Marwijksoord lies the Kooijenburg experimental farm. This research and demonstration site for arable and forage crops is the only WUR trial location on northern sandy soils in the Netherlands, with a historic nutrient deficiency field. On 60 hectares of sandy soil, we conduct practical research in cooperation with farmers and chain partners.

Facility

Trial site Valthermond

Trial site Valthermond is the only Wageningen University & Research trial location on peat-colonial sandy loam. This makes the site uniquely suited for practice-oriented research into soil quality, cropping systems, biodiversity and new technologies. Collaboration with farmers, chain partners and governments is central.

Facility

Trial site Vredepeel

Vredepeel, located in Venray, is the trial site for the sandy soils of the southeastern Netherlands. We conduct practical field trials on crops and cropping systems, focusing on soil quality, resilient cultivation, fertilisation, water and erosion. Together with Trial Site Wijnandsrade, we also carry out field research on loess soils in South Limburg.

Facility

Trial site Westmaas

The Westmaas field crops trial site, situated in the Hoeksche Waard region of South Holland, specialises in research on potatoes, cereals and sugar beet. The soils are predominantly heavy silt loam to light clay. In addition to field trials, the location offers extensive facilities for potato storage research. With its excellent infrastructure, Westmaas enables integrated chain research from field to product quality.

Get in touch with our expert

Contact

Do you have a question or would you like to collaborate?

ir. JTW (John) Verhoeven

Expert soil health and nutrition optimisation