Course: Soil Science: Exploring the World Beneath our Feet

An invasive species is one that has been accidentally or deliberately introduced to an area and threatens native biodiversity. Invasive plants can do this in several ways, one of which …

Air pollution is a major factor in global change but one pollutant people are less familiar with is atmospheric nitrogen deposition. Nitrogen is an important soil nutrient but it can …

Climate change is one of the most widely recognised changes that are happening in our environment at the moment, but what does it mean for soils? In this short video …

One of the consequences of climate change is likely to be changes in rainfall patterns. This will have consequences for soil chemistry. Former Lancaster University PhD student Kirsty Ross is …

Contamination of soils with pollutants from industrial processes is yet another threat to soils but like erosion this is an area where research is underway to try and remediate soils. …

We have seen the importance of soils through history but why are they still so important and why are they under threat? Think of some reasons why you think soil …

Plants are a very important part of life in the soil and soil is essential for the majority of plants. Plants impact on soils in a wide variety of ways. …

The soil is packed with fungi fulfilling a range of functions in the soil but one group, mycorrhizal fungi are especially important. Fungi perform a number of roles in the …

The microbial community is diverse and abundant but the microbes themselves are very small, why are they so important in how soils function? Dr Emma Sayer from Lancaster University introduces …

In this short video former PhD student Dr Ali Birkett tells us about her research and why dung beetles are so important to the environment. Have you ever thought about …

In this interview with former PhD student Rob Hardy you will learn about soil erosion and tracing fine clay particles in soil. Watch the video and consider the importance of …

Soil pores are vitally important for water and air in the soil. This film shows a CT scan of a block of soil. CT scans use x-rays to produce detailed …

There are a number of factors involved in the formation and development of soils. In this first of two videos, Professor Phil Haygarth describes the factors involved in soil formation. …