Using, Protecting and Improving the Soil

A fertile soil is the basic requirement for profitable and sustainable farming. Agroscope experts investigate what factors constitute a fertile soil, and what measures can be used to maintain or improve soil functions. For this, they develop improved cultivation methods, new soil amendments, and tools such as the NABODAT soil information platform, the Terranimo soil compaction model, and the humus balance calculator.

The most important functions of a soil are:

The production function for plant growth;
The regulatory function; carbon storage, drinking-water filtration, nutrient cycle
Habitat function for biodiversity

Looking After the Resource of Soil

Avoiding soil compaction from traffic, maintaining or increasing humus content, striving to improve the soil – Agroscope offers information on using and protecting soils.

Recording and Improving Soil Functions

Agroscope makes an important contribution
to the assessment of ecological sustainability and provides answers regarding soil hazards and the evaluation of soil functions.

Mikrobiome and Structure of the Soil

Agroscope experts investigate how soil
ecosystems work. They focus on mycorrhizal fungi, nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and other soil microorganisms that promote plant growth.