agrifoodtech.cofund@upct.es
Innovative approaches to sustainable
horticultural production under
soil compaction
Research Code: C1-SOIL COMPACTION
| What are we looking for
We are seeking innovative research proposals aimed at mitigating the effects of subsoil compaction or improving the management of compacted soils in horticultural production systems, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture and reducing pressures on soil health.
Keep in mind that supervisors are not allowed to get involved in the project proposal preparation.
The Context:
Subsoil compaction is recognized globally as a major constraint to soil health and crop productivity, particularly in intensive agricultural regions. In Europe, for example, an estimated 32-36 % of subsoils are considered highly susceptible to compaction, affecting nearly 3 million hectares. This physical degradation, often linked to the repeated use of heavy machinery, has long-term impacts on the soil-plant continuum and on key rhizosphere-related processes. This challenge is particularly relevant in horticultural production systems, where root-soil interactions and rhizosphere functioning play a central role in sustaining plant performance under physical soil constraints.
A range of soil-plant-based strategies have been proposed to alleviate the effects of subsoil compaction. These approaches include, for instance, enhancing root metabolic activity and microbial functioning, promoting natural biopore formation, or modifying root exudation patterns to stimulate microbially mediated improvements in soil structure. Despite ongoing advances, significant knowledge gaps remain regarding how plants, soils and microbial communities interact under compacted conditions, particularly in relation to rhizosphere processes and long-term soil structural recovery.
The problem to address:
Soil compaction is a major constraint to sustainable agricultural production, as it reduces pore space, limits gas exchange, and restricts root growth and water infiltration. These structural alterations lead to oxygen deficiency in the rhizosphere, impaired microbial activity, and decreased nutrient uptake, ultimately compromising plant development and yield. Compacted soils also exhibit reduced hydraulic conductivity and increased susceptibility to waterlogging or drought stress, depending on environmental conditions. Moreover, compaction can persist for years, hindering soil recovery and requiring targeted management interventions. As agricultural intensification increases, addressing soil compaction has become essential for maintaining soil health, crop productivity, and long-term ecosystem resilience.
Objectives:
- To advance understanding of how soil management practices may influence root system architecture, resource-use efficiency, and plant resilience under compacted or suboptimal soil conditions.
- To investigate soil-plant-microbe interactions under physical soil constraints, including potential effects on microbial activity, community structure, and nutrient cycling.
- To improve understanding of how soil management practices influence key physicochemical and biological soil properties in compacted soils.
- To explore how insights generated from experimental, analytical, or modelling perspectives may contribute to more sustainable horticultural production strategies.
Expected Outcomes:
Research conducted under this line may contribute to advancing understanding of how soil-plant-based strategies relate to subsoil compaction and rhizosphere functionality in horticultural systems. Possible outcomes may include:
- Potential contributions to a deeper understanding of rhizosphere processes and soil-plant-microbe interactions under compacted conditions.
- Insights into how soil management practices may influence key soil physicochemical and biological properties in compacted horticultural systems.
- Improved conceptual understanding of the mechanisms underlying soil structural and functional recovery under compaction, as well as factors influencing plant tolerance to compacted conditions.
- Contributions that may inform modelling efforts or long-term assessments of soil recovery trajectories and crop performance.
- Knowledge that may help identify broader principles or considerations for enhancing the sustainability of horticultural production systems under compacted soil conditions.
Candidate Qualifications (if any):
Candidates from any relevant discipline are welcome. Backgrounds that would be particularly well suited include soil science, agronomy, plant or environmental sciences. Experience in areas such as bioinformatics, image analysis, statistics, or modelling applied to plant-soil systems would be considered an asset.