Mission and research profile

Mission

Institute of Soil Science, Plant Nutrition and Environmental Protection is a unit of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, whose mission is to conduct modern research, teach students and develop scientific staff in the field of soil sciences as well as plant physiology and nutrition, in the context of the challenges posed by contemporary agriculture, forestry, environmental engineering, Earth sciences, biological sciences, archeology and others, and in coherence with the ideas of sustainable development and circular economy.

This mission is carried out in accordance with the development strategy of the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, the scientific discipline of Agriculture and Horticulture, and the Faculty of Life Sciences and Technology, and with the use of various sources of financing and institutional support, including through Leading Research Groups and Leading Teaching Groups of UPWr.

Framework research programs

• The dynamics of soil processes in various bio-ecological conditions and their impact on the natural environment and crop production
• Research on changes in the quality of soil environment and the conditions of agricultural and forestry production in the areas exposed to contaminants of industrial origin (with special focus on copper industry)
• Resources, quality and transformation of organic matter in soils in various conditions of agricultural and forestry use
• Research on the solubility, phytoavailability and ecotoxicity of heavy metals and metalloids (arsenic and antimony) in contaminated and geochemically enriched soils, in particular in the areas of historical and contemporary mining and processing of metal ores
• Research on the use of biochar and compost produced from municipal waste as the amendments to chemically degraded soils
• The impact of mineral and organic fertilization on the yields and chemical composition of plants, with considering soil fertility, environmental protection and plant response to stress factors
• Application of pedological methods in archaeological and palaeo-environmental reconstructions
   

Research and educational cooperation

Polish and foreign research and educational institutions cooperating with Institute (source of graphs and map: Base of Knowledge WUELS)

The staff of the Institute and PhD students are the members of the following Leading Research Groups:

• Agriculture-Environment-Natural Resources (AgrEn)
• Innovative Agriculture and Horticulture (InROg)
• Waste and Biomass Valorization (WBVG)

Research infrastructure

• accredited laboratory of the Centre for Environmental Quality Analysis (CND building, Grunwaldzki sq.)
• 12 specialized laboratories and a number of auxiliary rooms (building C-1, Grunwaldzka 53)
• greenhouse for pot and microplot experiments (Wrocław - Pawłowice, Pawłowicka 53)
• stationary phytotron chamber (room phytotron) with lighting and temperature control