Fields
of expertise

03Sustainable Food & Farming Systems

Addressing the adequate and responsible management of soils and fertilizing products, with a view to furthering the rural circular economy and improving the sustainability of agricultural practices.

The Soil and Nutrient Management Unit (S&NM) at CT BETA addresses the adequate and responsible management of soils and fertilizing products, with a view to furthering the rural circular economy by lowering dependence on external inputs and improving the sustainability of agricultural practices. The main foci of the unit include:

(i) Formulation and testing of agronomic adequacy of bio-based fertilisers, tailor-made fertilisers, and biostimulants based on recovered nutrient sources

(ii) Innovation in the efficient and responsible use of organic and inorganic fertilization practices

(iii) Territorial analyses of nutrient budgets and flows, particularly of organic wastes from agricultural sources

(iv) Soil health and ecosystem services – a wide range of chemical, biological, and physical parameters are used to monitor soil health and achieve potential productivity.

(v) Management strategies which improve the productivity of landholdings, including variability analysis, the development of management zones, and digital tool integration for improved efficiencies and productivities

(vi) The Unit offers basic and full soil analyses, including soil nitrogen (organic, inorganic, total, NO₃^–, or NH₄⁺), phosphorus (available and total), organic matter, major and minor nutrients, etc.

(vii) Crop quality can be assessed for nutrients as well as contents of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, etc.