Our research on soil organic matter focuses on how organic amendments become stable soil organic matter, the factors controlling soil respiration, and on the benefits provided by soil organisms when they use organic matter as a food source

We have a great interest in how increases in the diversity of soil amendments can increase the delivery of soil ecosystem functions and services, including the creation of soil organic matter.

When biochar is added to acidic soil it raises the soil pH and can have a liming effect, increasing nutrient availability and benefiting plant growth. Our research has demonstrated the benefits of biochar application to acidic urban horticulture soils in Ghana and current research is investigating the efficacy of cocoa pod husk biochar applied to cocoa plantations. 

Earthworms break-up, incorporate and mix organic materials into the soil. This is essentially a form of 'biological cultivation' which improves the structure of the soil, via the formation of aggregates and connected pore networks. During my PhD at the University of Reading I undertook  experiments to determine if earthworms affect the mobility, speciation and bioavailability of metals in contaminated soils.

Our work on the biogeochemistry of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in soils and sediments focuses on how climate change may affect the mobility and bioavailability of pollutants in the natural environment.