Soil and Root Biology
JOIN AAB / RENEW
WHY JOIN AAB?
The soil biology special interest group was formed in 2017 to bring together those with an interest in understanding the ecology, diversity and function of soils. The group remit was expanded to soil and root biology in 2023 to bridge the root to soil interface and include plant root systems.
The group aims to support anyone working on applied soil, root and rhizosphere biology, including soil, root and rhizosphere scientists, entomologists, microbiologists, ecologists, taxonomists, naturalists, farmers, agronomists, conservationists and others with an interest in soils, plant root systems and the interaction of the two.
The group aims to provide a range of events from small scale regional workshops and meetings to large scale international conferences, as well as providing other opportunities for knowledge exchange.
Group Convener
Charlotte White
Charlotte is a crop physiologist at ADAS. Based in Nottinghamshire her interests include crop rooting, crop water use, cover cropping, and sustainable yield improvement.
Group Members
Harry Henderson
Harry started out as a tractor, combine and crop sprayer operator. He then worked for Rothamsted Research Station UK, before coming farm manager at Monsanto Cambridge. From there he took a role with John Deere UK Ltd as a Crop Systems Specialist involved in technical dealer sales support in combine harvester, crop sprayer and precision technology products.
In 2013 Harry joined AHDB as a regional manager for the North of England and is now a Knowledge Exchange Manager with a focus technical knowledge exchange, mechanisation, soil management and arable farming.
Felicity Roos
felicity.roos@nationaltrust.org.u
Felicity Roos is the ‘National Consultant – Soil’ with the National Trust.She has spent the last 10 years working with farmers and land managers in Australia, Ghana and the UK on the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, and climate change adaptation and resiliency. Her work has focused on natural resource management focusing on the application of scientific principles to the understanding, management and conservation of soil and water resources. Specialising in soil – its management and role in delivering sustainable food systems, ecosystem services and climate change mitigation.
Her main interests are in the policy and practice of sustainable food systems; the role of agro-ecology and holistic land management in combating climate change and restoring the environment.
Lizzie Emmett
lizzie.emmett@wensumfarmers.co.uk
A farm advisor and farmers daughter, Lizzie runs the Wensum Farmers Cluster Group – a nationally recognised self-funded collaboration of 27 farmers, covering 10,000ha in Norfolk. Employed directly by the farmers, she specialises in reducing farm pollution losses, improving water quality and enhancing biodiversity.
Amanda Bennett
Dr Amanda Bennett is a Senior Environment Manager at the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), specialising in soil health in agricultural systems. She is also responsible for research on crop nutrition and the delivery of the Nutrient Management Guide (RB209). Amanda recently led the Soil Biology and Soil Health Partnership, a 5-year levy-funded programme of work designed to deliver a simple yet robust framework to help farmers measure and monitor soil health on farm: the Soil Health Scorecard. With a background in soil-borne crop disease management and rhizosphere microbial ecology, Amanda retains a keen interest in better understanding belowground interactions that support soil functioning and crop performance.
Mark Hodson
Mark Hodson is a professor in the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York. His research interests range from understanding the fate and behaviour of emerging contaminants to the impacts of land management on soil properties. Considerations of earthworm behaviour in response to and influence on soil properties has underpinned much of his research.