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The laboratory focuses on the interaction of plant litter with litter-associated soil biota. The processing of leaf litter affects not only the release of nutrients, but also the formation of soil aggregates and, consequently, the formation of the entire soil profile. These processes connect composition of soil biota community with plant litter quality on one side and nutrient cycling and soil formation on the other side. What major biotic and abiotic factors determine the formation of soil aggregates in particular? This is the key question our team is focusing on. More specific topics of interest include the assessment of changes in aggregate formation and soil profile development in soils colonized by various plant species, determining the effect of aggregate formation on soil microbial community, or characterizing the effect of soil development on plant growth.
