Soils are the foundation of life — they support plant growth, host an incredible diversity of organisms, regulate water and nutrient cycles, and store vast amounts of carbon. They also act as a vital interface with the atmosphere, exchanging gases that influence our climate.

However, land use changes — such as deforestation or converting native vegetation to agriculture — can disrupt soil structure and alter biogeochemical properties. These changes reduce the soil’s capacity to store carbon and can increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Understanding the mechanisms and drivers behind these changes is essential for developing sustainable land management practices. Such knowledge can help mitigate climate change, preserve soil health, and safeguard food security.

In collaboration with a research team from the University San Luis in Argentina, we are studying how land use change and flooding affect soil biogeochemical cycles and gas exchanges (CH₄ and CO₂) in the Pampas region. Our goal is to identify the critical variables and processes that drive changes in carbon losses and dynamics.

Project Leader: Stella Nevermann & Mohsen Zare 

Team: Stella Nevermann 

Duration: Sep 2023 - Aug 2027

Research Partners: GEA, San Luis, Argentina (CONICET) and IHLLA, Tandil, Argentina (CONICET)