Belowground Crop Ecology

Our research group focuses on belowground interactions between roots and their surrounding environment, contributing to the development of resilient cropping systems with efficient resource use.

Root development and drought tolerance: we investigate the effect of rooting depth and distribution on tolerance towards environmental stressors such as drought.

Protein crops: we aim to develop more sustainable cropping systems including legumes with improved yield stability as a protein source for food and feed. We provide novel knowledge on the root systems of forage and grain legumes and the significance for more climate-smart systems.

Plant based food: We work with old cultivars of pea to find well-tasting, high quality protein sources that are agronomical realistic to grow for plant based foods

Intercropping: we aim to unravel root competition, facilitation and complementarity when growing two or more species together.

Root system development in 3D:  we are applying CT scanning to root systems in soil uncovering the three dimensional root development over time.

IMFABA - Examining if drought tolerance in different lines of faba bean is dependent on rooting depth and distribution in order to increase yield stability.

PEAS & LOVE - Potential of old pea cultivars for human consumption. Genetic characterization, quality and agronomy.

Root development in forage legumes - Cultivar differences in rooting depth and distribution of red clover, white clover and lucerne and effect of intercropping on root development.

RootOutP - Investigating interactions between plant roots and phosphorus in soil using CT scanning

Novo Nordisk Foundation Start Package grant Tenure-Track Assistant Professor

Carbon Sequestrate in mixtures

ClimateClover - Drought tolerance in white clover as a future breeding target

Deep Carbon - Quantifying the role of ley mixture roots in carbon sequestration

Research group leader

Dorte Bodin Dresbøll
Associate Professor