After graduating in July 2023 with a BSc Hons in Environmental Science from the University of East Anglia and two awards for her soil-based undergraduate project, Louisa Moor is going on to study a soil science PhD at UEA.
Her 4 year project will aim to explore soil health and carbon storage under regenerative compared to conventional agricultural management. This will be done through assessment of the physical, chemical and biological soil features in these different regimes.
Through emphasis on soil biology, she hopes to highlight the importance of treating the soil as an ecosystem by focusing on under-explored groups such as mesofauna. This essential group of organisms includes all fauna between 0.2-2 mm in length found in soil or litter, predominantly mites and springtails. Mesofauna contribute to essential soil processes, such as nutrient cycling and pest suppression.
Interfacing the importance of these soil features with soil policy, she hopes for widespread acknowledgement of the importance of regenerative management practices for the sustainability of farming.
Through the support of TMAF during this project, she hopes to be able to report this research to farmers in an accessible way.
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