In our research group at The University of Manchester, we study the interaction between plants and soil on grasslands in the UK. We are interested in whether we can improve soil quality by planting specific plant species that have beneficial effects on the soil. For example, legumes, such as peas and beans, have nodules on their roots filled with bacteria. These nitrogen-fixing bacteria take nitrogen from the air and incorporate it into organic molecules that can be used by the plant. These organic molecules are also released into the soil and benefit neighbouring plants.
But other organisms have big effects too. We are just beginning to understand the importance of soil microbes in these systems. Each plant has a species-specific community of bacteria, fungi and invertebrates in its root system (see BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES REVIEW, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 22–26 and Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 37–40). These communities influence the nutrient uptake, plant water use and gas exchange of the entire grassland — collectively known as ‘ecosystem functions’. So how could your A-level practicals prepare you for this research?
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