Faced with accelerating soil degradation worldwide, scientists are increasingly interested in agroecological practices capable of reversing the trend. In Montpellier, teams from the One Science Foundation are testing and analyzing, in the field, concrete ways of improving soil health while ensuring the sustainability of agricultural systems.
Restoring the soil’s ecological functions
Erosion, loss of organic matter, compaction, pollution… Soils are subject to multiple pressures that reduce their fertility and their ability to regulate natural cycles. Restoring these ecological functions requires more than simply reducing inputs: it means reintroducing into farming systems the biological and physical dynamics capable of rebuilding a living soil.
In Montpellier, researchers combine agronomy, soil biology and functional ecology to scientifically assess the impact of several agroecological practices on soil quality, in different pedoclimatic contexts.
Scientifically tested solutions
1. Agroforestry
Planting trees in agricultural plots combats erosion, improves water infiltration, fixes carbon and diversifies soil fauna. Researchers are studying the effects of tree density, species and arrangement on soil structure and organic matter dynamics.
The result: measured gains in structural stability, biological activity and carbon storage, even after just a few years.
2. Composts and organic soil improvers
The addition of organic matter is crucial to reactivating soil life. But not all composts have the same effect. In Montpellier, teams are analyzing their composition, biodegradability and impact on soil microbial communities.
Certain formulations can restore fertility to severely depleted soils, by promoting the development of beneficial bacteria and fungi.
3. Cover crops and intermediate crops
Sown between two main crops, cover crops protect the soil from erosion, improve its structure, fix atmospheric nitrogen and feed underground fauna. Researchers are evaluating the performance of different species (legumes, crucifers, grasses), alone or in mixtures, under Mediterranean conditions.
These cover crops significantly increase root biomass, stabilize soil moisture and boost resilience to climatic hazards.
Assessing to support the transition
Not all these solutions are “miracles”. Their effectiveness depends on the context (climate, soil type, existing practices) and their coherent integration into production systems. This is why the scientists at the One Science Foundation favour a systems approach:
- Long-term monitoring of biological, physical and chemical soil indicators.
- Collaboration with farmers to test practices under real conditions.
- Modeling impacts on yields, carbon and biodiversity.
Knowledge to guide action
The results of this research are used to document soil restoration trajectories, to better understand the biological mechanisms at work, and to propose adaptation scenarios for agricultural areas. Today, this expertise is essential to support agro-ecological transitions on a local and global scale.
By combining scientific rigor and field experimentation, the One Science Montpellier Foundation is helping to turn soil from a resource in decline into a lever of resilience and innovation for tomorrow’s agriculture.