Soil microbial and nematode communities as indicators of soil health
- Date:
- 2022-05-09
- Time:
- 11:00
- Place:
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, Salón de actos
- Speaker:
- Nikolaos Monokrousos
- Filiation:
- International Hellenic University, Greece
- Title:
- Soil microbial and nematode communities as indicators of soil health
- Summary:
- Dr. Nikolaos Monokrousos is an Assistant Professor in Soil Ecology at the University Center of International Programmes of Studies, at the International Hellenic University. Before joining IHU he was a researcher at the Institute of Soil and Water Resources of the Hellenic Agricultural Organization – Demeter. He is active in the field of Soil Ecology for over 15 years and his research interests are focused on the study of the soil microbial and free-living nematode community structure and functionality, the soil enzyme activity, and their role in soil organic matter decomposition and nutrient cycling. His research is aiming to study in-depth the diversity, relations, and interactions of organisms that belong to different levels of soil food. His goal is to better understand how agricultural management practices (use of microbial inoculants, organic nematicides, organic residues, irrigation with sewage treated wastewater) affect soil microorganisms and free-living nematodes (indicators of soil health) and to improve soil functions, optimizing agricultural productivity and sustainability. Investigating the resilience and resistance of soil biota after any type of disturbance, related to agricultural practices, is also part of his research. Dr. Monokrousos has published 53 research papers in international peer-reviewed journals and has participated in several national and international projects.