Prof. Wim de Vries is an expert in the field of soil chemistry with special reference to soil acidification, nutrient cycling, greenhouse gas emissions and heavy metal pollution. He has a long lasting scientific experience in the domain of (i) soil chemistry in relation to air pollution, forest ecology and management (over 35 years), and (ii) sustainability of agricultural management in the Netherlands (over 20 years), Europe (over 10 years), China and at global scale (over 5 years).
His specific expertise is related to the development and application of soil models at various regional scales including landscapes, countries and continents (especially Europe) in combination with field and laboratory research. This refers to the use and fate of carbon and nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorous) in soil, air and water. He has also gained a large experience in related topics, such as atmospheric chemistry and effects on (services of) terrestrial ecosystems, with special reference to forests.
His research is currently organized around impacts of the elevated use of nutrients (especially nitrogen and phosphorus) in agriculture on soil and water quality, greenhouse gas emissions, productivity and plant species diversity of terrestrial ecosystems and related input boundaries/critical loads.
Prof. Wim de Vries published more than 450 research papers, book chapters and reports, of which over 150 papers in international peer reviewed journals on the topics above.