Margita’s research is focused on improving the sustainability of open-field and organic vegetable production. To this aim, she investigates the effect of alternative cropping systems, such as double-cropping or plant-based fertilisers, on crop performance and losses to the environment. Her areas of interest include crop root growth and soil microbial activity. She is enthusiastic about applied research and collaboration with open-field vegetable growers and advisors. Margita has a solid background on plant-soil interactions and nitrogen dynamics within agro-ecosystems.

Margita acquired her PhD degree at Aarhus University in 2019. Her thesis was entitled “Plant-soil interactions in reduced-tilled organic vegetable systems with agro-ecological service crops – focus on nitrogen dynamics and root growth”. Margita obtained her Master degree in organic agriculture as a double-degree at the University of Hohenheim, Germany, and Aarhus University, Denmark. During her MSc thesis, she focussed on intercropping cauliflower with living mulches to improve nitrogen management.

Keywords for current and past research:

• Intercropping
• Controlled Traffic Farming (CTF)
• Reduced tillage
• Termination strategies of cover crops
• Plant-based fertilisers
• Compost
• Soil microbial activity
• Root growth