Soils ranging in land use from intensive agriculture to rough grazing and forestry are within easy reach of Aberystwyth, and the most intensive research programmes in the Unit concern the constraints on land use determined by soils and the impact of different land use on soil processes, plant communities and water quality. Wales has large areas of land affected by mining and industrial degradation.
Research is in progress on the rehabilitation of such land for agricultural and amenity after use.
The Unit has been much involved with developments in the quality of sports turf. Research is being conducted for the England and Wales Cricket Board. Also there are several cooperative associations and research and development programmes with consultants, commercial suppliers, the Sports Turf Research Institute and the Sports Council for Wales. Current trends in agriculture are towards extensification, including the option of 'organic farming'. There is a special interest in the interactions between soil organisms and fertility.