Markku Yli-Halla

Education

• MMT (=Doctoral degree), 1993, University of Helsinki, Finland, Agricultural Chemistry and Physics. Title of the Dissertation: Plant-availability of soil and fertilizer zinc in cultivated soils of Finland.
• Master of Science, 1989, Texas A&M University, College Station, USA, Soil Science
• MMM (Masters degree), 1982 , University of Helsinki, Finland, Agricultural Chemistry and Physics

Employment

• Professor of Environmental Soil Science, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 2/2007- (current position)
• Acting professor of Agricultural Chemistry and Physics/ Environmental Soil Science, Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology, University of Helsinki, 9/2005-1/2007.
• University of Helsinki: professor of Soil and Environmental Chemistry 9 – 12/2000
• Senior Researcher, MTT Agrifood Research Finland, permanent position 6/1996-1/2007. 
• University of Helsinki: teacher, researcher, 8/1992 – 5/1996
• Kemira Oy, Espoo research centre: researcher and senior researcher, 3/1984 – 7/1992
• University of Helsinki: various duties, 11/1982 – 2/1984

Referee of manuscripts for the following journals

Journal of Environmental Quality

Journal of the Total Environment

Australian Journal of Soil Research

Geoderma

Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica

Water Science and Technology

Suo - Peat and Mires

Water, Air and Soil Pollution

Agricultural and Food Science (in Finland)

Boreal Environment Research

Description of research and teaching

My research concentrates on the management of acid sulfate soils, particularly the effect of water management on the release of acidity and behavior of metals in these soils. The sites include coastal acid sulfate soils and a former peat mining area where oxidation of black schists is the source of acidity.

Other research topics include soil classification according to the World Reference Base (WRB) system. I am involved in compiling and updating of the soil map of Finland.  I am also involved in projects on soil phosphorus. These include a project on long-term phosphorus fertilization and on processes of phosphorus in the sediment of a constructed wetland with the aim of finding out what to do with the dredged sediment material. I have also some activity on sustainable use of tropical soils, more accurately management of Ethiopian soils.  

My teaching includes the following courses: 1) Principles of soil fertility and plant nutrition (BSc level) and 2) Pedogenesis and soil classification (MSc level). I also participate in teaching soil issues in the principles of crop production course and parts of soil chemistry in the Advanced Soil Science course.