1.Education Background

PhD. 09/1994-08/1997. Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Soil Science.

MSc. 09/1988-07/1991. Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Soil Science.

BS. 09/1984-06/1988. Xuzhou Normal College, China. Chemistry.

2.Professional Experience

Visiting Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Canada (02/2007-06/2007; 01/2008-03/2008)

Professor, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Science (03/2004-now)

Associate Professor, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Science (12/1999-02/2004)

Visiting Scholar, Adelaide University, Australia (12/1999-11/2000)

Asistant Research and Research Asistant, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences (07/1991-11/1999)

3.Work achievements

Managed a key project of National Natural Science Foundation of China, a sub-project of National Key Technology R & D Program of China and a sub-project of National Key Basic Research Program of China. The study has led to the publication of 300 papers, including 150 peer reviewed SCI papers, and 135 CSCD papers, exclusively composed 2 academic books, such as "Remediation Principles and Technologies of Acidified Red Soils", and 9 authorized invention patents. Second Prize of Science and Technology Award of China was obtained in 2018.

4.Scientific discoveries

He focus his main interests on surface chemical characteristics of variable charge soils, soil acidification, and melioration of acid soils. In recent 15 years, he have 5 scientific discoveries:(1) elucidated the mechanisms for the inhibition of Fe/Al oxides on acidification of variable charge soils; (2) developed some new methods to ameliorate soil acidity and discovered the mechanisms for amelioration of soil acidity by crop straw biochars; (3) found that crop straw biochars could be used to immobilize heavy metals in acid soils; (4) develop a new method to measure zeta potential of plant roots and root/soil interfaces; (5) found that the interaction between Fe/Al oxides and plant roots affected chemical behaviors of nutrients and heavy metals at root/soil interfaces.

Soil surface chemical characteristics;

Soil acidifiction and its control;

Chemical behaviors of heavy metals in soils

 Winner (Ranked No.2), Second Prize of Science and Technology Award of China (2018)

 Outstanding Supervisor Award of Zhu Li Yue Hua, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2010)

[1] Shi RY, Liu ZD, Li Y, Jiang TM, Xu MG, Li JY, Xu RK*. Mechanisms for increasing soil resistance to acidification by long-term manure application. Soil & Tillage Research, 2019,185: 77-84. (SCI)

[2] Ren LY, Hong ZN, Qian W, Li JY, Xu RK*. Adsorption mechanism of extracellular polymeric substances from two bacteria on Ultisol and Alfisol. Environmental Pollution,2018, 137(6): 39-49. (SCI)

[3] Hong ZN, Li JY, Jiang J, Liu ZD, Wang RH, Xu CY, Xu RK*. In-situ ATR-FTIR spectroscopic investigation of desorption of phosphate from hematite by bacteria. European Journal of Soil Science, 2017, 68(4): 480-490.(SCI)

[4] Xu RK, Qafoku NP, van Ranst E, Li JY, Jiang J.Adsorption properties of subtropical and tropical variable charge soils: Implications from climate change and biochar amendment. Advances in Agronomy, 2016, 135: 1-58. (SCI)

[5] Li ZY, Liu Y, Zheng YY, Xu RK*. Zeta potential at the root surfaces of rice characterized by streaming potential measurements. Plant and Soil,2015, 386(1): 237-250. (SCI)

[6] Li JY, Xu RK*. Inhibition of acidification of kaolinite and alfisol by aluminum oxides through electrical double-layer interaction and coating. European Journal of Soil Science,2013, 64(1): 110-120. (SCI)

Vice Head Member, Soil Chemistry Division of Soil Science Society of China (2009- present)

Vice Head Member, Soil Health Division of Soil Science Society of China (2016- present)

[1]Renkou Xu. Inhibition principles and strategies of red soil acidification as well as restoration of soil production capability. National Key Basic Research Program of China (No. 2014CB441003) 2014/01-2018/12

[2]Renkou Xu. Interaction between plant roots and soils and electrochemial characteristics of soil/root interface in variable charge soils. National Natural Science Fiundation of China (No.41230855) 01/2013-12/2017

[3]Renkou Xu. Interaction of diffuse double layers on tropical soils and electrochemical properties of root/soil interface. Knowledge Innovation Program Foundation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.KZCX-EW-405) 12/2011-12/2013

[4]Renkou Xu. Inhibition of red soil acidification and key remediation technologies. National Key Technology R & D Program of China (No. 201109018) 01/2011-12/2013