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Research Program
Aim
The research program spans from increasing our basic understanding of
nutrient and organic matter dynamics in different inorganic and organic
pools of soil to nutrient pathways in agroecosystems. The focus of our
research is to develop and provide applications for
environmental-friendly management of landscapes. In temperate
agroecosystems, the minimization of environmental pollution and off-site
effects stands in the center of our work. In tropical ecosystems, the
work focuses on replenishing soil fertility and combatting soil
degradation. An important aspect of this research is the development of
soil indicators for the assessment of the resilience of cropping
systems. The landuse systems investigated range from continuous
cultivation, to shifting cultivation and reduced-impact logging, and
agroforestry systems to organic farming. We are especially interested in
the interaction between different trees and crops in multiple cropping
systems including the use efficiency of biologically fixed nitrogen from
legume cover crops or legume trees. The nutrient dynamics at the
root-soil interface and between plant root systems are central to these
studies. Basic principles of organic matter and nutrient dynamics in
soil are another important part of our research. Advancing the science
of soil biogeochemistry is important to understand global element
cycling. Such work is linked to global environmental and climate change.
The HOT TOPICS of our research are the
investigation of nutrient and carbon dynamics in Terra Preta de
Indio in the Amazon, new insights into sulfur and carbon
biogeochemistry in soil, hydrophobicity of soil, deep
subsoil nutrient dynamics in tropical forest ecosystems, and the
development of slash-and-char systems for improvement of
infertile soils of the tropics (see more detailed description below). In
our research group we follow an interdisciplinary approach with
cooperations across disciplines and outreach to both development and
application.
Research
Activities:
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