Sub-projects
A1 Productivity, N turnover and plant diversity of permanent pastures with differentiated swards.
- PhD student: Dorothee Ebeling
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. J. Isselstein
A2 Nondestructive measurement of structural and functional stock parameter of heterogenous pastures.
- PhD student: Hanieh Safari
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. M. Wachendorf
B1 Nutrient release from organic fertilizer into soil: Investigation and modeling
- PhD student: Dennis Grunwald
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
B2 Impact of grazing intensity on the productivity, N dynamics and labile C and N pools of a soil under permanent pasture.
- PhD student: Anja Nüsse
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
C1 Impact of soil management on C accumulation in subsoil.
- PhD student: Juliane Strücker
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. R.G. Jörgensen
C2 Regulation of the interaction of soil temperature. moisture and microbial activity by management practices.
- PhD student: Sibylle Faust
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. R.G. Jörgensen
D1 Composition of manure from cattle and their impact on nutrient availability and the emission potential of nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus compounds.
- PhD student: Stephanie Meyer
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. A. Sundrum
D2 Variation of N excretion in faeces and urin as modulated by water uptake of goats in subtropical Oman.
- PhD student: Mwanaima Ramadhan
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. E. Schlecht
E1 Nutrient and carbon dynamics in soils after application of a mixture of manure and biochar.
- PhD student: Marco Gronwald
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. H. Flessa
E2 Impact of grassland ploughing on soil quality. Consequences for stable C and N pools and determination of turnover rates.
- PhD student: Caroline Buchen
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. H. Flessa
F1 Impact of labeled goat faeces on C and N pools in a subtropical soil with different water regimes.
- PhD student: Gunadhish Khanal
- Supervisor: Prof. Dr. A. Bürkert
Description of projects - 2. phase
A1 Effect of plowing up grassland with different cultivation intensities on labile carbon and nitrogen pools in soil
- Contact: Deborah Linsler
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
Aims of the project
Improve our understanding of the effects of grassland ploughing on labile C and N pools in soil
Methods
Density and aggregate fractionation, incubation experiments
A2 Effects of tillage intensity (conventional tillage, conservation tillage and no-till) on labile carbon and nitrogen pools in soil
- Contact: Rouven Adruschkewitsch
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
Aims of the project
Study the effects of soil tillage on the decomposition of plant residues and short- and long-term storage of C and N in arable soils
Methods
Density and aggregate fractionation, incubation experiments
B1 Effect of tillage intensity and winter cover crop on nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in soil
- Contact: Christiane Piegholdt
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
Aims of the project
Improve our understanding of the effect of tillage, cover crops on C, N and P pools
Methods
Fractionation of P and B, aggregate fractionation and modeling
C1 Influence of the conversion of grassland with differing cultivation intensities on microbial soil properties
- Contact: Murugan Rajasekaran
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. R.G. Jörgensen
Aims of the project
Study the microbial turnover and microbial community structure as affected by tillage practises
Methods
Basal respiration, CFE, Ergosterol, Amino sugars
D2 Influence of polyphenoles and activated biochar on the digestibility of the diet and on the quality of goat manure under subtropical conditions
- Contact: Amel Said Al-Kindi
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. E. Schlecht
Aims of the project
Analyse the influence of feeding tannin and activated biochar on digestibility and the microbial protein synthesis in rumen and colon and on N balances of the animal
Methods
Goat feeding trials, analyses of digestibility and digestion by Ytterbium labeled fiber material
E1 Effect of biogas slurry applications on carbon and nitrogen transformations in soil
- Contact: Ulrike Wolf
- Project-leader: apl. Prof. Dr. H. Flessa
Aims of the project
Analyse the effects of different digestates on emissions of climate change relevant gases. Investigate the influence of different digestates on C and N transformation in soil
Methods
Measurement of gas fluxes (NH3, N2O, CO2, CH4), soil N mineralisation, modeling, microcosm experiments, use of stable isotops
E2 Effect of plowing up grassland on carbon and nitrogen transformation processes in soils and their impact on climate
- Contact: Greta Roth
- Project-leader: apl. Prof. Dr. H. Flessa
Aims of the project
Analysis of the regulatory processes for C and N transformation in ploughed grassland soils
Methods
Field measurements of CO2, N2O, CH4, net mineralisation, CFE, Ergosterol
F1 Effect of polyphenols and biochar on the turnover of manure in irrigated subtropical agricultural systems
- Contact: Mariko Nadine Ingold
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. A. Bürkert
Aims of the project
Test the efficiency of organic fertilizer application for vegetable croping systems in Oman, improvement of fertilizer practise to reduce C and N gaseous and leaching losses
Methods
Feeding trial, measurement of leaching and gaseous emission
Description of projects - 1. phase
A1 Effects of crop rotation and fertilization on labile C and N pools in sandy and silty soils under subtropical and temperate climates: experiments and modelling
- Contact: Felix Heitkamp
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
Aims of the project
Improved understanding of the effects of the crop rotation and tillage on soil fertility
Methods
Density and aggregate fractionations, incubation experiments, litterbag experiments, modelling
A2 Effects of tillage on labile C and N pools: experiments and modelling
- Contact: Anna Jacobs
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
Aims of the project
Improved understanding of the effects of the crop rotation and tillage on soil fertility
Methods
Density and aggregate fractionations, incubation experiments, litterbag experiments, modelling
B1 Dynamics of ions in sandy and silty soils under unsaturated conditions: experiments and modelling
- Contact: Sandra Herrmann
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
Aims of the project
Analysis and modelling of the dynamics of Ca, K, Mg, NH4, NO3 and PO4 in agricultural soils with special considerations of texture, tillage and climatic conditions
Methods
Microcosm experiments, leachate sampling and analysis, use of stable isotopes, sorption experiments, modelling using PHREEQC2 and PEST
B2 Gas fluxes and leachate losses in differently fertilized soils
- Contact: Anja Sänger
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. B. Ludwig
Aims of the project
Analyse und Modellierung der Dynamiken von Ca2+, K+, Mg2+, NH4+, NO3- und PO43- in landwirtschaftlichen Böden unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Textur, der Bearbeitung und des Klimas
Methods
Mikrokosmenexperimente, Gewinnung und Analyse von Lösungsproben, Einsatz stabiler Isotope, Erfassung von Gasflüssen (CO2, CH4, N2O), Modellierung (z.B. DNDC)
C1 Decomposition and microbial colonization of double-labelled litter in litter bags or mixed with soil in soils from temperate and tropical climates from organic farming systems
- Contact: Nils Rottmann
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. R.G. Jörgensen
Aims of the project
Identifying the role of plant growth for litter decomposition
Methods
Use of stable isotopes, litterbag experiments, pot experiments, determination of microbial biomarkers
C2 Interactions between soil characteristics, above-ground biomass and soil microbial properties
- Contact: Stefanie Heinze
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. R.G. Jörgensen
Aims of the project
Identifying the role of plant growth for litter decomposition
Methods
Use of stable isotopes, litterbag experiments, pot experiments, determination of microbial biomarkers
D1 Effects of the quality of manure from dairy cows on the availability of nutrients for microbial and plant growth
- Contact:Daphne Jost
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. R.G. Jörgensen
Aims of the project
Understanding the interaction of feeding, microbial activity and soil fertility
Methods
Use of different forage composition, determination of N2O, extraction and analysis of microbial DNA, determination of adenylate energy charges
D2 Effects of different feeding regimes under subtropical conditions on the quality of manure from ruminants in relation to the availability of nutrients for microbial and plant growth
- Contact: Husam Al-Asfoor
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. E. Schlecht
Aims of the project
Understanding the interaction of feeding, microbial activity and soil fertility
Methods
Use of different forage composition, use of marker substances, determination of adenylate energy charges
E1 Effect of fertilizer strategies (mineral fertilization, organic fertilization, N2 fixation) on N transformation and N2O emission in a crop rotation
- Contact: Nadine Jäger
- Project-leader: apl. Prof. Dr. Heiner Flessa
Aims of the project
Evaluation of the effects of different crops and tillage systems on the N2O emissions from different soils
Methods
Use of labelled substrates, field experiments, modelling
E2 Effect of humus accumulation in the topsoil on N dynamic with special consideration of N2O emissions
- Contact: Konrad Siegfried
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. A. Bürkert
Aims of the project
Evaluation of the effects of different crops and tillage systems on the N2O emissions from different soils
Methods
Use of labelled substrates, field experiments, modelling
F1 Gaseous and leachate losses of C and N from fertilized and irrigated soils of a subtropical coastal oasis
- Contact: Konrad Siegfried
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. A. Bürkert
Aims of the project
To assess the sustainability of different systems
Methods
Infrared spectroscopy, litterbag experiments, leachate sampling and analysis, use of stable isotopes, modelling
F2 Gaseous and leachate losses of C and N of subtropical and temperate agricultural land: effects of cropping system
- Contact: Mohamed Al-Rawahi
- Project-leader: Prof. Dr. A. Bürkert
Aims of the project
To assess the sustainability of different systems
Methods
Infrared spectroscopy, litterbag experiments, leachate sampling and analysis, use of stable isotopes, modelling