Research


List of research projects


Contributions to ZALF's Common Research Programme "NME 2020"


Plant matter formation

By elucidating, quantifying and modelling the processes operating in plant-matter-formation, specifically inside landscapes, contributions are made to the development of site-adequate efficient systems of food and raw material production. This implies a considerable enlargement of the knowledge regarding the impact of land-use and climate changes on the matter cycles ranging from the local to global levels.
Staff-members involved: J. Augustin, M. Giebels, D. Lüttschwager, Th. Müller

C/N transformation by soil organisms

Soil organisms - with their great species diversity - are known to make a decisive contribution to maintaining the matter cycles in the soil. The processes of mineralisation and humification of crop residues have a special importance because they lead to the release or storage of nutrients. By analysing the interactions between structure and function of microbial communities the effects of land use changes on C/N matter transformation are to be elucidated and assessed.
Staff-members involved: J. Augustin, M. Joschko, P. Lentzsch,  A. Ulrich, S. Wirth

Plant-microorganisms interaction

The plant-microorganisms interaction in the phyllosphere and rhizosphere constitute the key link between plant matter formation and matter transformation processes in soil. By analysing these interactions which depend on varying land use, contributions to land use systems are developed and evaluated. To this effect, plant - fungus interactions (mycorrhiza, phytopathogenic fungi), as well as plant - bacteria interactions (plant growth promoting and phytopathogenic bacteria) are studied.
Staff-members involved: R. Becker, U. Behrendt, B. Bubner, U. Korn, P. Lentzsch, M. Müller, Th. Müller, B. Münzenberger, M. Tauschke, A. Ulrich