Isotope Laboratory

Institute of Landscape Matter Dynamics

Contact: Prof. Dr. J. Augustin, Dr. R. Remus

Purpose
Application of isotope techniques (radionuclides, stable isotopes) to explore and quantify processes of matter formation and matter transformation.


Equipment

- Elementary analyser Eltra CS 500

- Liquid Scintillation counter LS-6000

- Automated ¹⁴CO₂ plant marking and gas excange measuring system

- Advanced Image Scanner BAS-1800

- Devices for auto-radiography

- Apparatus combination of elementary analyser - ¹⁵N emission
  spectrometer NOI-6-PC

- Automated ¹⁵N marking and gas exchange measuring systems

Automated 14CO2 plant marking and gas exchange measuring system

Research priorities

14C tracer experiments on degradation and dispersal of organic pollutants into plant-based waste-water treatment installations (in cooperation with the Environmental Research Centre (UFZ) of Leipzig-Halle)  14C impulse marking of fen plants with a view to exploring and quantifying in the C-flows and C transformation processes in the system fen peat - fen plant (in cooperation with the Universities of Joensuu and Kuopio/Finland, and the University of Greifswald)  Investigations into the mechanism of the xylem remote transport and ion distribution in leaves of Vicia faba L. using the radioactive marker (3H, 32P, 33P, 59Fe) (in cooperation with Martin-Luther-University (MLU) of Halle-Wittenberg under DFG SPP "Apoplast")  14C impulse marking of agricultural crops for the quantification of subterranean assimilate-C flows (in cooperation with the UFT of Leipzig-Halle and MLU of Halle Wittenberg under DFG-SPP "Soils as sources and sinks")  15N tracer studies for the exploration and quantification of the N-flows in wetlands (in cooperation with the University of Greifswald, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Oldenburg and the University of Applied Sciences of Osnabrück)  15N tracer studies on the quantification of the total volume of N2O- und N2 losses from mineral soils and wetlands (in cooperation with the Institute of Landscape Systems Analysis, and the Universities of Göttingen and Greifswald

Relevant publications

Augustin, J., Plugge, J., Pörschmann, J., Remus, R. & K. Hüve (2003): Methodik zur Quantifizierung des Eintrages von Wurzelzellwandresten in den Boden während des Wachstums von Maispflanzen. (Methodology for the quantification of the entry of root cell wall residues into the soil during the growth of maize plants). - In: Prozessregulation in der Rhizosphäre (Process regulation in the rhizosphere), 13. Borkheider Seminar zur Ökophysiologie des Wurzelraumes (13th Borkheide Seminar on the eco-physiology of the root spere): 138-144, Stuttgart, Leipzig (Teubner).

Juutinen, S., Larmola, T., Remus, R., Augustin, J. & W. Merbach (2003): The contribution of Phragmites australis litter to methane (CH₄) emission in planted and non-planted fen microcosms. - Biology & Fertility of Soils 38: 10-14.

Rückauf, U., Augustin, J. & R. Russow (2004): Nitrate removal from drained and reflooded fen soils affected by soil N transformation processes and plant uptake. - Soil Biology & Biochemistry 36: 77-90.