21.07.2026
On July 21, 2026, Marisa Rixte Gerriets successfully defended her dissertation at the University of Potsdam.
In her dissertation, “The Effect of Fractional Deep Tillage on Yields, Soil Fertility, and Organic Carbon in Historical Experiments,” Marisa R. Gerriets conducted a detailed investigation of a historical yet still innovative soil melioration method aimed at increasing yields and promoting climate protection in agriculture. After intensive research in archives, she conducted extensive soil analyses at four historical field trials on fractional deep tillage. In doing so, she was able to demonstrate not only the sustainable elimination of soil compaction but also a significant increase in nutrient and carbon stocks in meliorated soils—even after more than four decades.
Her work has paved the way for a technological innovation that has since sparked great interest in the agricultural sector. With the help of the newly developed “Carbon Farming” plow for fractional deep tillage—developed in collaboration with LEMKEN—it is possible not only to increase yields and achieve yield resilience in dry years, but also to create a substantial and sustainable CO₂ sink effect in soils.
We congratulate Ms. Gerriets on this excellent scientific achievement in soil research.
