15.08.2023
Three new research teams have started work as part of the BMBF funding initiative "Creative Young Researchers for the Bioeconomy". One of them is a project of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), which is investigating the effects of field robots on soil health and soil condition in different cropping systems.
In the "SoilRob" project at ZALF, Dr. Kathrin Grahmann's junior research group is investigating the positive effects of small, maneuverable field robots on soil health and condition in different cropping systems. These robots are less than one meter in height and offer several advantages over large agricultural machines: Their lighter weight means they cause less soil compaction and can work autonomously day and night. They perform tasks such as seeding, fertilizing and weeding, both mechanically and through individual plant treatment.
Importantly, they can easily switch between different crop types, allowing for smaller and more diverse plots. This could help reduce the size of fields, which are often very large today, and thus promote biodiversity.
The goal of the project is to scientifically prove how the use of these agricultural robots affects soil health and whether yields can be stabilized or even increased compared to conventionally cultivated fields. The knowledge gained will help redesign multifunctional cropping systems and identify and quantify potential trade-offs of robot use. Overall, the research aims to make agriculture more efficient and environmentally friendly.
About the BMBF funding initiative
The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supports young scientists in implementing their innovative ideas in their own working groups. The primary goal is to take the bio-economy to a new, even more sustainable level. In the second round of the funding initiative "Creative Young Scientists Researching for the Bioeconomy", three more promising projects were selected and are now being implemented. Each project will receive up to three million euros in funding over five years. This will enable the researchers to realize their visions and make an important contribution to the further development of the bioeconomy.
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