Ecophysiology of Water & Matter Cycling

 

The central focus of the research group is the investigation of key processes that regulate the flow of matter and water within the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) in agricultural landscapes. To achieve this, isotope techniques, gas flux measurement methods, as well as plant physiological and ecohydrological approaches are combined. The targeted integration of these methods in interdisciplinary and multi-scale research approaches enables an integrative analysis and quantification of matter fluxes along the SPAC, as well as a deeper understanding of the underlying regulatory mechanisms.

A particular emphasis is placed on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics in agricultural landscapes, especially in relation to erosion and small-scale soil heterogeneity. The resulting differences in soil properties influence carbon and nitrogen fluxes, their storage, and the role of soil positions as sources or sinks of greenhouse gases. The aim is to precisely quantify these processes in order to better understand the influence of erosion conditions on fertilizer use efficiency and the retention of plant-derived assimilates in the soil.

Another key area of focus is the water balance and water use efficiency of ecosystems in the context of hydrological extreme events such as droughts, heavy rainfall, and flooding. These events already impact productivity and carbon sequestration in agroecosystems today. To reliably assess the impacts of climate change on water fluxes and the resilience of plant stands and ecosystems, an improved understanding of dynamic feedbacks within the SPAC and their relevance to carbon and water balances—from the scale of individual plants to entire landscapes—is essential.

Of particular importance to the research group is the ecophysiological link between the various nutrient cycles and the water balance across spatial and temporal scales.

Core Infrastructure:

AgroFlux Sensor Plattform with FluxCrane

Stable isotope laboratory 

GC laboratory 

Incubation facilities