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Project properties |
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| Title | Effects
of pesticides in the soil microbial community Assessment of enzyme activity involved in the main nutrient cycles |
| Group | Soil Physics and Land Management group |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 24-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Vera Silva & Esperanza Huerta |
| Examiner(s) | Coen Ritsema |
| Contact info | |
| Begin date | 2020/02/09 |
| End date | |
| Description | Project description
Microbial communities play important roles in soil because of the many functions they perform in nutrient cycling, plant symbioses, decomposition, and other ecosystem processes Soil enzymes have been suggested as suitable indicators of soil quality as they contribute to the total biological activities in the soil environment and are intimately involved in catalyzing reactions necessary for organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, energy transfer, and environmental quality. Among agricultural soil threats, pesticides constitute a major environmental problem The presence of these compounds in the soil may influence the biochemical processes by affecting both microbial development and enzyme activity. This study will assess the activity of key soil enzymes, related to the cycle of the main biologically important nutrients ( N, P, S) in vineyard soils from distinct agricultural production systems ( integrated and biological). The student will participate in soil collection, laboratory tests and enzyme activity determination. |
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