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Project properties |
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| Title | Biological soil health indicators for agricultural management and environmental impact |
| Group | Soil Biology |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 24-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Giulia Bongiorno |
| Examiner(s) | prof.dr. Rachel Creamer |
| Contact info | giulia.bongiorno@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2023/09/01 |
| End date | |
| Description | Soil health indicators are important tools for assessing the state of agricultural soils as affected by management practices (e.g. tillage, farming system, agroforestry etc..) or environmental impact (e.g. climate change). The knowledge generated by the analyses of soil health indicators can be used in the selection of agronomical practices that maintain agricultural productivity without degrading soils. In this study you will focus on the monitoring, development and/or testing of soil biological indicators (molecular, bioassay for soil suppressiveness, biochemical, biomarkers). Soil biota play a primary role in soil processes and can respond fast to environmental changes, therefore being an ideal soil health indicator candidate. Large possibility of collaboration with other WUR departments (nematology, soil chemistry…), universities, and research institute (NIOO, FIBL Switzerland…) and of deciding the focus of the project. |
| Used skills | Literature review, field and laboratory analyses of soil biological health indicators such as fauna, enzymatic activities, ergosterol content, soil respiration etc. in different soil that faced different types of management or environmental stressors. Link soil quality indicators with soil functions. Data processing, statistical analysis, writing. |
| Requirements | Refer to Study Handbook SOQ-81824 – SOQ-81839 |