Project properties
Title The environmental and economic impacts of waste recycling on cropland C balance
Group Soil Biology
Project type thesis
Credits 24-39
Supervisor(s) Zhibiao Wei
Examiner(s) Prof.dr. Ellis Hoffland
Contact info zhibiao.wei@wur.nl
Begin date 2021/10/11
End date
Description Introduction: Waste recycling could be environmentally friendly practice to manage carbon (C) sequestration in arable farming. It has become a hot research topic recently because the promotion of circular agriculture and the need to mitigate climate change. However, its effects on the C balance of, and greenhouse gas emissions from arable fields often vary according to field management, soil-climate conditions and how waste is processed. Waste management may also affect the soil’s water retention capacity and thereby the C and water cycles may interact. Meta-analyses offer a quantitative method to integrate the results of multiple studies and to draw general conclusions at regional and global level.
Aim: Quantify the effects of waste recycling on the C balance of arable fields, and (optional) the interaction with the water balance.
Type of work: You will review peer-reviewed articles, establish a database and analyze the effects of waste recycling on cropland C balance which is determined by GHGs emission and SOC sequestration. You will use this database to get a less biased and general conclusion on the quantitative effect of waste recycling on a component of the arable field’s C balance and (perhaps) the effect on the water balance.
Used skills Literature review, data mining, meta-analysis
Requirements see the WUR Study Guide for the SBL thesis requirements