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Project properties |
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| Title | The effect of combining lime, Zn and organic amendment in reducing potato tuber cadmium |
| Group | Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality |
| Project type | internship |
| Credits | 36-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Bert-Jan Groenenberg, Yuwei Qin, Sheila Alves (Teagasc) |
| Examiner(s) | Rob Comans |
| Contact info | yuwei.qin@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2022/02/01 |
| End date | 2022/08/01 |
| Description | You will be involved in a collaborative project between Wageningen University and Teagasc, The Agriculture and Food Development Authority of Ireland. This project aims to unravel the mechanisms behind cadmium uptake by potato plants and amelioration with organic and inorganic amendments, with an emphasis on the Irish soils and potato breeds. In a previous field trial, certain combinations of lime, zinc and organic amendments application showed potential effects in reducing tuber cadmium. However, due to the heterogeneity of the soils and the complexity of the soil/plant interactions, it is unclear why certain combinations/doses worked or did not work. Therefore, a pot experiment will be set up under greenhouse conditions to test those combinations and the dose-response. During a growth period of 5 months, soil samples will be taken and analyzed at regular time intervals and plant samples will be analyzed at harvest. The change in soil composition and the binding behavior of cadmium in amended soils over time will be analyzed and modeled. You will assist in the daily care of the plants, the soil sampling, harvesting, soil and plant analysis, and contribute to identifying soil chemical processes that control the speciation and uptake of cadmium by the potato plants.
*Important: the internship location is Carlow, Ireland, trips from/to Wageningen might be expected. Please read carefully and follow the travel policy of WUR: https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/Current-Students/Travel-policy-for-students.htm The internship is unpaid, but you might be eligible for applying for an Erasmus+ grant: https://www.wur.nl/en/Education-Programmes/Study-Abroad-and-Exchange-Students/Outgoing-from-Wageningen-University/Erasmus-grant.htm Depending on the student's wishes and interests, this could also be a thesis or research practice project |
| Used skills | - Laboratory work: soil characterization, selective extractions
- Greenhouse work: watering and monitoring the plants, soil sample collection - Data processing and scientific writing |
| Requirements | |