|
Project properties |
|
| Title | Effects of fertilizer amendments and earthworm abundance on N2O and CO2 emissions from peat soils |
| Group | Soil Biology |
| Project type | thesis |
| Credits | 24-39 |
| Supervisor(s) | Erne Blondeau, Jan Willem van Groenigen |
| Examiner(s) | prof.dr. Rachel Creamer |
| Contact info | erne.blondeau@wur.nl |
| Begin date | 2023/09/01 |
| End date | |
| Description | Peat meadow soils in The Netherlands are of interest to different parties for divergent reasons. Livestock farmers benefit from relatively low groundwater tables, which make the soil stable enough grazing and equipment access. On the other hand, there is increasing concern on the effect of drainage on peat decomposition, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions and subsidence. Nature conservationists targeting the protection of meadow birds similarly encourage increased water tables to stimulate earthworm abundance. For the same reason they also advocate solid manure amendments. |
| Used skills | Literature review, sampling, biological and chemical laboratory work, measurements of greenhouse gas emissions, data analysis |
| Requirements | Standard requirements for starting a MSc thesis project at SBL. |