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Integrated Approaches to improve the Water and Mineral Nutrient Use Efficiency of Crop Plants

Interdisziplinäres Projekt

Beschreibung

Drought stress and mineral nutrient deficiencies are increasingly important challenges for agriculture on regional and global scales. Mobilization of sparingly available mineral nutrients, stimulation of root growth, improved stress resistance, synergistic interactions with other helpful microorganisms, as well as suppression of root pathogens are proven modes of action how microbial bio-effectors can support plant growth, especially under adverse environmental conditions.

The aim of the project is to test effective microbial agents (e.g. plant growth promoting rhizobacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and soil conditioners in combination with innovative plant nutrition strategies to improve the water and mineral nutrient (e.g. nitrogen and phosphorus) use efficiency of wheat or potato plants under drought stress in pot experiments. The results shall contribute to the development of sustainable crop production systems that make better use of soil-plant-microbe interactions to access water, N and P resources in organic and integrated agriculture. By co-operation with the current research projects SolACE (Solutions for improving Agroecosystem and Crop Efficiency for water and nutrient use) fundet by the European Union and KeraSan (Development of innovative additives for crop production based on renewable natural ressources) fundet by the the Federal Ministry of Education and Resarch (BMBF), Germany findings of the present project will be integrated into an existing scientific network to become readily available for dissemination to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including farmers and policy-makers.

Beschreibung des interdisziplinären Teils des Projekts
Kooperation or combination of the work with the Humboldt Reloaded Project "Agrarwissenschaft im Spannungsfeld der aktuellen Ökologie und Kulturkrise" (Agricultural Science in the Conflict Area of the current Ecological and Cultural Crisis) to learn more about epistemic and ethical aspects of science is possible.
Projektzeitraum
Wintersemester 2020/2021
Bewerbungszeitraum
05. bis 15.10.2020
Durchführung
nach Absprache
Details zu Projektzeitraum und Durchführung

The project is conducted during winter semester 2020. The students are involved in the planning, set-up, crop cultivation and harvest of one pot experiment with wheat , or maize as test plants. Variants comprising treatments with microbial strains, soil conditioners, and different nitrogen fertilizers are tested in four replicates. The experiment is arranged in a randomized block design. Assessments of microbiological changes in the rhizosphere, plant growth, and mineral nutrient concentrations in plants are conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the microbial agents. At the end of the project, the students shall prepare and stage a scientific presentation of their work.

Studienfach
Agrarwissenschaften
Agrarbiologie
Biologie
Nachwachsende Rohstoffe und Bioenergie
Betreuende
Dr. Markus Weinmann
Institut
Institut für Kulturpflanzenwissenschaften (340) (Ernährungsphysiologie der Kulturpflanzen (340h))
Sprache
deutsch/englisch
Teilnehmendenanzahl
min. 1, max. 5
(1 Kleingruppen mit max. 5 Teilnehmenden )
Arbeitsaufwand
ca. 180 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r | 6 ECTS-Punkte

Arbeitsaufwand (Stunden und ggf. ECTS) sind ungefähre Angaben. Die tatsächlich vergebenen ECTS-Punkte ergeben sich aus der tatsächlich geleisteten Arbeit.

 
Für dieses Projekt ist kein Motivationsschreiben des Studierenden erforderlich
Projektart
experimentell
Lernziele

Die Teilnehmende lernen in diesem Projekt:

Planning, conduction and evaluation of pot experiments inclusive statitical analyses. Critical interpretation and presentation of the results with respect to epistemological considerations.

Planung, Durchführung und Auswertung von Topfversuchen inkusive statistischer Analysen. Kritsche Interpretation und Präsentation der Ergebnisse unter Einbeziehung Erkenntnistehoretischer Überlegungen.

Anmerkungen für Studierende

In addition it is offered to conduct a Bachelor Thesis in the field of rhizosphere reserach.

Es beteht zusätzlich das Angebot eine Bachelorarbeit im Fachgebiet Rhizosphärenforschung durchzuführen.

Schlagworte
Bio-Effectors, Plant Nutrition, water use efficiency, drought stress