Synergistic Effects of Nitrification Inhibitor and Recycled Phosphorus Fertilizers on Nitrogen and Phosphorus Use Efficiency in Maize
- Beschreibung
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are essential macronutrients that strongly influence plant growth, development, and nutrient acquisition. Their availability in soil is governed by dynamic biogeochemical processes, and interactions between N transformation and P availability may play an important role in determining plant nutrient acquisition and use efficiency. Nitrification inhibitors can delay the conversion of ammonium (NH₄⁺) to nitrate (NO₃⁻), thereby modifying the temporal availability of inorganic N in the soil. Prolonged ammonium availability may influence rhizosphere processes through plant NH₄⁺ uptake and associated proton release, potentially affecting the mobilization of sparingly soluble phosphorus sources.
This project aims to investigate whether the combined use of a nitrification inhibitor and recycled phosphorus fertilizers can improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and phosphorus use efficiency (PUE) in maize. Greenhouse experiments will be conducted using a rhizobox system to investigate the interactions between nitrogen transformation, phosphorus availability, root development, and plant nutrient acquisition under different fertilization conditions.
N treatments with and without a nitrification inhibitor will be combined with selected recycled phosphorus fertilizers, such as struvite or other sparingly soluble P sources. Soil ammonium and nitrate dynamics, rhizosphere pH, root development, plant biomass, and N and P concentrations in plant tissues will be assessed.
Particular attention will be given to the potential relationship between prolonged ammonium availability, rhizosphere conditions, and the mobilization of recycled phosphorus. The study will investigate whether changes in N transformation and rhizosphere conditions influence root development and the availability and uptake of phosphorus and whether these interactions result in improved acquisition and utilization of both nutrients.
Nitrogen use efficiency and phosphorus use efficiency will be evaluated together with plant growth, root characteristics, and nutrient uptake to determine whether the combination of nitrification inhibition and recycled phosphorus fertilizers results in a synergistic response.
The project will provide insights into the interaction between nitrogen transformation, rhizosphere processes, and recycled phosphorus availability and will contribute to a better understanding of the factors controlling N and P acquisition and use efficiency in maize.
- Projektzeitraum
- Wintersemester 2026/2027
- Bewerbungszeitraum
- 12. bis 26.10.2026
- Durchführung
- nach Absprache
- Studienfach
- offen für alle Studienfächer
- Betreuende
- Afsaneh Yousefi
- Institut
- Institut für Kulturpflanzenwissenschaften (340) (Düngung und Bodenstoffhaushalt)
- Sprache
- deutsch/englisch
- Teilnehmendenanzahl
- min. 1, max. 4
- Arbeitsaufwand
-
ca. 30 Stunden pro Teilnehmende:r
| 1
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:
Participants will learn how nitrification inhibitors influence nitrogen dynamics and the availability of inorganic nitrogen in soil.
They will gain practical experience in conducting greenhouse experiments using a rhizobox system and in investigating root development and rhizosphere responses under different nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization conditions.
Participants will learn how to assess soil ammonium and nitrate dynamics, rhizosphere pH, root development, plant biomass, and tissue nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations.
They will develop skills in relating nitrogen transformation and rhizosphere processes to phosphorus availability, plant nutrient uptake, and root development.
Participants will also gain experience in analyzing experimental data and evaluating nitrogen use efficiency and phosphorus use efficiency under different fertilization strategie
- Anmerkungen für Studierende
- Schlagworte
- maize, nitrification inhibitor, recycled phosphorus fertilizers, struvite, Rhizobox, nitrogen use efficiency, phosphorus use efficiency, rhizosphere