Phosphorus and nitrogen (re-)cycling in agro-ecosystems
Plant Nutrition
Globally food demand is increasing while natural resources are shrinking. Human alterations of nutrient cycles are a major cause of global change, through adverse effects on water bodies, atmosphere, climate and biodiversity in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Our research is therefore dedicated to the phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) (re-)cycling in agro-ecosystems of the temperate and tropical zone with the overall goal to maximize the use efficiency of nutrients by crops while minimizing adverse effects to the environment. We are experts on the use of stable and radio-active isotope techniques to study P and N fluxes in soil-plant systems.
Research topics
Nutrient use in organic farming, conservation agriculture and low input systems: specificities, potential and limitations.
Use efficiency by plants of nutrients contained in animal manure, plant residues or recycling fertilizers.
Microbial source-sink functions in the use of these nutrient sources and the impact of microorganisms on available nutrient pools in the soil.
Interactions between phosphorus and nitrogen availability, including symbiotic di-nitrogen fixation by legume.
Above- and belowground nitrogen input by legumes using 15N-enriched and natural abundance techniques.
Interdisciplinary
Soil microbiology
Soil chemistry
Crop Sciences
Grassland Sciences
Plant and microbial ecology
Plant Physiology
