Iron and nitrogen cycling in paddy soils
Soil microbial activity is affected by the availability of oxidizing and reducing agents (e.g. easily available C) but the impact of pedogenic Fe-reduction on net soil N supply in rice fields is still not clear.
Our objectives
- To identify soil factors and biochemical processes controlling mineral N release in paddy soils of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
- To confirm linkages between pedogenic Fe reduction and net soil N supply
Goal
Improved N-use efficiency and recommendations on N fertilizer use in subtropical rice production.
In the lab, greenhouse and field
We measure environmental drivers of soil reduction and microbial activity such as redox potential, pH, dissolved Fe, Mn, organic C and N, and N mineralization to unravel linkages between Fe and N cycling.
