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Experimental exploration of denitrification in multiscale porous media and soil (DASIM)
Project
Project code: keine Angabe
Contract period: 01.06.2016
- 31.05.2019
Purpose of research: Experimental development
The aim of this project is to improve our mechanistic understanding of denitrification in undisturbed structured soil. It is well known that this process depends on the spatial pattern of redox conditions, the gas diffusivity, and the relative distribution of microorganisms and substrate within soil at the scale of centimeters to decimeters. Since these controls are typically unknown, current modeling concepts rely on calibrated parameters that implicitly include these controls but cannot be measured independently. In this project we will experimentally investigate denitrification in materials with increasing structural complexity, where at the lower level we can adjust and systematically investigate all controls (i.e.~spatial pattern of water saturated regions, microorganisms, organic matter and gas diffusivity). This will provide the required data base to explore which structural properties need to be measured at what accuracy to allow for a reliable prediction of denitrification as a function of the hydraulic state of soil. We will use state-of-the-art X-ray-microtomography (µCT) and image analysis for quantifying structural properties at hierarchical scales from intra- to inter-aggregate pore structures. The resulting structural descriptors will be input to model tools which will be developed for the pore scale and the continuum scale by project partners. If this approach is successful we will explore in a second project phase in how far the relevant structural properties can be inferred from proxies that are observable at the field scale. The ultimate goal is to predict N emissions from soil in the landscape based on the distribution of soil properties and the atmospheric forcing.
Section overview
Subjects
- Soil science
- Process engineering
- Climate Change
Collaborative Project
FOR 2337: Denitrification in Agricultural Soils: Integrated Control and Modelling at Various Scales