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Nested landscape studies of carbon & energy flux controls on soil microbial and faunal processes, quality traits, functions and biogeochemical cycles

Reference	BBS/E/G/00003005
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor David Scholefield
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res
Department	Inst of Grassland and Environmental Res Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	2,607,311
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2003
End date	31/03/2007
Duration	48 months

Abstract

In this project we shall investigate the central role of plant, microbe and faunal-derived carbon (C) compounds as substrates for, and energisers of, soil biological processes that confer key quality traits and functions in grassland environments. The research will be based on three integrated activities: - (i) Use of state-of-the-art isotope and pulse-label C and nutrient tracing coupled with genetic fingerprinting and molecular biological techniques in experiments at a range of scales from the laboratory microcosm to the hill-slope / first order catchment. These are designed to test hypotheses linking inputs of a range of C compounds to the energising of soil biological processes that influence soil functions and in turn environmental impacts and the ecological sustainability of the sward. (ii) Generation of fine resolution data through intensive monitoring of key nutrients and hydrological characteristics in soil and bounded grassland landscapes. Use of novel data collection and analysis techniques for pattern recognition, origination of empirical models and the formation of hypotheses. (iii) Building a new model of biological and chemical activity in the rhizosphere that tracks C and energy dissipation through the various food web components and uses optimisation and sensitivity analysis to simulate functions and consequences of managements on ecological and environmental sustainability. Use of the model to generate new understanding and new hypotheses. Measurements of defined environmental variables will contribute to the UK Environmental Change Network database.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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