Forest Soils in a Changing Environment

Abstract

The students are measuring carbon and nutrient fluxes in forest soils under a changing climate and land-use. In laboratory and field experiments, they are manipulating climatic conditions (temperature, drought) and quantify the response of C and N fluxes in soils, and plant-soil interactions. The results will be interpreted and discussed in the context of changes in climate and land-use.

Objective

The students get first-hand experience with field and laboratory methods to measure carbon and nutrient fluxes and the application of stable isotope techniques. They shall learn about physico-chemical properties of Swiss forest soils, how these properties determine the ecological functions of soils and how soils respond to changes in climate and land-use. Finally the students shall interpret, discuss and present their experimental data.

Content

1. Introduction to the ecological functions of Swiss forest soils 2. Measurement of soil CO2 efflux, carbon and nutrient leaching in forest and grassland soils 3. Sampling and preparation of litter and soil samples from selected soil profiles under different land-uses 4. Setting-up laboratory experiments in microcosms. Measurement of soil respiration and leaching of carbon, nutrients and/or contaminants in climate chambers under different environmental conditions. 5. Analyses of litter, soil, and soil water for selected physical and chemical properties. 6. Learning and applying stable isotope techniques for quantifying turnover of soil carbon and their microbial communities. 7. Interpretation and final presentation of data

Resources