Forest soils - functions and responses to environmental changes

Abstract

The students are learning and applying approaches to assess carbon and nutrient fluxes in forest soils as well as the impacts of pollutants. In laboratory and field experiments, they are measuring C and N fluxes in soils, the buffering of atmospheric deposition, and plant-soil interactions. The results will be interpreted and discussed in the context of climate change or soil contamination.

Objective

The students get first-hand experience with field and laboratory methods to measure carbon and nutrient fluxes and to assess the impact of pollutants on soils. They shall learn about the physico-chemical properties of Swiss forest soils and how these properties determine the ecological functions of the soils and their response to contamination or environmental changes. Finally the students shall interpret, discuss and present their experimental data.

Content

1. Introduction to the diversity and the ecological functions of Swiss forest soils 2. Measurement of soil CO2 efflux, carbon and nutrient leaching from a forest soil at a field site 3. Sampling and preparation of litter, roots, and soil samples from selected soil profiles 4. Setting-up laboratory experiments in microcosms (microlysimeters, rhizoboxes). 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. Interpretation of data: soil organic matter decomposition, calculation of fluxes, buffer capacity, delineate the effects of soil properties, contaminants, environmental factors, and plants.

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