University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 1
New opportunities for soil – plant
research at the BOKU campus Tulln
Walter W. Wenzel
Institute of Soil Research
Rhizosphere Ecology & Biogeochemistry Group
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel
Institute of Soil Research at BOKU
Molecular scale
Single root, microsites in soil
Plant, pedon
Site & soil unit
Soil landscapes, regional cycling
Global cycling and impacts
Up
scaling
Experimental work
Mathematical modelling
Biogeochemistry (C, nutrients, pollutants) Soil and rhizosphere processes, microbial processes
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel
Institute of Soil Research at BOKU
Research groups
Environmental Ecotoxicology and Isotopic Applications
(Martin Gerzabek)
Soil Microbiology (Sophie Zechmeister-Boltenstern)
Rhizosphere Ecology and Biogeochemistry (Walter
Wenzel)
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 4
From a field to state-of-the-art research centre
University & Research Centre Tulln
(UFT)
March 2009 September 2009
March 2010 June 2010 March 2010 June 2010
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 5
University & Research Centre Tulln
(UFT) New work place of > 250 employees
BOKU & AIT
6 BOKU departments
Greenhouses, isotopic lab, clean room, technical centre for
wood science,...
Analytical facilities (NMR, ICP-MS, confocal microscopy,...
Experimental station (45 ha)
Seminar centre, library
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 6
Campus Technopol Tulln
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 7
University & Research Centre Tulln
(UFT)
Minimal environmental
impact
Bioenergy
Biomaterials
Resource use efficiency
Biochemicals
Higher biomass
production & quality
Improved processability Increased genetic
diversity
Bioresources
(Soil, Plant, Microbes)
Renewables
Production &
Conversion
Technology
“Zero” waste
Sustained soil quality /
productivity
Food
Scientific Initiative
Bioresources, Renewables and Conversion Technology
Minimal environmental
impact
Bioenergy
Biomaterials
Resource use efficiency
Biochemicals
Higher biomass
production & quality
Improved processability Increased genetic
diversity
Bioresources
(Soil, Plant, Microbes)
Renewables
Production &
Conversion
Technology
“Zero” waste
Sustained soil quality /
productivity
Food
Minimal environmental
impact
Bioenergy
Biomaterials
Resource use efficiency
Biochemicals
Higher biomass
production & quality
Improved processability Increased genetic
diversity
Bioresources
(Soil, Plant, Microbes)
Renewables
Production &
Conversion
Technology
“Zero” waste
Sustained soil quality /
productivity
Food
Minimal environmental
impact
Bioenergy
Biomaterials
Resource use efficiency
Biochemicals
Higher biomass
production & quality
Improved processability Increased genetic
diversity
Bioresources
(Soil, Plant, Microbes)
Renewables
Production &
Conversion
Technology
“Zero” waste
Sustained soil quality /
productivity
Food
17.10.2011
Scientific themes
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 8
Phosphorus use efficiency
Phosphorus resource decline (peak P)
Increased prices
Example of research
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/33164
http://phosphorusfutures.net/why-phosphorus
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 9
Phosphorus use efficiency
Soil erosion & eutrophication
Example of research
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 10
Phosphorus use efficiency
Rhizotron experiment
Diffusive gradients in thin films
Laser ablation ICP-MS
Example of research
New wave UP-193
Elan DRC-e
Santner et al. 2011
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011
Phosphorus use efficiency
Highly resolved mapping of P solubility and fluxes in the
rhizosphere showing regions of depletion and efflux
Example of research
Santner et al. 2011
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 12
Soils class room
Teaching soil science
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011
Soils class room
Teaching soil science
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011
Soil monolith collection
Teaching soil science
RANKER KALKLEHM TSCHERNOSEM KOLLUVIUM
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011
Böden Österreichs
Terrestrische Böden Hydromorphe Böden
<0.5 M% 75 M%
Grobmaterial-
Rohboden
Feinmaterial-
Rohboden
Ranker Pararendzina
Braun-
erde
Rendzina
0.5 – 75 M% Karbonat
Grobanteil >40 V% <40 V%
Para-
braunerde
Semi-
podsol
Podsol
Kalklehm-
Rendzina
Kalklehm
Tschernosem Typischer
Pseudogley
Rohauboden
Solontschak
Niedermoor
Anmoor
Feucht-
Schwarz-
erde
Überflutung Tagwasser
Grundwasser
Hang-
pseudogley
Stagnogley
Haftnässe-
pseudogley
Hanggley
Gley
Nassgley
Au-
boden Augley
Entwässerung
Solonetz
Schwemm-
boden
Solonetz-
Solontschak
Ver
salz
un
g
Stau-
podsol
Rumpf-
tschernosem
Hochmoor
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 16
Raising soil awareness
Planned activities
Strong, continued collaboration with the Unit for Agriculture
and Forestry (LF6) of the Government of Lower Austria
BOKU member of ELSA
Open House at Campus Technopol Tulln (Nov. 18, 2011)
Long Night of Science (April 2012)
Children´s University (Summer 2012)
University of Natural Resources
and Life Sciences
Department of Forest and Soil Sciences
Institute of Soil Research I www.rhizo.at I W.W. Wenzel 17.10.2011 17
Thank you for your attention!