Working Group Soil Protection and Soil Technology
The Working Group Soil Protection and Soil Technology conducts applied fundamental research in near-natural as well as anthropogenic modified ecosystems and landscapes. The gain in knowledge targets at a resource-preserving and sustainable soil use under conditions of land use and climate change in a regional as well as an international framework. Based upon pedological site analyses, evaluation of soil functions and modeling, strategies and technologies for soil and environmental protection are developed. The research focuses on an enhanced understanding of processes, factors and functions of soil water balance and of nutrient and carbon cycles in arid and semi-arid soils and of the behavior of contaminants in soils and sediments.
The Working Group focuses on the following topics:
- Soil functions and sustainable soil use in southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zambia): Evaluation of soil properties and soil functions due to land use changes and climate change; long-term measurements and modeling of the water balance, nutrient balance and carbon balance of soils in arid and semi-arid regions (SASSCAL, TFO, BIOTA, CliSAP Topic B-2: Land Use and Land Cover Changes)
- Soils in urban environments: Structure, properties and functions of urban soils, especially protection and development of the climate function and adaptation strategies of urban trees under climate change (CliSAP Topic B-5, HUSCO, LSK)
- Evaluation of contaminant load and contaminant availability in soils and sediments: Organic and inorganic pollutants in floodplains, marshes, garden plots, contaminated sites, permafrost affected soils and dredged material. (ELSA, BSU, Neumünster, UBA)
- Water and matter balance of floodplains and marshes, ecosystem functions and habitat diversity of soils in the estuary of the river Elbe (Landesexzellenzgraduiertenschule ESTRADE, MediAN, ELSA)
- Protection of resources and soils in the metropolitan area of Hamburg: Utilization and suitability of dredged material in dike construction and on landfills (HPA projects); water balance and efficiency of cover systems for landfills and contaminated sites (validation and enhancement of the HELP model).