No subject
Schnug at pb.fal.d400.de
Schnug at pb.fal.d400.de
Thu Jul 15 07:49:30 EDT 1993
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E-Mail from: SCHNUG at pb.fal.d400.de
from:
Prof. Dr. Dr. Ewald Schnug
Federal Agricultural Research Centre
Institute of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science
Bundesalle 50
D-38116 Braunschweig-Voelkenrode
Germany
phone: +49 531 596 303 // fax: +49 531 596 377
Cable address: Landforschung Pflanzenernaehrung
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS: >>>>> SCHNUG at pb.fal.d400.de <<<<<
PLEASE NOTE THE NEW POST CODE FOR BRAUNSCHWEIG >>>>> D-38116 <<<<<
to: GRASS User Group
E-Mail: grassu-request at amber.cecer.army.mil.
DATE: 14 July 1993
Dear colleagues,
we are interested to use the GRASS-GIS system in our research work
and would like to ask you kindly for a copy of the program and
documentations for installation and use. We have access to a
Siemens SGI-RW420 worksstation and 486/66 PC both running under
UNIX. Beside disks we are able to process 4mm DAT-, QIC150- and 1/2"-
tapes both written under UNIX-TAR resp. the UNIX-DD command.
For your information I have attached a short description of the
research work we are doing in our institute.
Many thanks in advance for your assistance!
Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
kind regards
Ewald Schnug
INSTITUTE OF PLANT NUTRITION AND SOIL SCIENCE
Federal Agricultural Research Centre
Bundesalle 50
D-38116 Braunschweig-Voelkenrode
Germany
RESERACH PROGRAM
HEAD: Professor Dr. sc. agr. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Ewald Schnug
SENIOR SCIENTISTS (established)
Haneklaus, Silvia, H., Dr. sc. agr.
Harms, Hans, Prof. Dr. rer. nat.
Helal, Mohammed M., Prof. Dr. sc. agr.
K| cke, Martin, Dr. sc. agr.
Murphy, Donal, P., M. Agr. Sc. M.I.Biol.
Rietz, Egbert, Chem. Phys. (Deputy)
Research work at the Institute is aimed at the sustainable nutri-
tion of crops, the conservation of soil fertility, and mainte-
nance of basic soil processes. Investigations focus on the sup-
port of biological processes in ecosystems and the economic and
ecological optimisation of the use of nutrients in agriculture,
They also address the legislative requirements of fertilisation
and soil conservation.
LOCAL RESOURCE-MANAGEMENT OF AGRICULTURAL SOILS
The term Local Resource-Management (LRM) describes an interdisci-
plinary concept in which traditional methods of field and labora-
tory soil science are combined with modern procedures and techni-
ques of geostatistics, information handling and satellite aided
positioning (GPS). This technology provides the best chance that
the problems arising from the inherent variability of soils may
be addressed successfully. The innovative research work conducted
here in plant nutrition and soil science will examine how this
technology is best exploited to give practical benefits in crop
production and soil conservation. It addresses the small scale
spatial variability in soil fertility; the management of this
spatial variability is a major technological challenge for the
efficient and environmentally responsible use of production
inputs.
The main priorities are mapping and interpretation of geocoded
features of soil fertility for the deduction of Digital Agro-
Resource Maps (DARM) as a basis of an optimised sustainable
management of natural soil resources, the combination of models
simulating the changes in soil resources in time with models
describing their variability in space, and the development of
concepts for the deduction and utilisation of `equifertiles`
(areas with homogeneous crop productivity). Research in this
field also includes the assessment of `on-line` registered and
geocoded yield data and methods of remote sensing, the design of
innovative fertilisation strategies applicable for quantity
variable distribution systems with satellite aided positioning,
and the principles of the application of Local Resource Manage-
ment to the requirements of soil conservation.
NUTRITION AND METABOLISM OF CROPS
Besides investigations into the uptake, transport and function of
nutrients, the biosynthesis and regulation of the high-value
compounds is of special interest with respect to physiological
plant nutrition. Research work includes investigations into
technologically important substances and characteristics, com-
pounds involved in determining plant resistances, and the nutri-
tional quality of diets and feedstuffs.
The mineral nutrition of plants is a major factor influencing the
content of nutritional and pharmacological relevant compounds and
flavour and fragrance agents. The physiological processes of the
secondary plant metabolism is of special interest here.
Emphasis will be put on research on relations between sulphur
nutritional level and the quality of plant products are investi-
gated. Information on the role of sulphur in determining tole-
rance and resistance against biotic and abiotic stress factors is
required. Furthermore, specific fundamental physiological based
knowledge of the mineral nutrition of stressed plants is required
for improved production techniques under extreme environmental
conditions. It is necessary to reduce or, better still, to pre-
vent undesired substances from contaminating or accumulating in
agricultural products in order to guarantee the nutritional and
hygienic standards of diets. In this research field, more detail-
ed information on the influence of organic xenobiotics and heavy
metals of different sources and nature on plant uptake, metabo-
lism, growth and yield is required. Furthermore, the investigati-
ons will also consider for the persistence and bioavailability of
these substances.
NUTRIENT BALANCE AND FERTILISATION
The evaluation of the nutrient supply of soils and plants is the
basis for optimising fertiliser input . For this purpose, diagno-
stic techniques and interpretation programmes for plant and soil
analysis will be developed or extended. Furthermore, strategies
for the harmonisation of animal and crop production are required
for the development of environmentally responsible farming.
Investigations into the maintenance of the sulphur supply to
crops to prevent the economic and environmentally detrimental
effects of reduced sulphur supply on yield and quality is a new
and priority research area. Special emphasis will be put on a
comprehensive understanding of the organic matter as a dynamic
pool for sulphur in soils.
Plant roots actively change metabolic rates and mobilisation
processes of nutrients within their proximity while, in turn,
soil physio-chemical characteristics influence root development
and function; understanding on these bilateral relations is
improved for the description and quantification of plant influen-
ces on substance dynamics in soils.
The nutrient efficiency of crops is defined by their nutrient
uptake and metabolic utilisation. Therefore research work is
processes affecting nutrient utilisation. These information are
of value for plant breeders in the selection of cultivars adapted
to site conditions.
WASTE DISPOSAL IN AGRICULTURE
The pressure to use agriculture as a way of disposing of urban
and industrial waste may conflict with requirements to maintain
the rural environment and guarantee food quality. It is essenti-
al that comprehensive agro-ecological assessments are made to
facilitate the safe disposal of wastes on soils.
The number of urban and industrial waste products is steadily
increasing, and many of these substances are of unknown or of
variable composition and pollutant potential. The risk of their
use to the economics of the crop production system is also not
known. Research to develop methods for the characterisation,
evaluation and redevelopment of contaminated soils is required.
Further investigations into the transfer and bioavailability of
pollutants within the plant/soil system is needed.
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