Agricultural Ecosystems
Agricultural ecosystems comprise 30 % of the Earth’s surface. They provide ecosystem services including food and non-food biomass production, carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation. Agricultural ecosystems serve as important habitats for many wild plant and animal species. Management practices used in agricultural ecosystems determine the state of the global environment.
The aim of the research area Agricultural Ecosystems is to advance our understanding of biomass formation, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and other key processes. This fundamental research helps to develop strategies for sustainable management of agricultural systems in a changing environment including innovative farming techniques in organic agriculture, sustainable intensification, and digital farming technologies.
Project highlights
Get an insight into the research of Agricultural Ecosystems based on selected projects.
Biodiversity Exploratories
BonaRes
SIGMA
- GRASSWORKS – What works and why in grassland restoration in Germany (Prof. Kollmann)
- Green-Topping – Plant and evaluate the establishment of regionally adapted seed mixtures to increase the multifunctionality of medium-intensity grassland (Prof. Kollmann)
- NutriB2 – Nutrition as critical link between Biodiversity and Bee health (Prof. Leonhardt)
Project news
More carbon storage in soils
More effective management of soils as carbon sinks is possible
Winter important for cereal yield
Weather conditions outside growing season very important
CO2 storage through dead plant material
Allowing plant residues to rot on the field is good for the climate
Saving climate through behavior change
Climate plantations do not make the world more sustainable
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Video Insights
ProBio
BonaRes
Soil as Sustainable Resource for the Bioeconomy (Prof. Kögel-Knabner)
The Jena Experiment
One of the longest-running biodiversity experiments in the world (Prof. Weisser)