Research Explorer

Project

Development trajectories in below-above-ground plant communities driven by nutrient availability and soil biota

Code
3G050215
Duration
01 January 2015 → 31 December 2020
Funding
Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO)
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Ecology
    • Environmental science and management
    • Soil sciences, challenges and pollution
    • Other environmental sciences
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Agriculture, land and farm management
Keywords
vegetation succession soil nutrients plant traits soil biota nature restoration
 
Project description
 

Accumulated nutrients in former agricultural soils are a major bottleneck for the restoration of species-rich semi-natural grasslands. In addition, the lack of a typical soil biota community can further hamper the desired vegetation succession. In this project, an extensive mesocosm experiment is set up to test how plant community development is influenced by nutrient levels in interaction with soil biota.