Soils are an important sink for carbon and reduce the CO₂ content of the atmosphere. Studies of soil-vegetation-atmosphere interactions are of high importance for understanding CO₂ fluxes and their fundamental ecological and physiological processes.  Within the framework of the project, the CO₂ gas exchange between soil and atmosphere is continuously recorded using state-of-the-art gas analysis technology, so that total carbon balances can be calculated. By using new transparent cuvettes, net photosynthesis and respiration can now be balanced, which opens up new fields of application in soil research. In a first long-term experiment, investigations are being carried out in the post-mining landscape. The aim is to characterize soil and ecosystem development by comparing respiration (loss) and photosynthesis (gain) and their ratios.

Project team: apl. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schaaf, Dr. Maik Veste, Tatiana Kholiavko
Funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

The aim of the proposed project is the development and establishment of an instrument for the provision of criteria which allow identifying suitable locations for biomass production - outside of productive food production areas - based on their local (soil, water balance, climate, etc.) site conditions. This assessment method to be developed will be able to be used for determining and evaluating yield potentials of bioenergy plants at sites of different soil quality more reliably than previously possible. The soil assessment method will thus be able to help delineating the suitability and potential of marginal lands for the production of biomass.

Project staff: apl. Prof. Dr. Dirk Freese, Dr. Werner Gerwin, Dr. Frank Repmann, Michael Kanzler
Duration: 01.09.2020 - 31.08.2023
Funding: Förderprogramm Nachwachsende Rohstoffe: BMEL (Projektträger: FNR)

BeonNAT Project aims to increase knowledge in obtaining different bioproducts from woody species, trees and shrubs, currently underused. The project assesses the key aspects in the value chain including a selection of the and includes a selection of the most adequate species for different European countries. BeonNAT is based on the following concepts: mixed cultivation of selected woody species in marginal lands using the coppice management method and to obtain of a cascade of products within the biorefinery conception. BTU is responsible for work package 2 "Biomass cultivation, harvesting, logistics and supply plan".

Project staff: apl. Prof. Dr. Dirk Freese, Dr. Werner Gerwin, Dr.-Ing. Steffi Schillem
Duration: 01.07.2020 - 30.06.2025
Funding: EU H2020 / Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI)

The collaborative project investigates the effects of different forest management strategies of forest fire areas on the ecosystemic development. Using permanent observation plots, areas with a history of fire are analysed and the potential and effectiveness of natural regeneration processes in the ecosystem are recorded in order to formulate recommendations for dealing with fire-damaged areas. The PYROPHOB subproject 3 "Soil conditions and soil fauna" (BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg) includes includes the sub-task "Soil". The subproject focuses on soil characterization as basis for the overall site assessment and on matter translocation processes in burned forest soils.

Project staff: apl. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schaaf, Prof. Dr. Thomas Raab, Dr. Werner Gerwin, Dr. Frank Repmann
Duration: 01.05.2020 - 30.04.2025
Funding: Waldklimafonds: BMEL / BMU (Projektträger: FNR)