Es steht im Interesse der Umweltforschung und Umwelterziehung Vorurteile ueber Belastungen durch Emissionen und Rueckstaende aus Braunkohlekraftwerken kritisch zu hintertragen und an einfachen Modell-Systemen Schad- und Nutzwirkungen von Kraftwerksreststoffen (Braunkohlenasche und Rauchgasgips) zu erfassen (Ziel). Es wird davon ausgegangen, dass bei einer richtigen Verwendung (Recycling) durchaus positive Wirkungen auf Umwelt und Gesundheit zu erwarten sind (Hypothese). Als Ergebnis ist festzustellen, dass mit einer Kombination von Braunkohlenasche und Rauchgasgips eine Verbesserung von sauren Boeden und des Pflanzenwachstums, sowie eine Behebung von Mangelsituationen an Spurenelementen (Bor, Selen, Molybdaen, u.a.) bei sachgerechter Anwendung moeglich ist (Ergebnis).
In recent years science has taken an increased interest in mineralization processes in tropical soils in particular under minimal tillage operations. Plant litter quality and management strongly affect mineralization-nitrification processes in soil and hence the fate of nitrogen in ecosystems and the environment. Plant secondary metabolites like lignin and polyphenols are poorly degradable and interact with proteins (protein binding capacity) and hence protect them from microbial attack. Nitrification, a microbiological process, directly and indirectly influences the efficiency of recovery of N in the vegetation as well as the loss of N (through denitrification and leaching) causing environmental pollution to water bodies and contributes to global warming (e.g. the greenhouse gas N2O is emitted as a by-product of nitrification and denitrification). Nitrifiers comprise a relatively narrow species diversity (at least as known to date) and are generally thought to be sensitive to low soil pH and stress. Despite these properties nitrification occurs in acid tropical soils with high levels of aluminium and manganese. Thus the main objective of the project will be the identification of micro-organisms and mechanisms responsible for mineralization-nitrification processes in acid tropical soils and the influence of long-term litter input of different chemical qualities and minimal tillage options. The project will include the use of stable isotopes (15N, 13C), mass spectrometry, gas chromatography (CO2, N2O), biochemical methods (PLFA) and molecular biology (16s rRNA., PCR, DGGE)