@masterthesis{MeyerzuDrewer, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Meyer zu Drewer, Johannes}, title = {Soil- and Tree- Biomass Carbon as Future Farming Commodity for Smallholders in Tropics and Sub- Tropics - A Concept Review}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-3646}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {96}, abstract = {Facing prevalent soil degradation, population growth and climate change it is vital to wildly deploy versatile carbon farming practices [CF] to increase soil organic carbon [SOC] stocks and consecutive restore soils, increase their productivity and climate resilience while directly mitigating climate change through sequestration of greenhouse gas- [GHG] derivatives, such as CO₂-Carbon, in agricultural landscapes. The global aggregated mitigation potential of up to 11 GtCO₂eq yrˉ¹ (medium confidence) resulting from afforestation, SOC increment and biochar application in the land use sector can only be realised when including smallholder farmers which are in stewardship of 60\% of the global arable lands. Currently soil carbon sequestration receives extensive attention, but efficient schemes to financially support smallholder transition towards carbon farming practices are lacking. Linking these smallholder structures to the global carbon markets by verifying and trading carbon offsets generated through climate smart farming practices is a new attempt to generate the required funding for transition - turning carbon into a new farming commodity for smallholders. This paper reviews approaches to SOC monitoring required for quantification and verification of offsets, based on the evaluation of methods used in the Nepalese smallholder carbon project: Forest Gardens for Closing the Global Carbon Cycle [FCGC]. Further it compares the project innovations of the FCGC with other distinguished case studies of current projects implementing carbon as a farming commodity in a tropical- subtropical smallholder context. A strong variability in SOC pattern as identified in the FCGC project, is inherent to smallholder systems, the cost of representative, direct measurements of such heterogeneous SOC distributions may be cost prohibitive. For smallholder carbon projects of aggregated scale, process-based models to determine SOC fluxes should be employed or the agricultural intervention be focused on tree- biomass- carbon which is quantifiable in a less resource demanding manners. Among the identified project innovations are: Real- time in-situ GIS applications, an innovative approach for monitoring fragmented areas under intervention; The household segment of the voluntary carbon market as a new target group to be explored; Biochar as a multifunctional soil amendment for long-term carbon sequestration; Participatory schemes for monitoring and extension services to build capacity and foster participation; and mobile money approaches to lower transaction costs and likelihood of corruption. The direct financial return from carbon- credits to the farmer is minor, thus it is imperative for the project design to utilize agricultural interventions fostering co-benefits, which are tangible to the farmer in the short to medium term and will serve as the main incentive for the adoption of CF techniques.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Tanzin, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Tanzin, Tamanna}, title = {Assessment of growth and yield potential of different vegetable amaranth type in Kleve, Germany}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-2711}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {57}, abstract = {Amaranthus belongs to the Amaranthaceae family which has approximately 70 species. It is considered as an underutilized plant but some research in the recent years showed that it is a promising plant for future nutrition supply. Amaranths are widely known for its nutritional value and their easy growing habit. This underutilized plant can become a good option for the commercial growers because it is easy to grow, it has high nutritional value and low maintenance cost. Many species of the Amaranthus genus are known as annual weeds, some are used as a vegetable and ornamental plants, some are known as pseudocereals which are mainly used for their grain. The core objective of this study was to assess the growth and yield potential of different vegetable amaranths to select a suitable variety for Kleve, Germany. Eight vegetable amaranths variety (Leafy variety and Stem variety) were grown in the experimental garden of Hochschule Rhein-Waal University. A seed germination test was also conducted at thelife science lab to observe the best seed germination rate at different temperatures. Plant height, number of leaves per plant were measured continuously after two weeks of sowing till the harvest week. The fresh and dry weight of leaf, stem and root were measured after final harvest. The statistical analysis of growth and yield performance of stem and leafy varieties were done separately. Leafy varieties showed a high variation in yield and germination rate than stem varieties. Leafy variety 'Surinamese Spinach'(L7) and 'Marog Green' (L8) excelled in all yield parameters whereas 'Chinese Spinach' (L6) was consistent in low growth and yield. Stem variety 'Danta Bhutan' (S2) and 'Danta Lusina' (S3) showed low yield performance. All the varieties showed a high germination rate above 20°C in seed germination test.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Richter, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Richter, Sebastiaan}, title = {The influence of lime, iron sulphate-lime mixtures, and iron compounds on bioavailable phosphorous}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {Available nutrients for higher plants in the soil are crucial in agriculture and can be repressed by farming practices. The objective of this thesis was to determine if the application of a lime-FeSO4 mixture reduces the available phosphorus for higher plants further than conventional liming. For this, soils from the Lower Rhine region in Germany with different soil properties were collected, treated with different applications, and incubated over a predefined time. Aerobic and anaerobic conditions were created by raising the soils' water content to 50\% and 100\% of their maximum water holding capacity. Bioavailable phosphorus was extracted from the incubated samples with the Calcium-acetate-lactate (CAL) method, and analysed in the Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES). Statistical analysis was conducted with the open-source program "R for statistical computing". Results showed that not the treatment but rather the type of soil had a significant effect on the phosphorus availability. At some extent the WHC significantly influenced the phosphorus availability. In general, lime-FeSO4 mixtures showed a tendency to have higher phosphorus availability than conventional liming. Effects of long-term field application cannot be determined because the experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions for a limited time. For farming, further field experiments and monitoring of fields where the lime-FeSO4 mixtures are regularly applied can exclude negative long-term effects and determine sufficient the effect of lime-FeSO4 mixtures on bioavailable phosphorus.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Hoeft, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {H{\"o}ft, Mattis}, title = {Influence of humic acids on nutrient use efficiency of three phosphorus sources in a sandy soil}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-2978}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {74}, abstract = {A pot trial was conducted under greenhouse conditions to assess the effect of humic acid (HA) application in combination with rock phosphate (RP) on the plant phosphorus (P) nutrient use efficiency (NUE), in comparison to the performance of struvite (ST) and triple superphosphate (TSP) amended plants. A sandy soil, exhibiting a low P content, was used in combination with a lignite derived, liquid humic acid product, with a HA content of 4.8 \%. Nine groups of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) were set up as experimental plants, in replications of six, each containing 4.5 kg air dry soil with a P supply of 27 mg P kg-1 soil, causing P deficiency during the experiment. HA was applied at rates of 1, 30 and 100 mg kg-1 soil, directly to the soil as coated RP or as foliar application. Aboveground biomass was harvested biweekly, five times in total. Amendment performance was evaluated by analysing plant biomass, soil pH, plant phosphorus-, carbon-, nitrogen-, iron-, zinc-, manganese- and boron contents. The label doses of 1 mg kg-1 soil as well as 100-fold increases in HA concentration didn't result in a significant difference in plant shoot or root growth and P NUE compared to untreated plants. Positive trends were displayed at higher foliar application rates. Plant tissue micronutrient concentrations of HA treated samples were generally lower and partly significantly lower than the control. The detected effects were accredited to the hormone-like influence of HA on plants' metabolism and the ability to alter soil conditions. The lack of calcium in ST amended samples resulted in better plant P availability, significantly higher P uptake and better shoot biomass development. Trends show that ST could be applied in combination with HA to further increase plants P NUE in the future.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Paschen, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Paschen, Blanca}, title = {Differences in root morphology of modern wheat and barley varieties and their wild ancestors}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-1948}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {67}, abstract = {Sustainable agriculture requires plants which are able to absorb water and nutrients more efficiently to avoid losses and to reduce negative effects on the environment. Root traits are vitally important to fulfill these aims. Therefore, it is important to better understand root morphology of common cereals, such as wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and their wild relatives. Wild wheat and barley relatives have a superior root system and thus may provide a valuable biological resource for breeding stress tolerant cereals in the future. The objectives of this research were to characterize the variability of root traits among modern wheat and barley cultivars and their wild forms. Fifteen wheat and nine barley cultivars and wild forms were grown under optimal growth conditions without addition of nutrients in a greenhouse experiment. Cultivars and wild forms showed a high genetic variation in root morphology, as well as in shoot traits. Cultivars were divided into three domestication categories: wild forms, old cultivars and modern cultivars. A high variability while comparing cultivars at domestication level showed that it is a 4 weak predictor for root traits. A deep and large root system, high root length density and a high root to shoot ratio were identified as being beneficial traits for efficient nutrient and water uptake. T. aestivum var. tschermakianum, Aegilops cylindrica, H. vulgare hexastichon and H. lagunculiforme had highest values for these traits.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Nidola, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Nidola, Marta}, title = {Frass upcycling: study on the properties of frass and its use as fertilizer and soil amendment in agriculture}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {Frass, as by-product of the emerging insect market, has been used as fertiliser worldwide. However, the impacts on soil microbial community structure and activity have been not yet well characterized. The aim of this study was to assess the effects that frass from black soldier fly reared on 3 different diets may cause when applied fresh and dried (70°C) on a sandy loam soil, in 2 application rates (0.2 and 2\% w/w). For that, frass was chemically characterized before a 28-days incubation, at the end of which samples were analysed from the chemical and biological point of view. It was found that thermal treatments and diets didn't vary significantly in microbiota stimulation, even though a chemical analysis would suggest the potential for enriched-frass from pig effluent and wheat bran to encourage microorganisms differently from beer \& coffee diet. Furthermore, fresh frass contrarily to what expected didn't contribute with living microorganisms to enhance microbial activity and growth. However, a difference was reported for the application rates, with the 2\% leading to more mineralisation than control. A trend for 2\% dried frass from B\&C was found, indicating the establishment of an efficient community of fungi slowly mineralizing recalcitrant and exhausted frass. Results indicate that more studies testing application rates ranging between 2 and 2.5\% have to be conducted. In fact, there is evidence that BSFF between the mentioned application rates could enhance a fast microbial growth leading to a substantial mineralisation of frass, thus availability of nutrients in the short and long term.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Nitsch, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Nitsch, Ellen Sophie}, title = {Opportunities and challenges of Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) as a neophyte in temperate climate zones and potential approaches to management in the case of the urban area of Cleve, Germany.}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-8720}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {80}, abstract = {Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), a deciduous, nitrogen fixing tree of the family of the Fabaceae, can create opportunities as well as challenges in the areas it is found in. The gathering of information was done in three ways: 1) online research to gather basic information about the species, 2) communication with the Umweltbetriebe Kleve and the Niederrhein forestry office to obtain information about the situation in Cleve, Germany 3) visits to the different black locust stands to get an understanding of the situation. Black locust is a pioneer species with a short life span and is considered as an invasive neophyte in many European countries due to its strong suckering and ability to advance into habitats which then undergo an irreversible change in soil and species composition leading to biodiversity loss in especially threatened habitats such as dry grasslands. This is opposed by black locusts' strong biomass production, making it well suited for plantation production, resulting in a strong, durable and fast growing multiuse wood as well as nutritious foliage which can be used as animal fodder or for the production of bioenergy. The 9 visited black locust stands situated in and around Cleve, Germany are well established middle-aged stands not used for the production of high value wood. These stands were considered as not threatening to their adjacent environments due to their being surrounded by streets, waterbodies and well maintained fields and parks making a spread unlikely. As the stands are quite old already letting them fade out by natural succession would be the recommended management method. Should the need for removal present itself, girdling would be the suggested technique as, even though it is quite time intensive, it is the least forceful method and thus minimises the possibility of a strong suckering reaction. In conclusion it can be said, that its usage and management system strongly depend on the location and closeness to threatened habitats, considering that, the environmental aspect should always be put before the economic benefits.}, language = {en} } @misc{EzeobiChris, type = {Master Thesis}, author = {Ezeobi-Chris, Chimaobi}, title = {Quantification of carbon rhizodeposition of different biomes and arable crops from above- and below-ground biomass}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {As more global warming data become increasingly available, climate change has become one of today's greatest environmental threats. Terrestrial ecosystem plays an essential part in the uptake of "greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as Nitrous oxide (N2O), Methane (CH4) and Carbon dioxide (CO2)" through photosynthetic sequestration of atmospheric CO2 released from fossil fuel emission, cement manufacturing and deforestation. Rhizodeposits is the released carbon from the root rhizosphere containing a large amount of carbon, essential nutrients and organic compounds. This process is known as rhizodeposition and is often quantified as carbon derived from rhizodeposition (CdfR). This thesis aims to review selected existing literature on above and below-ground biomass carbon (AGB-C and BGB-C) inputs which were used to quantify the carbon sequestration of rhizodeposits in the below-ground biomass (BGB) of different terrestrial ecosystem biomes in the world and to know where the carbon sequestration is lacking the most. Measurement of rhizodeposition in the soil is mostly carried out in the laboratory involving the use of tracing root-derived C by isotopic and non-isotopic techniques, but in this thesis, about 60 papers from different sources were reviewed, and data on above- and below-ground biomass carbon were collected to quantify the C rhizodeposition in the terrestrial ecosystem biomes. The carbon content of the dry weight biomass was estimated by multiplying the above-ground biomass (AGB) and below-ground biomass (BGB) by 0.45. The C-rhizodeposition from the BGB-C was calculated by multiplying the BGB-C by 0.5. Quantification of global C stored in the biomes, including arable crops, was quantified by multiplying the world land area of different biomes with average AGB-C and BGB-C. The estimated values of the mean, median and range of AGB-C, BGB-C and C-rhizodeposition of different biomes (tropical forest, boreal forest, temperate forest, temperate grassland, tropical grassland) and arable crops were reported in this paper. The global C-storage of above- and below-ground of different biomes and arable crops were also quantified. The values were 210, 116, 93, 7.4, 47.2 in Gt C for the tropical forest, boreal forest, temperate forest, temperate grassland, tropical grassland, and 2.4 Gt C for below-ground arable crops only. Even though the comparison between these ecosystems might be an issue because different methods were used in evaluating the above- and below-ground vegetations plant, which in turn can influence the final quantity of C allocated in above- and below-ground biomass, the findings from this thesis for the biomes show that tropical forest has the highest C stored below ground while arable crops have the least.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{He, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {He, Rushan}, title = {Degradation of the herbicide glyphosate in the presence of a second herbicide MCPA as a chemical stressor in agricultural soil}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {Due to the common agricultural practice of mixing herbicides as well as the long persistence of certain herbicide residues, combinations of herbicides and their residues are often found in soil. These chemicals exert stress on soil microorganisms, affecting the biodegradation of herbicides. There has been little research examining herbicide degradation in the presence of another herbicide from the perspective of stress response using carbon-use efficiency (CUE) to quantify the modified metabolic processes. We investigated, in a 25-day incubation experiment, the effects of the herbicide 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), as an additional chemical stressor for soil microbes, on the degradation of glyphosate, by determining the 13C-labelled glyphosate-derived CO2 (G-derived CO2), 13C-labelled glyphosate incorporated into microbial biomass (G-derived Cmic), and finally the CUE. We observed statistically higher G-derived CO2 in the combined herbicide treatment compared to the treatment with only glyphosate. The G-derived Cmic was lower in the combined treatment than in the glyphosate only treatment, but the difference was not statistically significant. The CUE of soil microorganisms was lower in the combined treatment, but the results were not significant. Despite the statistical insignificance, a clear trend exists that suggests a more catabolic microbial metabolism under stress induced by the presence of a second herbicide MCPA.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Gogoi, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Gogoi, Nayan jyoti}, title = {Combined effects of microplastics and heavy metals: implications for soil microbial ecology}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {There is substantial evidence that microplastic pollution and heavy metal contamination pose a significant threat to the health of soils and the functioning of ecosystems. However, little is known about the interactions between heavy metals and microplastics, as well as possible biological effects when the two are combined. It is possible that MPs and heavy metals can interact in soil, causing changes in their environmental behaviour, bioavailability, and potentially toxic properties, further posing ecological risks. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the individual and combined impacts of microplastics and heavy metals on soil chemical properties, microbial biomass, microbial activity, and microbial communities in soil treated with varying concentrations of these pollutants. In an incubation experiment, soil was amended with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and a mixture of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, and Ni) in two concentrations (Low and High). Seven treatments (Control; MP-L; MP-H; HM-L; HM-H; MP+HM-L and MP+HM-H) were analysed in seven replications. The rate of microbial respiration was determined during incubation. Following incubation, soil pH, microbial biomass carbon (C), nitrogen (N), soil fluorescein diacetate hydrolytic activity, and the abundance of archaea, bacteria, and fungi were measured as well as the effects on inorganic nitrogen (NO3-, NH4+) were determined. It was found that no significant difference existed between the control treatment and LDPE treatment in terms of soil pH, FDAse activity, microbial biomass, microbial respiration, inorganic nitrogen, and abundance of archaea, bacteria, or fungi, regardless of the concentration of LDPE (0.6\%, 1.2\%). Heavy metal treatment did, however, result in a significant decrease in soil pH, NO3, and microbial respiration particularly at high concentrations (2.68 mg kg-1), compared with treatments with LDPE and a control, suggesting that HMs suppressed microbial activity. Additionally, HMs also reduced MBN and MBC, indicating their negative effect on microbial biomass. As a result of the combination of microplastics and heavy metals, microbial biomass, and microbial respiration decreased significantly when compared to either the control treatments or the microplastics alone treatment. Additionally, the combined treatment reduces NO3- and soil pH significantly compared to the control and sole microplastic treatment There was no significant effect observed in any treatment on the abundance of archaea or fungi, indicating that the presence of MP and/or HMs had no impact on their abundance. However, the MP+HM treatment resulted in a reduction in the number of bacteria. Using a two-factor statistical analysis, the effect of two concentrations (low and high) of microplastics and/or heavy metals on these soil parameters was further evaluated. According to these results, the concentrations of added microplastics and/or heavy metals (low and high) had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on any soil parameter except for soil pH (p < 0.05). Overall, the results indicate that the presence of heavy metals, either alone or combined with microplastics, had a detrimental effect on soil ecosystem. However, this study was limited to examining the short-term effects of these pollutants on soil microorganisms and their functioning. Additional research will be necessary to determine the long-term effects of these pollutants.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Rohlfing, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Rohlfing, Pauline}, title = {Einfluss von Benzalkoniumchlorid auf die Selektion von Bakteriengemeinschaften und die Verbreitung von Resistenzgenen in mit Mikroplastik angereichertem Boden}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-18573}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {119}, abstract = {Die zunehmende Anreicherung anthropogener Mikroverunreinigungen in der Umwelt hat in j{\"u}ngster Zeit verst{\"a}rkte wissenschaftliche Aufmerksamkeit erhalten. Der steigende Eintrag von Mikroplastik in die Umwelt kombiniert mit der Ausbreitung von Resistenzgenen erfordert eine eingehende Analyse ihrer m{\"o}glichen Interaktionen und Auswirkungen auf die {\"O}kosysteme. In dieser Studie stand die Interaktion zwischen Mikroplastik, speziell HDPE, einem nicht biologisch abbaubaren Polymer, und PHBH, eine biologisch abbaubare Alternative, in Kombination mit Benzalkoniumchlorid im Fokus. Ziel war es, deren Einfluss auf die Gemeinschaftsstruktur von Bodenmikroorganismen und die Pr{\"a}valenz von Antibiotikaresistenzgenen zu untersuchen. Unter Verwendung eines Mikrokosmos- Designs wurden organisch bewirtschaftete Bodenproben mit den vorgenannten Substanzen {\"u}ber drei und sechs Wochen inkubiert. Im Anschluss wurden die Biofilme auf den Mikropartikeln mittels qPCR und ddPCR analysiert, wobei die Abundanz von Bakterien, Pilzen und dem Klasse-1-Integron-Gen untersucht wurde. Die Ergebnisse k{\"o}nnen nicht best{\"a}tigen, dass Benzalkoniumchlorid die Verbreitung von Resistenzgenen oder mikrobielle Gemeinschaftsstrukturen beeinflusst. Im Gegensatz dazu wirkte PHBH als signifikanter Modulator, der die Vielfalt der Pilz- und Bakterientaxa im Biofilm verringerte, jedoch die Gesamtabundanz erh{\"o}hte. Vor dem Hintergrund dieser Befunde werden die potenziellen {\"o}kologischen Implikationen der Mikroplastikverschmutzung deutlich. Es betont die Notwendigkeit vertiefter Forschungen, um die komplexen Wechselwirkungen zwischen Mikroplastik und anderen anthropogenen Kontaminanten in terrestrischen {\"O}kosystemen zu verstehen.}, language = {de} } @masterthesis{Kulms, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Kulms, Leander}, title = {Paludiculture and farming practices for carbon storage in peatlands - a case study at the lower Rhine}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {Moors have fascinated and scared humanity for centuries. Recently, these wetlands are discussed about for their Climate Change mitigation potential by re-wetting efforts. Since most studies on the topic of potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction in Germany focus on large areas in the North and South of Germany, this study observes a smaller example area of organic soil in Kleve, North-Rhine Westphalia. It is analyzed in terms of suitability for paludiculture as well as for potential savings of GHG and a reduction of the Global Warming Potential (GWP). The study introduces a ranking system that allows an easy estimation of the suitability of fields, based on criteria that assign points from 1 to 4 per criteria. The total for each field is compared with one another. Emission values are based on the GEST-approach, developed by moor scientists in Greifswald, Germany. This study compares current field emissions in Kleve and compares them to theoretical agricultural cultivation scenarios that are simulated and projected onto said fields. The scenarios include the cultivation of Phragmites australis, a grazing system with Bulbalus arnee and the neglection of agriculture supplemented with photovoltaic power harvesting. The research highlights that maintaining high water levels is crucial for significant greenhouse gas emission savings. Water levels of around the soil surface level are assumed to have the highest potential for such savings. Phragmites australis cultivation and the grazing scenario demonstrate the highest potential for savings, reaching up to 2118.56 t CO2-equivalent per hectare annually. Although the findings of this study are promising, it is strongly recommended to update this study with newer findings in the future and to consider production-related emissions that extend the sole on-field emissions.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Chng2025, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Chng, Ci Ern Katelyn}, title = {Effects of Sewage Sludge Biochar as a Growing Media Component and Phosphate Fertiliser on the Cultivation of Potted Ornamental Plants}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-22189}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {42}, year = {2025}, abstract = {There is increasing pressure from the German government on its citizens to reduce dependency on phosphate rock and peat, in agriculture and horticulture. This is due to the phosphate rock oligopoly with associated political instabilities, and the environmental consequences of peat harvesting. Past studies on soilless crop cultivation have shown promising outcomes for the phosphorus (P)-rich sewage sludge biochar (SSB) as an answer to these issues. However, SSB remains as one of the least studied biochar types in soilless ornamental cultivation. The objectives of this study were to investigate the viability of SSB as a P fertiliser and growing media component in pot cultivation of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) and poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima). The addition of SSB at a 10\% (v/v) rate to coco peat (SSB 10) was determined as the best composition. Although it did not outperform the control, SSB 10 plants were not significantly lower than the control plants in height, dry aboveground biomass, and number of poinsettia stems across all three species - except in poinsettia biomass. Other rates (5\%, 15\%, 20\%) had significantly lower values in more than one parameter. Physicochemical characterisation also revealed increased P with increasing SSB rates in the growing media. Contrary to other studies, the pH of all growing media did not exceed ideal growing media pH values (5.3-6.5), further solidifying SSB's viability as a growing media component. The reliability of our results could be improved by recording water uptake of the media, and selection of species with quantifiable aesthetics.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Li, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Li, Shiwei}, title = {Influence of long-term organic and conventional farming on soil microbial properties}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {In order to find out how different farming system influence microbial biomass and therefore influence the long-term soil fertility and soil quality, this study analyzed the impacts of conventional integrated and organic farming systems on soil microbiological parameters using soil samples from the DOK long-term field experiment (Switzerland). Farmyard manure fertilizer is applied to bio-dynamic (D), bio-organic (O) and conventional farming system (K) with two different intensities. Besides, there are a conventional mineral fertilizer received system (M) and an unfertilized control plot (U). The chloroform fumigation extraction (CFE) method and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test were applied for detection and quantification of soil microbial biomass along with some other tests in physical, chemical and biological aspects. Soil pH tends to increase by applying farmyard manure. Metabolic quotient (qCO 2 ) revealed a lower level in the manured system though there was no significant difference between conventional and organic system. On one hand, D treatment achieved the highest values regarding microbial biomass carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus, and the highest gene copies number of detected microbial domains. On the other hand, higher concentration of microbial biomass sodium, potassium, manganese, silicon, nickel and zinc were found in M and K system. Contrary to expectation, the soil organic matter content between different treatments had only a little difference. In general, each tested soil quality parameter was affected by the type and quantity of fertilizer used to a different extent, among which the soil microbiological parameters showed more pronounced difference compared with soil physical parameter, pH and soil organic matter content. In short, organic farming system had greater potential to maintain soil fertility and improve soil quality than conventional farming system in the long term; while the comparison between two organic systems emphasized the beneficial influence from applying compost manure and bio-dynamic additives.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Voegerl, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {V{\"o}gerl, Jakob}, title = {Assessing the effect of N-fertilisation on biomass development and plant interactions in the ancient Milpa compared to pure stands and its potential to reduce fertiliser inputs in traditional small-scale farming}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-6214}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {55}, abstract = {Over the past years, nitrogen (N) fertilisation has been identified as an issue that has a major negative impact on the environment. Therefore, sustainable agricultural practices aim to reduce external fertiliser inputs and focus more on naturally available resources and sustainable cropping practices. One example of that is the ancient milpa polyculture which is practised by traditional small-scale farmers in Central America. It consists of climbing bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. vulgaris), maize (Zea mays), and squash (Cucurbita moschata) that are said to represent a holistic symbiosis in which beans assume the task to accumulate additional nitrogen via N2-fixation and subsequently transfer it to its companions. The potential of intercropping, and thus nitrogen transfer to level out and reduce nitrogen fertiliser inputs compared to monocultures has not been assessed yet and little is known about the resulting practical implementation for small-scale farmers. Therefore, a pot trial with monoculture treatments (100 kg N/ha) of each crop and milpa treatments with varying levels of nitrogen fertilisation (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100 kg N/ha) was established. The intercropped beans were labelled with the 15N isotope using the cotton wick method to track nitrogen transfer in the system. Further, the Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) was used to determine the productivity of the system. Results showed that all polyculture treatments performed similarly or significantly better than the pure stands in terms of total dry matter content per pot. Milpas provided with 100 and 25\% of the recommended nitrogen rate were most productive and achieved a total LER of 1.25 and 1.30, respectively. Also, the non-fertilised milpa was still as productive as the respective plants grown in a monoculture. Due to external reasons, the importance of nitrogen transfer and the related microorganisms could not be evaluated. However, growing a milpa instead of monocultures enables farmers to greatly reduce N fertiliser inputs and provides higher yields in the growing season, while other intercropping benefits are also present. It further has the potential to maintain yields and enhance natural nutrient cycling even if no fertiliser is applied.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Kuenneke, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {K{\"u}nneke, Felix}, title = {The influence of tire wear particles (microplastic) on food security With a focus on agriculturally relevant plant species (Avena sativa L., Brassica napus L. \& Zea mays L.) and soil organisms (Aporrectodea caliginosa \& Eisenia andrei)}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {Development and implementation of environmental assessment concepts must gain stronger positions in policy making. This thesis focuses on the influences of currently, widely unregulated microplastic tire wear particle emissions on food security. An overview of global differences in microplastic waste treatments is given. Changes in behavior, law-making and technical innovations are argued to be equally needed to stop the ongoing pollution to prevent negative impacts on ecosystem services as the foundations for food security. In an experimental set-up, three particle size ranges (<125,125-250, 250-500 μm) in three treatment concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1 \%) with a negative control were applied to determine the influence of microplastic tire wear on three arable crop species and two earthworm species. Evenly, for all administrations, no significant effects could be observed on the organisms' height, biomass, RSR, or body tissue. Nevertheless, the results should not be interpreted as an all-clear signal, as the experiments observed only a few of the vast amounts of microplastic sinks. More data is needed as the EU Commission's recent "call to action" emphasizes. Determination of species resilience factors and traits shall be foci of future investigations to find cofactors for solution strategies. A more precise definition of microplastic and its additives classifications will certainly aid the consensus on priorities in research and consumers' clarity about biodegradability.}, language = {de} } @masterthesis{Brandt, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Brandt, Moritz Lasse}, title = {The fungal endophyte Metarhizium brunneum: Possible multifunctional plant promoter in sustainable agriculture}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-14648}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {106}, abstract = {The overuse of mineral fertilizers and chemical pesticides in the world's agricultural sectors continues to be exorbitant, and is associated with a number of serious consequences for the entire complex environment. The reasons for this include the steadily growing world population and the accompanying degradation of the soil. As an alternative to chemical agents, biological plant protection/strengthening stimulants based on effective microorganisms have become established in the last decades. Research in recent years has focused on entomopathogenic fungal endophytes. The fungal endophyte Metarhizium brunneum, has long been proving its value as a mycoinsecticide in crop protection and there are indications of various plant-strengthening properties. The aim of this thesis is therefore to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge about the endophyte M. brunneum and at the same time, based on the literature, to discuss its potential as an alternative multifunctional plant promoter for sustainable agriculture. A literature research method was used to conduct a quantitative analysis of the existing knowledge on M. brunneum. The information and data collected as a result were systematically categorized and presented. The analysis has shown that the generalist M. brunneum covers a wide host range, has the ability to transfer nutrients in exchange, activates or produces plant hormones, compensates for stressors, and has many possibilities for detection and commercialization. The discussion of these results has led to the evidence that the endophyte can indeed be used as a plant growth promoter. The work also points to gaps in knowledge in several areas and emphasizes that further studies are needed.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Stublla, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Stublla, Arlind}, title = {Nitrogen fixation of Lathyrus odoratus (sweet pea), Vicia sativa (common vetch) and Phaseolus vulgaris (common beans)}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {45}, abstract = {Current agricultural practices depend heavily on inorganic and organic fertilizer use. These fertilizers not only can cost a lot of money, but also impose major environmental and health risks for the farmers that apply it. A solution to this problem, is the use of legume`s BNF (biological nitrogen fixation) to ecologically and inexpensively increase the amount of nitrogen (N) in the soil and the crops grown by the farmers. The aim of this study is to investigate this ability in three plants: Lathyrus odoratus (sweet peas), Vicia sativa (common vetch) and Phaseolus vulgaris (common beans) with a greater focus on Lathyrus ssp. The plants were grown in the Rhine-Waal University`s greenhouse, where two treatments were applied: one treatment with no additional N added to the soil and the other treatment with 20 kg/ha N. The soil was a mixture of agricultural soil and quartz sand. To detect the BNF (\%NDFA and mg NDFA), the 15N isotope dilution method was used. This method requires the application of 15N enriched fertilizer on both nitrogen fixer crop and a control crop (Secale cereale). As such for each plant species five pots with 4 plants (later thinned out to 3) and one pot for the control crop per treatment were planted. The plants were supported with sticks and ropes to properly allow them to grow. Phaseolus vulgaris was harvested with flowers and beans present, while Lathyrus odoratus and Vicia sativa showed no signs of flowers buds. All plant species had a good amount of \%NDFA (nitrogen derived from atmosphere) with Phaseolus vulgaris achieving the highest amount of 71.31\% for the 0N treatment and Lathyrus odoratus, 35.01\% for the 20N treatment. The most amount of mg N derived from atmosphere (mg NDFA) was collected from Phaseolus vulgaris (33.464 and 27.858 mg NDFA for 0N and 20N treatment respectively). When investigated for correlation between several factors affecting BNF, length and nodule size had a positive significant relationship with BNF with a Spearman`s rho value of 0.69 and 0.39 respectively for the 0N treatment. Although Lathyrus odoratus had the lowest performance from all plant species, it has been suggested that this may be due the plant being in the initial stages of growth. Lathyrus odoratus will require field experiments to properly quantify the amount of BNF (kg/ha) and to assess the adaptability of the crop in field environments}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Brender, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Brender, Nadja}, title = {Effects of Simulated Drought on Microbial Activity in Biologically and Conventionally managed Soils}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {Increasing droughts and intensified agricultural management cause stress and disturbance on agricultural soil, but their effects on soil microbial activity are not fully known yet. This thesis studied the effects of induced short-term drought in two contrasting agricultural management systems, namely biodynamic (BioDyn) and conventional (ConMin), on microbial activity. The soil samples taken from the DOK long-term trial were analysed using MicroResp™, fluorometric enzyme assays and disease suppression bioassays. Soil basal- and multiple substrate-induced respiration (MSIR), microbial functional diversity, extracellular enzymatic activity (EEA) and soil suppressiveness against Pythium ultimum (Pu) were evaluated as indicators for microbial activity. Drought increased basal respiration but had no effects on other parameters. Conventional farming decreased EEA involved in carbon (C)- and nitrogen (N)-cycling, while it increased phosphorus (P)-cycling. No significant effects on the interaction between farming system and drought were found. The results indicate that organic farming has, to some extent, positive effects on microbial activity while drought does not decrease activity but induces stress in microorganisms.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Kouis, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Kouis, Zacharias}, title = {Photovoltaic power potential in Cyprus and how the synergies observed in an Agrivoltaic system affect the efficiency of food and energy production}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:1383-opus4-15707}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, pages = {72}, abstract = {Cyprus plans to drastically increase its share of RES grid penetration from 16.7\% in 2020 to 22.9\% in 2030 by taking advantage of the sun's energy abundance in the region and the favorable climatic conditions available. In this study, the solar potential of Cyprus through PV technology will be assessed and quantified with the use of PVGIS tool on three different levels: theoretical, practical and economical, while spatial representation of the region's potential will allow for better comprehension of the concept. Land use constraints being a major limitation for the implementations of such concepts can be avoided with the dual use of land in a scheme known as Agrivoltaics. The coexistence of crop and energy production can give rise to synergies that affect the efficiency of such schemes. This paper using a qualitative approach will investigate and analyse these possible synergies and will identify barriers that might arouse. Results demonstrate yearly GHI and DNI values of 1963.62 kWh/m2 and 2201.61 kWh/m2 respectively, while yearly PVOUT accounts for 1828.75 kWh/kWp with a seasonality index of 1.4 and LCOE value of €0.053/kWh, evidencing undoubtedly the resource's potential in the region. Within an agrivoltaic system nine categories of synergies where identified indicating an overall positive effect in the efficiency of food-energy nexus. The limpid representation of the PV energy resource potential in Cyprus and the comprehensive description of the arousing synergies can propel further exploitation of the agrivoltaic concept within the region.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Islam, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Islam, Md Ariful}, title = {Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on plant growth, yield, and plant-parasitic nematode control in organic tomato production: A field study and a systematic review}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {The symbiotic relationship between plants and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) is widely known. However, the effect of AMF on plant growth and overall yield, together with plant physiology and soil metabolism under inappropriate field conditions, shows ambiguous conclusions. Moreover, AMF in organic farming systems may be less effective because organic farming excludes most biocides and water-soluble fertilizers and generally have more diversified rotations. AMF can be used as a natural tool to reduce the effect of plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN) as well. Therefore, this study aims to assess the impact of AMF on plant growth, yield, and PPN in organic tomato production. The study consists of a field study and a systematic review. A renowned tomato variety and a mixture of AMF inoculum were used in an organic greenhouse with a controlled irrigation system for the field experiment. In addition, a Systematic Literature Review using the PRISMA framework was conducted to investigate the effect of AMF on the PPN population. For the simplicity of this review, PPN Pratylenchus spp. (PS) was only included, as AMF inoculated plants exhibit better tolerance under PS pressure. Results showed no significant increase in overall tomato production in response to AMF application. However, a positive correlation was found between AMF and PS population densities, as most studies indicated no effect or decrease in the PS population. Different AMF and PS interaction results indicate the involvement of different cultivars, soil characteristics, temperature, and various AMF and crop species. The mechanisms involved in these interactions are reviewed and could be an object for further study.}, language = {en} } @masterthesis{Coort, type = {Bachelor Thesis}, author = {Coort, Katharina}, title = {Rhizosphere and endophytic colonization of cover crops by entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum}, school = {Hochschule Rhein-Waal}, abstract = {Species of the entomopathogenic fungal genus Metarhizium (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) are pathogenic to many arthropods, a trait that is utilized in agricultural pest control. Next to their pathogenic lifestyle, many Metarhizium species show plant root association. Due to the potential to improve efficiency in pest management by increasing abundance and persistence in the soil, and positively influence plant development by facilitating nutrient uptake as well as biotic and abiotic stress tolerance (e.g., droughts and diseases), interactions of EPF with plant roots represent valuable characteristics. EPF species Metarhizium brunneum is known for its virulence against wireworms, a major insect pest for example in potato farming, and has shown its root associating abilities before. To investigate its potential in cover crop applications, a recent approach to improve field efficiency in wireworm control, this experiment studied its root associations with seven different cover crop species. In a greenhouse pot trial, one-week-old seedlings were inoculated with M. brunneum isolate Cb 15-ǀǀǀ followed by bulk soil, rhizosphere, and root sampling 8 weeks later, and plating them onto semi selective nutrient agar. Bulk soil and rhizosphere populations were assessed by CFU counting while endophytic root colonization was determined by identification of colonies growing from root cut surfaces. Rhizosphere populations were on average 54 \% higher than bulk soil ii populations, indicating a substantial root association. Endophytic root colonization was observed with 4 out of 7 species. Amongst them were the two Brassicaceae species Raphanus sativus and Sinapis alba as well as grass species Lolium multiflorum which showed the overall highest root associations with M. brunneum. Rhizosphere populations of S. alba were noticeably lower than for all other species while still showing one of the highest internal root colonization rates which potentially originates from species-specific allelochemicals in the rhizosphere. There was a significant negative correlation between Metarhizium populations in the bulk soil and endophytic root colonization, which was interpreted with care considering some analytical constraints. Results from this experiment give insight into root associations of M. brunneum with cover crops and suggest suitable species for further investigation. Deeper understanding of complex interactions which influence plant-fungus relationships (e.g., competition with other soil microbes or the impact of agricultural practices), could improve the efficiency of corresponding products and facilitate additional applications and benefits (e.g. improved nutrient uptake and disease resistance) by utilizing EPF root associations.}, language = {en} }