2001 - Modeling the impact of land use intensification on rice productivity and environmental services along paddy rice cas-cades in mountainous regions

Discipline:

Main discipline:
Soil Science

Other relevant disciplines:    
Plant Science, Environmental Science

Description of the research topic and research methodology:
Land use intensification in the uplands of tropical mountains induces on site soil fertility decline through enhanced soil organic matter decomposition and erosion. Eroded material is transported as sediment in run-off into lower laying paddy fields. The sediments and the associated nutrients settle in the paddy fields in a cascade according to their density creating a distinct soil fertility pattern. This leads often to higher fertility in lower laying fields and enhancing rice yields. However, increased organic inputs and higher plant productivity also induce higher greenhouse gas emissions, in particularly methane emissions. Thus there exists trade-off between land use intensification, changes in soil fertility, productivity and greenhouse gas emissions. There is a need to better understand this trade-off to design improved management options. Based on existing data gathered within existing projects (e.g. SFB Uplands in NW Vietnam) these interactions shall be modeled with the developed Land Use Change Impact (LUCIA, www:\\lucia.uni-hohenheim.de) developed at the Institute of Plant Production and Agroecology in the Tropics and Subtropics.

The 3 main research questions:

- Improve the LUCIA modeling framework and specific modules to assess the impact of land use intensification on lowland soil processes and plant productivity

- Evaluate the resulting greenhouse gas emissions with particular focus on methane production

- Develop improved management scenarios to minimize negative trade-offs between productivity and greenhouse gas emissions 

Target region or country (if applicable):         
Asia

and / or Lab work: no

and / or Desk work: √

Required qualifications of the applicant:
Education:
PhD/PhD student in soil/plant/environmental sciences or related field

Methodological competence:

Good knowledge of soil processes and particular greenhouse gas emission

Preferential some experience on modeling

Good mathematical skills

Language competence:
English