Department of Management of Crop Water Stress in the Tropics and Subtropics

Research

Current Research Projects

EXALT - Coupling thermal desalination and dewatered salt discharge with hydroponic crop production using heat pumps. Water Research in the Near and Middle East (MEWAC)

Project begin: 2022
Project end: 2024

EXALT

Freshwater is a severely limited resource, especially in the Near and Middle East, and therefore there are increasing attempts to incorporate saline or brackish water into crop production processes. Under intense solar radiation, ventilation to cool greenhouses also allows moisture in the air to escape, resulting in significant water loss. In a closed system, this loss can be avoided via active cooling and condensation to recover the water, while the heat extracted from the greenhouse can be further used as process heat. By coupling desalination and greenhouse air conditioning via heat pumps, the partners in the EXALT collaborative project are developing an energy-efficient process to reduce both the water requirements for plant production in the greenhouse and the energy requirements for desalination. With the objective of removing dehydrated salt, a problem of conventional desalination processes is also addressed.The EXALT project is jointly supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) within the Middle East Regional Water Research Cooperation Program (MEWAC). 2022-2024

Involved Persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Dr. Jörn Germer
  • Julia Asch
  • Hemanth Kumar Puppala
Involved institutions
Sponsors

Water - People - Agriculture (Anton & Petra Ehrmann-Stiftung Research Training Group), Integrative solutions to water issues and conflicts

Project begin: 01.09.2013
Project end: 31.12.2025

Water - People - Agriculture

The University of Hohenheim  has established a new graduate school with the generous support of the Anton & Petra Ehrmann-Stiftung. The Research Training Group entitled "Water -People - Agriculture" will focus on integrative solutions to water issues and conflicts.

Five main topics for research and education are addressed within the Anton & Petra Ehrmann-Stiftung WPA research training group:

 

  • Water as a resource
  • Water and climate
  • Water productivity
  • Water and health
  • Water as a societal challenge

Starting from the Summer Semester 2014 the WPA research training group will establish a newdoctoral schoolat the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences with our "Water - People - Agriculture" module and frequently offer 3-yearsPhD scholarships. Scholarships are open to qualified national and international candidates.

 
Background / Hintergrund

The UN Decade of Water for Life has raised awareness of both the social and environmental importance of water. Water scarcity, access to sanitation and health, water and women, capacity building, financing, assessment, integrated water resources management, transboundary issues, environment and biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, food and agriculture, water pollution and energy production are the issues that are discussed and addressed worldwide. Many problems in this field arise from conflicts of use. E.g. agricultural use (e.g. rice cultivation) versus urban use (drinking water and sanitation), water for energy - energy for water, or biosphere protection and agriculture. Conflicts over water always involve multiple social groups and require multiple approaches to resolution. Therefore, integrative solution strategies have to be developed, which adequately consider the different demands and necessities and enable a sustainable use of the resource water.

Die UN Dekade „Water for Life“ hat sowohl die gesellschaftliche als auch ökologische Bedeutung von Wasser im Bewusstsein der Menschen verankert. Wasserknappheit, Zugang zu sanitären Einrichtungen und Gesundheit, Wasser und Frauen, Kapazitätenaufbau, Finanzierung, Bewertung, integriertes Wasserressourcen­management, grenzüberschreitende Fragen, Umwelt und biologische Vielfalt, Katastrophenvorsorge, Ernährung und Landwirtschaft, Wasser­ver­schmutzung und Energieerzeugung sind die Themen, die weltweit diskutiert und bearbeitet werden. Viele Probleme enstehen in diesem Themenfeld durch Nutzungskonflikte. Z.B. landwirtschaftliche Nutzung (z.B. Reisanbau) gegenüber urbaner Nutzung (Trinkwasser und Sanitation), Wasser für Energie – Energie für Wasser, oder Biossphärenschutz und Landwirtschaft. Konflikte um Wasser betreffen immer mehrere gesellschaftliche Gruppen und benötigen vielfältige Ansätze zur Lösung. Daher müssen integrative Lösungsstrategien entwickelt werden, die die unterschied­lichen Ansprüche und Notwendigkeiten angemessen berücksichtigen und zu einer nachhaltigen Nutzung der Ressource Wasser befähigen.

Objective / Zielsetzung

With this research training group, the Anton & Petra Ehrman Foundation and the University of Hohenheim aim to train outstanding young scientists, promote internationally recognized research with relevance, and achieve sustainable success in the development of integrative solution strategies for water use conflicts. The focus is on the qualification of outstandingly qualified, high-performing applicants within the framework of the thematic focus and a structured qualification program.

Die Anton & Petra Ehrman Stiftung und die Universität Hohenheim streben mit diesem Graduiertenkolleg an hervorragende junge Wissenschaftler auszubilden, international annerkannte Forschung mit Relevanz zu fördern, und nachhaltige Erfolge bei der Entwicklung integrativer Lösungstrategien für Wassernutzungskonflikte zu erzielen. Im Mitelpunkt steht dabei die Qualifizierung überdurschschnittlich qualifizierter, leistungsfähiger Bewerber im Rahmen des thematischen Fokus und eines strukturieten Qualifizierungsprogramms.

Structure of the Research Training Group / Struktur des Graduiertenkollegs

The Research Training Group is designed for an average number of 8 scholars over twelve years. Research topics for the scholars are proposed by Hohenheim professors and selected in an internal procedure. The selection criteria are international relevance of the topic, integration of the scholar in existing research projects to promote synergies, quality of the research network, and the career potential for the scholar. The topics are advertised internationally and the suitability of the applicants is evaluated by an independent panel. Fellowships are awarded for an initial period of two years and are extended for a further year following a positive interim evaluation. Research projects are provided with a limited budget upon justified application, which is intended to ensure the feasibility of the research. Doctoral candidates are expected to publish the results of their research in international journals as stipulated in the doctoral regulations of the University of Hohenheim for cumulative doctorates.

Das Graduiertenkolleg ist auf eine mittlere Anzahl von 8 Stipendiaten auf zwölf Jahre ausgelegt. Forschungsthemen für die Stipendiaten werden von Hohenheimer Professoren vorgeschlagen und einem internen Verfahren ausgewählt. Auswahlkriterien sind dabei internationale Relevanz des Themas, Einbindung des Stipendiaten in bestehende Forschungsprojekte um Synergien zu fördern, Qualität des Forschungsverbundes, und das Karrierepotential für die Stipendiaten. Die Themen werden international ausgeschrieben und die Eignung der Bewerber durch ein  unabhängiges Gremium bewertet. Stipendien werden für zunächst zwei Jahre vergeben und nach positiver Zwischenevaluierung um ein weiteres Jahr verlängert. Die Forschungsvorhaben werden auf begründeten Antrag mit einem begrenzten Budget ausgestattet, welches die Durchführbarkeit der Forschung gewährleisten soll. Von den Promovenden wird erwartet, dass sie die Ergebnisse ihrer Forschungsarbeiten in internationalen Fachzeitschriften veröffentlichen wie es in der Promotionsordnung der Universität Hohenheim für kumulative Promotionen vorgesehen ist.

Qualification / Qualifizierung im Graduiertenkolleg

The Research Training Group is brought up to the strength of 8 scholars in the course of the first three years and then maintained at this level. This enables an intensive exchange between experienced and inexperienced doctoral students within the framework of modules on scientific work (methodological competence) and on social and personal competence, in which interdisciplinary teamwork and leadership skills are the main focus. In addition, the scholars will participate in subject-related special courses, which are selected individually with the supervisors, as well as in interdisciplinary summer schools, workshops and conferences on the core topics of the Research Training Group. Through this mixture of qualifying teaching content, the young scientists are intensively prepared for the complex job market of "science".

Das Graduiertenkolleg wird im Laufe der ersten drei Jahre auf die Stärke von 8 Stipendiaten gebracht und dann auf diesem Niveau gehalten. Dies ermöglicht einen intensiven Austausch zwischen erfahrenen und unerfahrenen Doktoranden im Rahmen von Modulen zum wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten (Methodenkompetenz) sowie zu Sozial- und Persönlichkeits­kompetenz, in denen intersisziplinäre Teamarbeit und Führungsqualitäten im Fordergrund stehen. Darüber hinaus werden die Stipendiaten an fachbezogenen Spezialkursen, die individuell mit den Betreuern ausgewählt werden, sowie an interdisziplinären Sommerschulen, workshops und Tagungen zu den Kernthemen des Graduiertenkollegs teilnehmen. Durch diese Mischung von qualifizierenden Lehrinhalten werden die jungen Wissenschaftler intensiv auf den komplexen Arbeitsmarkt „Wissenschaft“ vorbereitet.

Quality management / Qualitätssicherung

In addition to the tough selection criteria for both topics and applicants, scholars will report regularly on the progress of their work at a World Water Seminar. An interim evaluation after 18 months in the graduate program, with an evaluative statement from the supervisor, will determine whether the fellowship and research will continue. A public colloquium is held annually on World Water Day (March 22), at which, in addition to current developments in the subject area of the Research Training Group, the fellows will report to the sponsor on their work and its progress. The Research Training Group is led scientifically by a professor of the University of Hohenheim and administratively by an experienced post doc.

Zusätzlich zu den harten Auswahlkrierien sowohl für die Themen als auch für die Bewerber, werden die Stipendiaten im Rahmen eines Welt-Wasser-Seminars regelmäßig über den Fortschritt ihrer Arbeiten berichten. Eine Zwischenevaluierung nach 18 Monaten im Graduiertenkolleg mit einer bewertenden Stellungnahme des Betreuers entscheidet über die Weiterführung des Stipendiums und der Forschungsarbeit. Jährlich am Weltwassertag (22. März) wird ein öffentliches Kolloquium durchgeführt, bei dem neben aktuellen Entwicklungen im Themenbereich des Graduiertenkollegs, die Stipendiaten dem Stifter über ihre Arbeiten und deren Fortgang berichten werden. Das Graduiertenkolleg wird von einem Professor der Universität Hohenheim wissenschaftlich und von einem erfahrenen Post Doc administrativ geleitet.

Involved persons / Beteiligte Personen
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • M.Sc. Alexandra Schappert
  • Dr. agr. Marcus Giese
  • Prof. Dr. Michael Ahlheim
  • Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Thilo Streck
Involved institutions / Beteiligte Einrichtungen
 
  • Drought responses
  • Bioeconomic Modelling
  • Department of Management of Crop Water Stress in the Tropics and Subtropics
  • Hohenheim Tropen
  • Climate Mitigation
  • Land-Atmosphere Feedbacks
  • Auswirkungen von Trockenstress
  • Bioökonomische Modellierung
  • Fg. Wasserstress-Management bei Kulturpflanzen in den Tropen und Subtropen
  • Hohenheim Tropen
  • Klimaschutz
  • Land-Atmosphäre-Rückkopplungen

 

Sponsors / Sponsoren
Publications in the course of the project / Publikationen im Rahmen des Projekts
 

Completed Research Projects

DryPotato - Improved stress-tolerant potato varieties and water management technologies to enhance water use efficiency, resilience, cost-effectiveness, and productivity of potato producing smallholder farms in stress-prone Central Asian environments

Project begin: 01.03.2012

Project end: 2015

DryPotato

Potato may suffer significant yield reductions even under short periods of water stress, but in spite of its sensitivity, it still produces reasonable yields under conditions that can cause other crops to fail. Fundamental research has provided significant gains in the understanding of the physiological and molecular responses of potato to water stress. A number of physiological and morphological adaptive traits have been identified and evaluated; however, no single trait has been shown to be highly correlated with yield performance. Thus, capturing more than one adaptive trait by measuring variables associated with them may help to assess the plant’s ability to cope with variable water stress conditions.

Agronomic traits such as biomass development, phenology and yield and harvest index will be determined. In addition, adaptive traits such as leaf area development, stomatal conductance and photosynthesis, carbon isotope discrimination, and abscisic acid (ABA) concentration will be measured. The implication of this hormone in drought-activated pathways and in the control of stomatal conductance makes it a target for improving drought tolerance. Within this WP an indirect competitive ELISA for measuring ABA and standardization of a rapid procedure for extracting free ABA from leaf samples developed at UHOH will be established at the partners site. Assessments of the above-mentioned adaptive traits will allow assessing the traits genotypes employ in drought stress coping strategies. Those that show high transpiration efficiency but do not resort to any of these adaptive traits will be assumed to use another mechanism. The identification of genotypes that adopt different adaptive traits in response to drought stress will be of great importance to a breeding program. The best 30 clones identified in the panel will be dispatched to Central Asia, where total biomass and yield performance will be assessed under local conditions in to select adapted clones.

Involved persons
  • M.Sc. Julia Hölle
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
Sponsors
Publications in the course of the project
 

BATROS - Water-use Soil melioration and Cultivation processes for drought-prone sites

Project begin: 1.10.2006
Project end: 30.09.2009
Sponsor Mark: Klima II - BMBF

BAtroS

Global climate change will further increase irregular distribution of rainfall and rain fall paterns. Regions in central Europe already suffering from long summer droughts are prone to more severe stress situations in the years to come. One way to decrease the severity of drought events and to increase the duration of sufficient water availability is  the use of meliorates in the soil
Objectives

  • Quantify the effects of different soil meliorates and enhancers on the water holding capacity of the soil and the effects on plant growth (Field trial Cottbus)
  • Evaluate the effects of different soil enhancers on drought responses of different plant species of the group of renewable energy plants (Greenhouse in Bonn and field trial in Cottbus)
  • Evaluate the effect of seed coat composition on germination and early draought responses of several plant species from the group of renewable energy plants.

The project is financed by BMBF, the project leadership is located at the BTU in Cottbus, the subproject 2.2 is conducted as a collaboration between University of Bonn and University of Hohenheim.

Involved persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
Involved institutions
Publications in the course of the project

Evaluation of adaptation mechanisms of wet rice "Oryza sativa" to conditions of iron toxicity / Bewertung der Adaptationsmechanismen von Nassreis "Oryza sativa" an Bedingungen der Eisentoxizität

Project begin: 01.01.2008
Project end: 31.12.2009
Keywords: Adaptation, iron, rice, stress conditions / Anpassung, Eisen, Reis, Stressbedingungen

Water4use

Iron toxicity in wet rice is a multiple stress syndrome associated with high concentrations of reduced iron (Fe(II)) in the soil solution. Its occurrence requires excessive uptake of Fe(II) by the rice root and its acropetal transport into the leaves, where the divalent iron ions condition the formation of toxic radicals. The damaging effect is conditioned by the amount and timing of reduced iron, as well as by cultivar-specific tolerance mechanisms. The aim of the project is to differentiate between adaptation mechanisms and to clarify the importance of individual tolerance mechanisms for specific conditions of iron toxicity. Fe tolerance and the efficiency of adaptation strategies will be tested in nutrient solution experiments on contrasting wet rice cultivars as follows: (1) identification of Fe-tolerant genotypes. a) symptom expression and determination of tissue Fe at different developmental stages; b) validation of tolerance strategies via the dynamics of 59Fe translocation; (2) evaluation of Fe tolerance strategies such as a) strategy I (exclusion): Determination of root oxidation strength; (b) strategy II (transport/partitioning): Quantification of iron and stress signals in xylem and stem tissue; and c) strategy III (tissue tolerance): Avoidance of oxidative stress via antioxidant enzymes; (3) classification of adaptation strategies in terms of their efficiency to control diverse iron stress types. A comprehensive comparative analysis should allow a differential evaluation of adaptation mechanisms to diverse iron stress conditions.

Eisentoxizität in Nassreis ist ein multiples Stresssyndrom, das mit hohen Konzentrationen reduzierten Eisens (Fe(II)) in der Bodenlösung einhergeht. Ihr Auftreten setzt eine übermäßige Aufnahme von Fe(II) durch die Reiswurzel und dessen akropetalen Transport in die Blätter voraus, wo die zweiwertigen Eisenionen die Bildung von toxischen Radikalen bedingen. Die schädigende Wirkung wird durch die Menge und das zeitliche Auftreten von reduziertem Eisen, sowie durch sortenspezifische Toleranz­mechanismen bedingt. Ziel des Vorhabens ist die Differen­zierung zwischen den Adaptions­mechanismen sowie die Klärung der Bedeutung einzelner Toleranz­­mechanismen für spezifische Bedingungen der Eisen­toxizität. Die Fe-Toleranz und die Effizienz der Adaptions­strategien sollen in Nährlösungs­versuchen an kontrastierenden Nassreis­sorten wie folgt überprüft werden: (1) Identifizierung Fe-toleranter Genotypen. a) Symptom­ausprägung und Bestimmung von Gewebe Fe zu verschiedenen Entwicklungs­stadien; b) Validierung der Toleranz­strategien über die Dynamik der 59Fe –Verlagerung; (2) Bewertung der Fe-Toleranzstrategien wie a) der Strategie I (Ausschluss): Bestimmung der Oxidationskraft der Wurzel; b) der Strategie II (Transport / Partitionierung): Quantifizierung von Eisen und Stresssignalen in Xylem und Stängel­gewebe­; und c) der Strategie III (Gewebetoleranz): Vermeidung von oxidativem Stress über antioxidative Enzyme; (3) Klassifizierung von Anpassungsstrategien in Bezug auf ihre Effizienz zur Kontrolle diverser Eisenstresstypen. Eine umfassende vergleichende Analyse soll eine differen­zierte Bewertung von Anpassungsmechanismen an diverse Eisen­stress­bedingungen ermöglichen.

Involved persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Prof. Dr. Mathias Becker, University of Bonn
  • Katrin Engel, University of Bonn
Involved institutions
Förderer
Publikationen im Rahmen des Projekts

Developing rice and sorghum crop adaptation strategies for climate change in vulnerable environments in Africa - RISOCAS

Project begin: 01.03.2008
Project end: 28.02.2011

RISOCAS

Key words: Africa, climatic change, phenology, rice, sorghum, water utilization / Afrika, climatic change, Phenologie, rice, sorghum, Wasserausnutzung

Irrigated rice, rainfed sorghum, and rainfed upland rice are three of the most important staple small-grain cereals in Sub-Saharan Africa. Phenology, growth, water use and attainable yield of rice and sorghum are subject to seasonal climatic patterns. These patterns have already changed and will do so in the near future. To avoid negative impacts, crop adaptation strategies will be required, both in terms of varietal development and crop management. In order to develop coping strategies for increasing climate variability and weather extremes, a broad range of varietal types of rice and sorghum will be studied on existing climatic gradients that cover expected ranges of change, such as temporal/intra-annual gradients (irrigated rice in Senegal), latitudinal gradients (sorghum on a N-S transect in Mali) and altitudinal gradients (upland rice in Madagascar).


RISOCAS idea - The development of coping strategies for increasing climate variability and weather extremes, with a broad range of varietal types of rice and sorghum studied on existing climatic gradients that cover expected ranges of climate change.

RISOCAS goal - provide operational methodology to measure the impact of climate change scenarios on crop responses for key cereal-based systems of Africa to fight poverty and hunger.

RISOCAS purpose - enable policy makers in agricultural research to develop strategies to adapt African agriculture to climate change. To help producers to tactically adapt their system to increased climate variability

The project is financed by BMZ, the project leadership is located at the University of Hohenheim. Partners in the project are AfricaRice, Senegal, CIRAD, France,  IER, Mali, FOFIFA, Madagascar.

Involved persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Priv. Doz. Dr. Holger Brück
  • Dr. agr. Marcus Giese
  • Dr. agr. Sabine Stürz
  • Prof. Dr. Georg Cadisch
  • Dr. Michael Dingkuhn, CIRAD, France Dr. Paul Kiepe, WARDA, Benin Dr. Mamoutou Kouressy, IER, Mali Dr. Jaqueline Rakotoarisoa, FOFIFA, Madagascar
Involved institutions
  • CIRAD, France WARDA, Benin IER, Mali FOFIFA, Madagascar
Sponsors
Publications in the course of the project

Fe-Tox-WARDA - Screening of lowland rice varieties for iron toxicity responses

Project begin: 01.05.2009
Project end: 30.04.2010

Fe-Tox-WARDA

Iron toxicity constitutes a major albeit seasonal constraint to rainfed lowland rice production in many tropical countries. In the inland valeys in Africa the potential production is often limited by iron toxicity occuring in an unpredictable severity, in patches, and at different development stages of the crop. Management options are available but often impossible to realize due to the fact that production sites are often far away from any infrastructure. Among the possible solutions are a better water and nutrient management, both often costly and time and labor demanding, or a choice of variety resistant to iron toxicity.

The aim of this project is to identify potential donors of iron toxicity resistance traits for both genetic analyses for QTLs and future breeding programs

Involved persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Dr. Sie Moussa, WARDA
Involved institutions
  • The Africa Rice Center - WARDA
Sponsors
Publications in the course of the project

GrassNet - Cross-continental network for sustainable adaptation of grassland systems vulnerable to climate change

Project begin: 01.06.2009
Project end: 31.12.2013

GrassNet

The network "GrassNet" connects partners from South America, East Africa and North China with the University of Hohenheim and the German Institute of Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture DITSL at the University of Kassel in Witzenhausen in a joint activity on research and teaching on fragile grassland ecosystems on different continents. Natural grasslands represent the largest multifunctional agro-ecosystem on earth. Because of its structure, use, and service provision to millions of people who depend on it, natural grasslands are particularly threatened by climate change. Sustainable use and conservation of grassland resources for future generations are major challenges for both research and education focused on sustainable use in the context of adaptation to the changing situation caused by climate change. GrassNet uses the different funding instruments of the DAAD to directly connect young people in their education to the urgent research questions in the regional context. Comparisons of regional approaches on a global level allow the evaluation and use of regionally acquired expertise for global, system-wide application and implementation. A total of 12 master's students and 3 doctoral students will be trained through GrassNet and networked with three international research centers to support a paradigm shift in systems thinking in research and education alike. Intensive regional research is promoted through the exchange of knowledge and research approaches at post-doc level through the network by inviting one post-doc from each of the international partner institutes to the German universities for research visits, where they also participate in the selection and direction of the respective master students and their studies. The results of this collaboration are directly incorporated into contextual teaching through regularly organized summer schools, thus allowing for a cross-system and cross-continent analysis of the impacts of climate change on natural grassland systems used by humans.

Das Netzwerk “GrassNet” verbindet Partner aus Südamerika, Ostafrika und Nordchina mit der Universität Hohenheim und dem Deutschen Institut für Tropische und Subtropische Landwirtschaft DITSL an der Universität Kassel in Witzenhausen in einer gemeinsamen Aktivität zu Forschung und Lehre über empfindliche Grasland-Ökosysteme auf unterschiedlichen Kontinenten. Natürliches Grasland stellt das größte multifunktionale Agro-Ökosystem der Erde dar. Aufgrund der Struktur, Nutzung und Serviceleistung für Millionen von ihm abhängigen Menschen ist natürliches Grasland vom Klimawandel besonders bedroht. Nachhaltige Nutzung und Bewahrung der Graslandressourcen für kommende Generationen stellen im Rahmen der Anpassung an die durch den Klimawandel veränderte Situation eine große Herausforderung sowohl für Forschung als auch für die auf nachhaltige Nutzung ausgerichtete Lehre dar. GrassNet nutzt die unterschiedlichen Förderungsinstrumente des DAAD, um junge Menschen in Ihrer Ausbildung direkt mit den dringenden Forschungsfragen im regionalen Kontext in Verbindung zu bringen. Vergleiche der regionalen Herangehensweisen auf globalem Level erlauben die Bewertung und Nutzung regional erlangter Expertise für globale, systemweite Anwendung und Umsetzung. Insgesamt werden durch GrassNet 12 Masterstudenten und 3 Doktoranden ausgebildet und mit drei internationalen Forschungszentren in einem Netzwerk zusammen gebracht, um gleichermaßen in Forschung und Ausbildung einen Paradigmenwandel in der Systembetrachtung zu unterstützen. Intensive regionale Forschung wird durch Austausch von Wissens- und Forschungsansätzen auf Post-Doc Niveau durch das Netzwerk gefördert, indem jeweils ein Post-Doc aus den internationalen Partnerinstituten an den deutschen Universitäten zu Forschungsaufenthalten eingeladen wird, bei denen sie sich auch an der Auswahl und der Ausrichtung der jeweiligen Masterstudenten und ihrer Studien beteiligen. Die Ergebnisse dieser Zusammenarbeit fließen durch regelmäßig organisierte Sommerschulen direkt in die kontextbezogene Lehre ein, und erlauben dadurch eine system- und kontinentübergreifende Analyse der Auswirkungen des Klimawandels auf natürliche, durch den Menschen genutzte Graslandsysteme.

Involved persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Dr. agr. Marcus Giese
  • Prof. Dr. Joachim Sauerborn
  • PD Dr. Anna Treydte
  • Dr. agr. Ying Zhi Gao
  • apl. Prof. Dr. Brigitte Kaufmann
  • Dr. Christian Hülsebusch (DITSL)<br> PD Dr. Brigitte Kaufmann (DITSL)
Involved institutions
Sponsors
Publications in the course of the project

GrassRest - Grassland restoration in Northern China from a whole plant perspective

Project begin: 01.05.2011
Project end: 30.04.2013

GrassRest

Keywords: China, degradation, Gras / Grass , Renaturierung / Renaturation

Background: Inner Mongolia grasslands of Northern China are representative for large areas of the Eurasian steppe belt (Bai et al. 2004). These ecosystems, ranging from South-Eastern Europe to Mongolia and Northern China are the livelihood base for millions of livestock farmers. In Inner Mongolia, the replacement of nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists by stationary livestock farming systems during the last three decades and the simultaneous increase of livestock from 5 to more than 20 million ungulates resulted in extensive degradation affecting more than 80% of the natural grasslands (Zhang et al. 2004, Tong et al. 2004). Overgrazing can amplify effects of wind and water erosion, increase soil compaction and the encroachment of less palatable plant species, induce the loss of soil carbon and nitrogen stocks, and reduce soil fertility (Steffens et al. 2008, 2009, Gao et al. 2009). In addition to consequences of overgrazing, effects of climate change are threatening the natural grasslands through increased variability of rainfall and raising temperatures (IPCC 2007).

In the recent years distinct measures were undertaken to decrease grazing pressure and mitigate grassland degradation. In this context, restoration ecology became more and more important to cope with grassland degradation and to develop management options to improve grassland quality towards a sustainable livestock based land-use system (Jiang et al. 2006, Li et al. 2007, 2008). Overgrazing and climate change result in unpredictable effects on grassland productivity due to multiple feedbacks on resources availability. During the restoration process, the limited availability of resources often constrain plant establishment and growth, but most research approaches focus on aboveground plant productivity dynamics to assess restoration progress rather than following a whole plant perspective including the belowground part.

In temperate steppe ecosystems plant carbon is predominantly located belowground and it is evident that resource allocation between shoot and root plays an important role in ecosystem’s resilience in response to multiple stresses (Gao et al. 2008, Giese et al. 2009). Plant species of steppe ecosystems are usually well adapted to water stress and harsh winter conditions of the continental climate by storing nutrients and carbohydrates in perennial belowground organs. A depletion of these belowground resources increases vulnerability of plants to stress periods and endangers the restoration process. The belowground response of grassland plants to multiple stresses thus can be a key process in grassland restoration and ecosystem’s adaptation capacity to climate variability or change. Therefore, assessing different restoration techniques from a whole plant perspective will contribute to optimize grassland management towards a sustainable land-use practice to assure farmers income from livestock based systems. The intended new cooperation of the University of Hohenheim (UHOH), the North East Normal University (NENU) in Changchun and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), will create synergy effects combining long-term experience in plant stress physiology, grassland ecology, and livestock management to strengthen the efforts to restore natural grassland ecosystem functions and services in a global perspective.

Goal: To optimize restoration strategies of degraded semi-arid grasslands by providing indicators of improved resource use efficiency

Purpose: To enable policy makers in agricultural research to develop strategies to improve grassland restoration and to help farmers to adapt their land-use practice towards a sustainable land-use system.

Expected outputs:

  1. Understanding the effects of different restoration techniques on below- and aboveground productivity, biomass partitioning, nutrient dynamics, diversity and carbon sequestration potential
  2. Understanding the response mechanisms of dominant Inner Mongolia grassland plant species to greenhouse-based multiple stress experiments
  3. Identification of indicators for optimized restoration management

    • A) Total net primary production, incl. above- and belowground net primary production.
    • B) Carbon and nitrogen storage.
    • C) Fodder quality and root carbohydrates.

The expected outputs are of relevance for practical agriculture and animal husbandry:

  1. A further understanding of grassland restoration from a whole plant perspective will enable to select for most effective measurements to increase grassland performance after degradation.
  2. Understanding single plants stress response will help to select the best species mix for restoration purposes. Stress sensitive species should be avoided for heavily degraded and vulnerable grassland sites or early stages of restoration. Stress tolerant species should be promoted for grazing sites.

    • A) Grassland productivity is the basis of livestock farming and thus directly linked to animal production and farmer’s income.
      B) Restoration methods should increase grassland C and N sequestration. Degraded soil organic matter pools weaken ecosystems resilience to climate variability (drought) and grazing. Grasslands vulnerable to stresses increase the farmers risk for loss of production.
      C) Restoration methods should aim to increase crude protein of grasses and forbs and root carbohydrates. Increased fodder quality corresponds to higher animal production potential per unit dry matter. Perennial root carbohydrates function as energy source and increase plant re-growth ability after defoliation, winter, and dry spells and thus contribute to long-term sustainable grassland production.

Involved Persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Dr. agr. Marcus Giese
  • Dr. agr. Ying Zhi Gao
  • Dr. Jan de Leeuv, Nairobi, Kenya
  • Dr. Yingzhi Gao, Changchun, China
Involved institutions
Sponsors
  • GIZ/BMZ (Small Grant)

Improving rice farmers’ decision making in lowland rice-based systems in East Africa (East African ‘RiceAdvice’)”

Project begin: 01.04.2015
Project end: 31.03.2018

RiceAdvice

Irrigated rice advances more and more to become the staple food crop in East Africa. A positive effect of climate change is that high altitude regions formerly ill-suited for rice production offer now a seasonal window with thermal environments allowing the production of irrigated rice. However, little is known about the adaptations required for the system and for the varieties to fit the environment. Particularly cold stress during early seedling growth and during flowering and grain filling constitute a challenge to the genotypes. In addition nutrient management needs to be adapted to the uptake and assimilation capacities of the genotypes grown under these conditions to maximize nutrient use efficiency. The ultimate goal of the project is to develop a smart phone based application to advice farmers on crop management strategies for these environments.


RiceAdvice idea - The development of a smart phone based application to advice farmers on crop management strategies for high altitude irrigated rice production.

RiceAdvice  goal - maximize achievable yields in irrigated rice in high altitude systems through selection of climate smart rice varieties and minimizing water and nutrient use.

RiceAdvice purpose - enable farmers to successfully grow rice in high altitude systems and thus diversify the production system, improve farmers livelihoods and increase food security.

The project is financed by BMZ, the project leadership is located at the Africa Rice Center, Ivory Coast. Partners in the project are the University of Hohenheim, Germany, EIAR, Ethiopia, FOFIFA, Madagascar, and RAB, Rwanda.

Involved persons
  • M.Sc. Bayuh Belay
  • M.Sc. Chuma André Boshuwenda
  • M.Sc. Ando Lalaina Razafindrazaka
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Dr. sc. agr. Marc Cotter
Involved institutions
Publications in the course of the project
  • Cotter M., Asch, F. 2020. Editorial: Smallholder targeted Agriculture 4.0 in temperature limited cropping systems. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 206, 421-422. doi.org/10.1111/jac.12414.
  • Cotter, M., Asch, F., Abera, B.B., Chuma, B.A., Senthilkumar, K., Rajaona, A.,  Razafindrazaka, A., Saito, K., Stuerz, S. 2020. Creating the data basis to adapt agricultural decision support tools to new environments, land management and climate change—A case study of the RiceAdvice App. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 206, 423-432. doi.org/10.1111/jac.12421.
  • Abera, B.B., Stuerz, S., Senthilkumar, K., Cotter, M., Rajaona, A., Asch, F. 2020.  Season‐specific varietal management as an option to increase rainfed lowland rice production in East African high altitude cropping systems. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 206, 433-443. doi.org/10.1111/jac.12418.
  • Chuma, B.A., Cotter,M., Kalisa, A., Rajaona, A., Senthilkumar, K, Stuerz, S., Vincent, I., Asch, F. 2020. Altitude, temperature, and N Management effects on yield and yield components of contrasting lowland rice cultivars.  Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 206, 456-465. doi.org/10.1111/jac.12420.
  • Razafindrazaka, A., Stuerz, S., Cotter, M., Rajaona, A., Asch, F. 2020. Genotypic yield responses of lowland rice in high‐altitude cropping systems. Journal of Agronomy and Crop Science 206, 444-455. doi.org/10.1111/jac.12416.

 

 

LiveCarbon - Livelihood diversifying potential of livestock based carbon sequestration options in pastoral and agro pastoral systems in Africa

Project begin: 01.07.2011
Project end: 30.06.2014

LiveCarbon

Livestock based pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in African dry lands are poor, vulnerable and marginalized - and becoming more so. Dependency on traditional livestock based livelihood options is increasingly untenable making diversification more and more urgent. Payment for environmental services (PES) based on carbon sequestration and reduction of carbon emissions linked to livestock and rangeland management practices has been proposed as potential additional livelihood option, but the science-base how to manage livestock to combine income from such PES systems with that of livestock production is absent.
The project proposed here aims to fill this knowledge gap through an integrated four-step research program:

  • (1) Estimate the carbon sequestering potential of rangelands taking advantage of existing long-term livestock and rangeland management experiments and assess the potential of avoiding carbon emissions by decisions on land-use and livestock management;
  • (2) Explore adaptive livestock management options to sequester and avoid emissions of carbon from rangelands through collaborative research with local livestock keeping communities in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso;
  • (3) Assess the effects of changes in livestock and rangeland management on GHG emissions and land surface albedo;
  • (4) Synthesize the research findings, combining the impact of livestock and rangeland management practices aimed at sequestration and avoidance of carbon emissions while taking into account the combined radiative forcing of GHG emissions and albedo, and assess the potential of PES scenarios to diversify pastoral livelihoods.
Involved Persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Dr. agr. Marcus Giese
  • M.Sc. Sarah Glatzle
  • Ayana Angassa (Hawassa University)
  • Christian Hülsebusch (DITSL)
  • Brigitte Kaufmann (DITSL)
  • Jan de Leeuw (ILRI)
  • Louis Sawadogo (INERA)
  • Keith Shepherd (ICRAF)
Involved institutions
  • ILRI - International Livestock Research Institute
  • DITSL - German Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture
  • ICRAF - International Agroforestry Center Hawassa University, Ethiopia INERA, Burkina Faso
Sponsors
Publications in the course of the project

SMACC - Smallholder Adaptation to Climate Change

Project begin: 01.03.2014
Project end: 31.12.2017
Förderkennzeichen: BLE

SMACC

Involved Persons
  • Dr. sc. agr. Jörn Germer
  • Prof. Dr. Joachim Müller
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Prof. Dr. Bernhard Freyer, BOKU, Vienna
  • Prof. Dr. Getachew Alemayehu, BDU, Ethiopia
  • Prof. Dr. Rhoda Birech, Eggerton University, Kenya
Involved institutions
 
  • Fg. Agrartechnik in den Tropen und Subtropen
  • Fg. Wasserstress-Management bei Kulturpflanzen in den Tropen und Subtropen
  • Hohenheim Tropen
  • Institut für Tropische Agrarwissenschaften (Hans-Ruthenberg-Institut)
  • BOKU Wien Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia Eggerton University, Kenya
Sponsors
 
  • BLE
Publications in the course of the project
 

SURUMER - Nachhaltiger Kautschukanbau in der Mekong-Region - Teilvorhaben: Projektkoordination, Kohlenstoffdynamik, Wasserhaushalt, Bestäuberdienstleistungen, Naturreservatkonflikte, sozio-ökonomische Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung

Project begin: 01.12.2011
Project end: 30.11.2016
Sponsor Mark: 01LL0919A

SURUMER

Involved persons
 
  • Prof. Dr. Michael Ahlheim
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Dipl.-Agr.Biol. Sabine Baumgartner
  • Prof. Dr. Georg Cadisch
  • Dr. Gerhard Langenberger
  • Dr. rer. nat. Konrad Martin
  • Prof. Dr. Joachim Sauerborn
  • PD Dr. Anna Treydte
Involved institutions
 
Sponsors
  • BMBF
Publications in the course of the project
 
 

Sustainable options for agriculture in Ghana

Trans-SEC - Innovating pro-poor Strategies to safeguard Food Security using Technology and Knowledge Transfer

Project begin: 01.05.2013
Project end: 31.12.2018
Sponsor mark: 031A249B
Keywords: Biomasse, Nachernteschutz, Ökobilanz, Trocknung

Trans-SEC

 

 

Trans-SEC is supported by the funding initiative “Securing the Global Food Supply – GlobE” and embedded in the framework program “National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030”. The project period is planned for five years with a total budget of 7,5 Mio Euro. Seven German research institutes, two CGIAR research centers from Kenya and USA as well as five Tanzanian institutes are involved in Trans-SEC. Approximately 70 scientists and non-governmental professionals will contribute to innovate strategies to safeguard food security through the use of technology and knowledge transfer.

The Institute of Agricultural Engineering is mainly involved in task 6.1: Post-harvest Processing, Biomass and Waste Product Utilization. The first responsibility of 440e lies on the creation of baseline reports on post-harvest processes and bioenergy production. Further, we will develop enhancements on currently applied post-harvest processes; we will test and compare them to the baseline scenario.  Additionally, life cycle assessment, especially for the bioenergy options will be performed. The impact assessment will feed into other tasks and help develop future proofing strategies and risk analysis.

Cultures, we are currently focusing on are maize, rice, sunflower pearl millet and pigeon pea.

Involved Persons
  • M.Sc. Simon Munder
  • M.Sc. Nadja Reinhardt
  • M.Sc. Angela Schaffert
  • Dr. sc. agr. Jörn Germer
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • PD Dr. Ludger Herrmann
  • Prof. Dr. Joachim Müller
  • Dr. rer. nat. Christine Lambert
  • Dr. sc. agr. Sebastian Romuli
Involved Institutions
  • IFPRI International Food Policy Research Institute (USA)
  • ICRAF The International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (Kenya)
  • SUA Sokoine University of Agriculture (Tanzania)
  • ARI Agricultural Research Institutes (Tanzania)
  • TFC Tanzania Federation of Co
Sponsors
  • BMBF

Publications in the course of the project

Underutilized or unprotected? New methods for analyzing diverging perspectives on the large-scale conversion of tropical grassland eco-systems

Project begin: 23.02.2016
Project end: 31.12.2018
Keywords: coupled biophysical and socio-economic modeling, governance research, livestock, Savanna land use, sustainability

The project aims at developing a new methodology for an integrated economic, environmental, and social assessment of land use options for African savanna regions. It is motivated by the fact that future land use options for the grassland regions worldwide, and particularly for the African Guinea savanna zone, are subject to unresolved scientific controversies: Economic research has identified this region as underutilized and having a large potential for increasing global biomass supply, while environmental research indicates that such a large-scale land use change may have far-reaching negative environmental consequences with regard to soil fertility, plant and animal biodiversity, hydrology,and carbon sequestration.These controversies remain unresolved because there are substantial knowledge gaps regarding the fundamental aspects of the biophysical dynamics in tropical grassland ecosystems, which are characterized by a complex interaction of climate, grassland vegetation and grazing animals. At the same time, there are major knowledge gaps regarding the governance of land use in the African Savanna region, which is subject to a complex interaction of customary and modern land tenure systems. The expansion of crop farming by smallholders has resulted in crop-livestock conflicts and outbursts of violence. Furthermore, one can observe an increasing number of large-scale land acquisitions in savanna regions, often associated with negative social and environmental consequences.

An important tool for analyzing land use change in savanna ecosystems are coupled biophysical and socio economic models.The University of Hohenheim has special expertise in this area. The proposed project will build upon current research activities such as the coupling of the land use change impact assessment model LUCIA with the agent-based socio economic model MPMAS, both of which have been developed in Hohenheim. To analyze potential impacts of land use change in savanna ecosystems, a livestock model will be developed and linked with the LUCIA model, which will capture the biophysical dimensions of plant-animal interactions and which is suitable to assess different grassland use options. The MPMAS model will be expanded to capture the specific features of land use decisions in savanna regions, which depend on the prevailing governance conditions and involve collective decision-making as well as the interaction of competing land users, including large-scale investors.The coupling of the two expanded models will make it possible to analyze feedback loops between changes in biophysical and socio economic parameters and to simulate different scenarios of change in savanna ecosystems, such as degradation, intensification, and conversion.The modeling system will also be used to identify governance instruments and processes that will promote more sustainable land use options.

Involved Persons
 
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Christian Bateki
  • Prof. Dr. Thomas Berger
  • Prof. Dr. Regina Birner
  • Prof. Dr. Georg Cadisch
  • Prof. Dr. Uta Dickhöfer
  • Dr. sc. agr. Carsten Marohn
  • Dr. Christian Troost
  • M.Sc. Benjamin Warth
Involved Institutions
 
Sponsors
  • Ellrichshausen-Stiftung

WUJIM - Wassernutzung von Jatropha in Madagaskar

Project begin: 01.04.2008
Project end: 31.03.2011

WUJIM

Involved persons
  • Prof. Dr. Folkard Asch
  • Priv. Doz. Dr. Holger Brück

Involved institutions

Sponsors
  • Regenwald Stiftung
Publications in the course of the project