Just before ploughing, we sampled soils from a long-term nitrogen fertilization trial comparing organic and mineral fertilizer applications at different dosages.

Long-term field trials like this are an invaluable resource for soil research: they allow us to compare soils that were originally identical but have adapted over decades to different nutrient levels. Many thanks to Bayerische Staatsgüter for supporting and maintaining this trial.

As the next step, we will start an incubation experiment to track nitrogen transformations and its conversion into plant-available forms using artificial roots. This approach provides crucial insights into nutrient cycling and supports strategies for sustainable soil management.

We are excited to see what insights this will bring as part of the NEOM project! The project is part of the AgroMissionHub, a joint initiative of the Technical University of Munich (TUM), the Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL), and the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf (HSWT). Many thanks to the TUM World Agricultural Systems Center for this great initiative fostering collaboration!