Rosemary Dos Santos: SEMOA – Enzymatic stoichiometry and the decomposition of organic matter under different nitrogen management practices

Rosemary Dos Santos: Enzymatic stoichiometry and the decomposition of organic matter under different nitrogen management practices

Project summary  

SEMOA

Enzymatic stoichiometry and the decomposition of organic matter under different nitrogen management practices

 

Nutrient management practices adopted in agricultural and forestry systems affect the functioning of soil microbial communities. This incoming research visit by Rosemery Alesandra Firmino dos Santos, a researcher from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) in Brazil, to the FARE laboratory aims to implement an enzymatic stoichiometry approach. This approach will be applied during a litter decomposition experiment carried out as part of the CANETE project. This experiment will be carried out using soil samples taken from three experimental sites within the project, where different microbial activities are expected as a result of conventional or alternative, agroecological fertilisation practices. 

During the experiment, carbon and nitrogen use efficiencies (CUE and NUE) and microbial functional diversity will also be characterised in collaboration with five French laboratories. The results will provide essential data for the mechanistic modelling of these processes. This project will enable the application of the enzymatic stoichiometry method to assess microbial nutrient limitations and strengthen France’s position in this field of science. In turn, this mobility opportunity will enable the young researcher to acquire analytical skills which she will then apply to her research into the relationship between microbial physiology and carbon storage in the soil of grazing systems in tropical regions of Brazil, and to begin building her professional network.