The new project PHOSYCLE was kicked-off in January. It was last year that Professor Marie Spohn at SLU was awarded one of the most prestigious research grants in Europe, the European Research Councils’ Consolidator Grant. The project will explore phosphorus cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.
In her new project PHOSCYCLE, Marie Spohn and her team will develop a new method for studying the turnover of organic phosphorus soils. This method will make it possible to answer some long-standing questions about phosphorus cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. This is important because phosphorus is a macronutrient that limits fundamental processes, such as plant growth, in many ecosystems.
-I am very happy that the project is finally turning reality, says Marie Spohn.
At present, the knowledge about the phosphorus cycle is limited, partly due to methodological challenges. The project seeks to overcome these challenges, and quantify recycling of phosphorus in ecosystems.
The knowledge gained in PHOSCYCLE will have far-reaching implications for sustainable use of phosphorus, which is a non-renewable resource, and for maintaining soil fertility.
The project will run until September 2027.
Photo above: The PHOSCYCLE project team at the kick-off. Photographer: Amanda Öberg, SLU.