After a long journey, we were warmly welcomed at the airport by our two studen helpers Tsiory Rafalimanantsoa and Miora Andriamialison. Over the next few days, we travelled to two different locations, Itasy and Ambohidratrimo, where we labelled and prepared the maize plants in three fields, each with about 600 maize genotypes.
After collecting rhizosphere microbiome samples and bulk soil samples, we also harvested root samples for anatomy, finally we measured the plant height, the SPAD, cut the shoot from the root and put the shoot in a paper bag for further parameters. We are eager to explore the types of microbes present in these soils and understand the roles they play in nutrient-poor environments. The farmers were a great help, and with music from different cultures from all around the world, we harvested a large number of plants from the three fields.
As we were in Madagascar during the rainy season, most days it started to rain by 4pm, which meant we had to get back to our accommodation by then. Despite the weather conditions and the long journeys to the fields, the work went very well and the team worked together perfectly. Once the fieldwork was completed, we processed the samples in the local laboratory so that we could transport the soil samples on dry ice to Bonn for further processing.
A big thank you to everyone who helped organise and support this trip. Special thanks to the local farmers and our student helpers who got us from A to B safely and made the impossible possible. In addition to the samples we collected in the fields, we returned to Bonn with countless wonderful moments and impressive experiences.
