PITROS - Plant Nutrition in the Tropics and Subtropics
The PITROS group researches changing rice-based production systems, element fluxes in tropical wetlands, abiotic stress physiology of rice and the dynamics and effects of invasive plant species in savanna environments.
Projects
Selected third party-funded research projects comprise:
- Processes, pathways and emerging patterns in rice-based systems in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Egypt, Myanmar and the Philippines (ATSAF-Academy, BMBF, BMZ, Right Livelihood College, fiat panis and SEKEM);
- Rice response to abiotic stresses such as drought, low temperatures, high UV radiation and iron toxicity (DFG, BMZ, Rosa-Luxemburg foundation);
- Potential and risks of agricultural uses of African wetlands (BMBF)
- Drivers, processes and effects of invasion of savanna ecosystems by invasive plant species in Kenya (DFG)
Future Rural Africa
In this project, group members study the spread of invasive plant species (mainly Parthenium hysterophorus and Prosopis juliflora) in Baringo, Kenya. We assess drivers of spread, effects on vegetation, livelihoods, and related changes in agronomic practices.
Wetlands in Ostafrika
Food production in East Africa shows stagnating and even declining trends, mainly a consequence of land degradation and climate variability. In contrast, wetlands, with year-round water availability, high resource base quality and the potential to harvest several crops per year present production hotspots in an otherwise degraded landscape. With an area of 20 Mio ha in East Africa wetlands may become the food basket of the region.
Production systems changes
Crop production systems have historically changed and continue to do so in view of meeting demands of producers, consumers and society at large under changing conditions. Events of global incidence such as climate change, market disruptions and transnational policy changes exert exogenous pressure on agricultural production systems and are generally considered as drivers of change.
Abiotic stresses
Lowland rice production is widely affected by abiotic stresses. The prevailing type and intensity of these stresses differ by region and environmental conditions, comprising N deficiency, water scarcity, low temperatures and high UV radiation, zinc and boron deficiency, salinity and iron toxicity (tropical lowland areas). We study processes, effects and genotype-specific responses of rice to these factors in view of identifying mechanisms of stress tolerance and developing adapted production systems.