Soil Hydro-Physics Laboratory

Climate change leads to more frequent drought and high intensity rainfall events. In recent years, arable production suffered from both, with droughts being particularly impactful on sandy soils. Innovations are needed to prevent freshwater reserves from being depleted and crop production from being water-limited. Against this background we wish to design measures to improve infiltration and soil water retention through selective amendment of organic matter that promotes soil water. However, we do not know which quality of organic matter is particularly effective in promoting soil water retention. Additionally earthworms in combination with organic matter might speed up soil structure formation and enhance the influence of organic amendments on soil water retention. In this thesis study, you will design an experimental set-up to test several types of organic matter and or earthworm compositions on their capacity to improve soil water retention.

Use of salts for pF measurements

For many types of Soil Physical measurements to be compared properly, the soil should be brought to a certain pF value. This can for example be done at a sandbox or in in a pressure chamber. However, these methods are often not suitable for soil samples that are in the form of aggregates of other shapes. In literature the option is proposed to use a salt solution in a closed chamber and to use Vapor Equilibration to bring soil samples to a certain pF value. First experiments in our Soil Hydro Physics laboratory have been done and give promising results. further development of this method could be a master thesis topic.

K050- unsaturated conductivity measurement

Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity is difficult to measure. A new measurement set up has been developed to measure the hydraulic conductivity at small suctions ( 50cm<h<0cm). This set up has still to be tested in the laboratory. For a student interested in soil physical measurement methods this would be a nice bachelor or master topic.

Microplastics in urban environments

Microplastics cause a high degree of concern worldwide, since they are poorly controlled. This pollutant is studied a lot in aquatic environments and more recently also agricultural soils. However, there are few studies involving microplastics in urban spaces. In this context, there are still various potential research questions for a bachelor or master student, such as quantification of the local distribution of microplastics according to different vegetation characteristics or improvement of the laboratory methods for extraction and quantification of microplastics.

Who can make use of the lab facilities?

All interested people not related to Wageningen University & Research, or users not belonging to the fixed group of lab users within Wageningen University & Research can make use of the facilities.

Why do we make our facilities public accessible?

Well-equipped laboratories are of great importance to Wageningen University & Research as our research depends on it. By making the lab widely known as well as public accessible for a small fee, we think this makes us capable to keep the facilities at a higher level of maintenance and in a modern state. In addition, it promotes the mutual exchange of knowledge. Both aspects are beneficial for new users as well as for existing users.

Workaround

Do you want to make use of the lab, then please contact one of the lab controllers as mentioned in the Contact tab. After consultation we determine the required experiments and the period in which they have to be performed. Once this period is determined it will be compulsory since other reservations must not be affected. Next, the "Gebruiksovereenkomst" must be completed and send to us. We assume you have the right skills to operate the equipment. If not, then we will make a mutual agreement in which we provide you with the needed support to complement your knowledge. The needed forms are available on the Orders web page.

Don't want to do it yourself?

If you rather let our experienced personnel do the experiments, then this is possible at all times. In that case the "Gebruiksovereenkomst" doesn't have to be completed.