Module Mercator fellow plus funds for a workshop to the current project: Burial of organic matter for carbon sequestration: Potentials, processes and long-term effects

主要项目的目的是调查土壤有机质埋藏在农业和林业土壤中对有机碳（C）的行为在表层和底土层与参考土壤相比的影响。将对C贮备液进行定量估计。分级方法将允许对土壤C进行定性评估。 在过去的几十年中，已经开发和实施了许多物理和化学以及部分生物分馏程序。其主要目的是分离不同的、最好是同质的C组分，每个组分都表现出不同的特性（例如周转时间）。这些方法为理解土壤碳储存和稳定的机制和过程奠定了基础。碳分馏结果也被用来生成和校准土壤碳模型。结果的可复制性是界定不同碳库的一个重要前提。 与2012/13申请阶段相比，关于打算在当前项目中应用和进一步开发的碳分馏方法出现了新的事实。根据对最新（2013/14）相关文献的全面评价，对于这些程序的单个步骤，迄今为止尚未找到最佳解决方案。 教授Benbi在碳分馏方法的开发和应用方面拥有长期经验，这些方法可以作为一些常用方法的有意义的替代方法。凭借他的专业知识，我们期待在方法比较、土壤有机质组成表征和建模方面取得实质性进展。他在墨卡托研究金框架内的贡献对该项目非常重要。

The major project aims are to investigate the influence of soil organic matter burial in agricultural and forestry soils on the behavior of organic carbon (C) in surface and subsoil horizons compared to reference soils. A quantitative estimate of the C stocks will be performed. Fractionation methods will allow a qualitative assessment of soil C. Numerous physical and chemical, and partly biological fractionation procedures have been developed and performed during the last few decades. The major aim is the separation of distinct, preferably homogeneous C fractions, each exhibiting different characteristics (e.g. turnover times). These methods form a basis for understanding the mechanisms and processes of soil C storage and stabilization. Carbon fractionation results are also used to generate and calibrate soil carbon models. Reproducibility of the results is an important precondition to define distinct carbon pools. Compared to the application phase 2012/13, new facts have emerged concerning the C fractionation methods that are intended to be applied and further developed in the current project. According to thorough evaluation of the most recent (2013/14) relevant literature, for single steps of these procedures, optimum solutions up to now have not been found. Prof. Benbi, has long-term experience with respect to development and application of C fractionation methods which can serve as meaningful alternatives to some of the commonly used methods. With his expertise we expect substantial progress concerning comparison of methods, characterization of soil organic matter composition, and modelling. His contribution in the frame of a Mercator Fellowship would be of great importance for the project.