SSSB Thematic Day – 30 November 2016

13.15 – 13.45 : Registration and welcome coffee

13.45 – 13.50 : Opening welcome

13.50 – 14.20 : Keynote presentation ‘Soil processes and cycling of elements in soil-plant systems’ by B. Delvaux (UCL)

14.20 – 14.40 : ‘Is soil pore structure control on substrate decomposition manifested through N availability?’ by P. Maenhout (UGent)

14.40 – 15.05 : Invited talk ‘Effects of erosion and land use change

on the reactive silica pool’ by D. Unzué-Belmonte (UAntwerp)

15.05 – 15.25 : ‘Phytolith-rich biochar increases cotton biomass and silicon-mineralomass in a highly weathered soil’ by Z. Li (UCL)

15.25 – 16.00 : coffee break and poster presentation

16.30 – 16.55 : Invited talk ‘Historical charcoal in soils : effect on carbon sequestration’ by B. Kerré (KUL)

16.55 – 17.15 : ‘Relic charcoal hearths : a neglected important soil carbon reservoir of italian forests’ by G. Mastrolonardo (ULg)

17.15 – 17.40 : Invited talk ‘Multi-scale assessment of soil organic carbon dynamics : insights from carbon fractionation’ by S. Trigalet (UCL)

17.45 -… : Concluding remarks

The sustainable management of element cycling, either nutrients or contaminants, in soil-plant systems requires the understanding of soil processes that govern the interactions between soil constituents, soil properties and functions. Soil processes strongly affect the rate of element cycling in terrestrial ecosystems but also the mineral and organic origin of the bioavailable pools of the elements. The management of agro-ecosystems is in a transition stage, given the challenge of producing more biomass while increasing the resistance and resilience of  food systems. A process-based approach of the evolution of soil in a constantly varying environment is crucial in a further understanding of  how soils can sustain the ecological equilibrium of agro-ecosystems.

Looking forward to meeting you in Brussels.

Bruno Delvaux (UCL) & Jean-Thomas Cornélis (ULg)