KU Leuven

Enhancing climate resilience in fruit orchards – leveraging soil communities to

2024-09-30 (Europe/Brussels)
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Om arbetsgivaren

KU Leuven is an autonomous university. It was founded in 1425. It was born of and has grown within the Catholic tradition.

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You will become part of a young and dynamic research group at KU Leuven Campus Geel, the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences and the Division of Forest Nature and Landscape. You’ll work under the supervision of Prof. Ellen Desie, who specializes in restoration ecology, above- and belowground interactions in ecosystems and soil ecology. You will be co-supervised by Prof. Karen Vancampenhout, an expert in soil biogeochemistry, carbon cycles and natural resource management and Prof. Johan Ceusters who specializes in plant physiology and the response of plants to biotic and abiotic stressors

Project

Climate-change induced extreme events, such as heatwaves and droughts, pose a challenge for the horticultural sector. Recent losses in fruit production and quality highlight the economic consequences. Soil health and orchard management are identified as key factors amplifying or mitigating climate-induced risks on production. Further, Optimised soil structure and organic carbon stocks have been shown to mitigate drought, and the potential of leveraging soil communities for this purpose is promising. The manipulation and inoculation of beneficial soil organisms is gaining traction in agronomy, drawing inspiration from the principles of regenerative agriculture. A critical knowledge gap however persists regarding the connection between above- and belowground processes. The role of soil community composition, remains unexplored in its explicit link to aboveground functioning and thus plant drought stress resilience. The role of soil fauna is often overlooked, yet it could be crucial for improving soil structure and optimising water holding capacity. This project hypotheses that soil communities can potentially serve as a lever for overall resilience enhancement through effective orchard management. Through probing past drought events, inducing artificial drought, manipulating soil communities, and assessing orchard management, this study aims to elucidate the soil health - plant health link in fruit orchards, aiming to reduce drought susceptibility and enhance climate resilience.

Profile

We are looking for a motivated PhD candidate with a Master degree in Earth Sciences, Biology, Environmental Sciences or related disciplines (graduated cum Laude or higher). Experience in soil science, organic geochemistry, soil biology and ecosystem functioning are a plus. The candidates must be proficient in English (written and spoken) and must have an interest in working as a team and in integrating biological and chemical research within natural ecosystems.

Offer

Fully funded PhD scolarship for 4 years

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Ellen Desie, tel.: +32 16 37 67 42, mail: ellen.desie@kuleuven.be.

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

Om tjänsten

Titel
Enhancing climate resilience in fruit orchards – leveraging soil communities to
Arbetsgivare
Plats
Oude Markt 13 Leuven, Belgien
Publicerad
2024-09-16
Sista ansökningsdag
2024-09-30 23:59 (Europe/Brussels)
2024-09-30 23:59 (CET)
Befattning
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