751-3405-00L  Radio-Isotopes in Plant Nutrition

SemesterAutumn Semester 2016
LecturersE. Frossard
Periodicityyearly recurring course
Language of instructionEnglish



Courses

NumberTitleHoursLecturers
751-3405-00 GRadio-Isotopes in Plant Nutrition
The lectures will spread over nine Friday mornings in the autumn semester. The lecture will be organized in Eschikon, in the Group of Plant Nutrition at the Experimental station Eschikon, 8315 Eschikon-Lindau. The location of the experimental station Eschikon is given at Link.
28s hrsE. Frossard

Catalogue data

AbstractThe course will present the principles underlying the use of radioisotopes in soil/plant systems. It will present how the introduction of an isotope into a system can be done to get some information on the structure of the system. Case studies will be presented to determine element availability. Finally, published studies from other groups will be analyzed and presented by the students.
ObjectiveAt the end of this course the students are familiar with the principles on which radioisotope works are based and they have learned from case studies how radioisotopes can be used to obtain meaningful data. They are aware of the advantages of using radioisotopes in element cycling studies, but also of the risks and open questions related to isotope work.
ContentRadio-isotopes are extensively used at the soil/plant or ecosystem level to quantify the fluxes of elements (phosphorus (P), heavy metals, radionuclides) within a given system and to assess the importance of processes controlling these fluxes (e.g. exchange reactions between the soil solution and the soil solid phase, element turnover through the microbial biomass, organic matter mineralization etc.).
The course will first present the principles, the basic assumptions and the theoretical framework that underlay the work with radioisotopes. It will present how the introduction of an isotope into a system can be done so as to get information on the structure of the system (e.g. number and size of compartments). Secondly, case studies on isotopic dilution and tracer work will be presented for instance on the isotopic exchange kinetics method to determine nutrients or pollutants availability. The case studies will be adapted to the ongoing research of the group of plant nutrition and will thus give an insight into our current research. In addition, published studies will be analyzed and presented by the students. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of work with radioisotopes will be analyzed and discussed critically.
Lecture notesDocuments will be distributed during the lecture
LiteratureWill be given during the lecture
Prerequisites / NoticeThe lecture will take place at the ETH experimental station in Eschikon Lindau. See the location of the station at: Link

Performance assessment

Performance assessment information (valid until the course unit is held again)
Performance assessment as a semester course
ECTS credits3 credits
ExaminersE. Frossard
Typegraded semester performance
Language of examinationEnglish
RepetitionRepetition possible without re-enrolling for the course unit.
Additional information on mode of examinationFinal note: 50% report on the work done in the laboratory and 50% for the presentation of a publication

Learning materials

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Only public learning materials are listed.

Groups

No information on groups available.

Restrictions

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Offered in

ProgrammeSectionType
Agroecosystem Sciences MasterAgriculture and EnvironmentWInformation
Agroecosystem Sciences MasterMethods in Agricultural SciencesW+Information
Agroecosystem Sciences MasterFunctioning of Soil SystemsWInformation
Agroecosystem Sciences MasterAgriculture and EnvironmentW+Information
Agroecosystem Sciences MasterEnvironmental Crop PhysiologyW+Information
Agroecosystem Sciences MasterGeneral Crop ScienceWInformation
Agroecosystem Sciences MasterFunctioning of Soil SystemsWInformation
Environmental Sciences MasterMinor in Soil-Plant Relations and Land UseWInformation