Getting started with columns and batch experiments
A little introduction of the first months of work at University of Copenhagen (KU)
By ESR11 Daniel Garcia Jorgensen
During the first months of my PhD project I focused on improving the applicability of Daisy (a soil-water-plant-atmosphere model program) for modelling natural toxins. Together with the help of the Agrohydrology group at KU, we developed a new function to consider abiotic degradation processes (hydrolysis). Therefore, in the model is described either microbial degradation as hydrolysis. These are the first steps to improve the parameterization of ptaquiloside. However, in order to model the fate of ptaquiloside at different location it is necessary degradation and transport data in different soils. These is what we have been focusing lately.
The chosen location is Humleore (Zealand, Denmark), which is also a location under study by Vaidotas (ESR7) and Natasa (ESR13). In Humleore forest, bracken is present throughout the site, being the site chosen one of the most densely populated. The first step is to characterize the soil under bracken stands in order to parameterize in Daisy a representative soil profile for the site. This task was carried with the help of Hans Christian and Stathis. The next step is to determine the degradation rate in the different soil horizons (batch) and transport through the soil (column experiments). These two experiments will be performed in the coming months and will provide valuable information for modelling the fate of ptaquiloside in different soil types.
