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Micronutrients are essential for plant growth and animal and human health. Their availability in soils can vary from extreme deficient to abundant. Consequently, imbalances in micronutrient management may lead to reduced yield and crop quality, which may result in either deficiency or toxicity symptoms in animals and humans, waste of resources and contamination of environment. We want to tackle the quantification problem of micronutrient availability, behavior and uptake by the plant with a new universal approach to be used in arable, grass and dairy farming for optimal fertilizer application strategies with minimum inputs to reduce losses to the environment (e.g. groundwater). The research focuses on:

* copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) in grassland (PhD student one)
* manganese (Mn) and boron (B) in arable (horticulture) land (PhD student two)

The aim of the STW funded project is to study the behavior of these micronutrients in soils and link this to plant uptake. Research on the chemical forms and reactions controlling the chemical distribution of these micronutrients in soils will be executed.

Multi-nutrient extraction of soil and non-invasive measurement techniques of the solid phase in combination with state of the art mechanistic chemical models will be used to describe and predict chemical speciation of micronutrients in soil systems. Field experiments under different environmental conditions will be performed for a wide range of soils. The project will contribute to a more judicious use of micronutrient fertilizers by farmers, taking into account factors such as soil and fertilizer type for optimum micronutrient use in cropping systems with minimal environmental effects.

Requirements:

You have a solid background (MSc) in soil chemistry and/or soil biology and are experienced in and motivated to do both modeling and experimental research. You should have a critical attitude and be able to work and think independently. Proficiency in English is required. Priority must be given to EU citizens.

Conditions of employment:

The position is for 38 hours a week, initially for 1 year with an anticipated extension to 4 years. The gross salary beginning at € 2042 per month in the first year, increasing to a maximum of € 2612 in the fourth year.

Location:

Department of Soil Quality, chair Soil Chemistry and Chemical Soil Quality, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Additional Information:

Dr. Erwin Temminghoff or Dr. Liping Weng, Telephone +31 317 48 2339 E-mail Erwin.Temminghoff@wur.nl or Liping.Weng@wur.nl. The full project proposal is available on request.

For information concerning employment: Mw. C.M.A.H. Kruseman, HRM department ESG tel. +317-482670, e mail vacatures.dow@wur.nl.

Website: www.soq.wur.nl.

Application:

Send your application before May 9, 2010, mentioning the reference number ESG CB-0026 , to: vacatures.dow@wur.nl or to Wageningen UR, HRM Environmental Sciences, C.M.A.H. Kruseman, P.O. Box 47, NL-6700 AA Wageningen.