Natural Environment Biogeochemistry

The scope of scientific activity of the Department:

• Investigations on emission and absorption of greenhouse gases (methane, nitrous oxide (I), carbon dioxide) in the soil and water environment, monitoring of gas emissions to the atmosphere (landfills, mine waste heaps etc.);
• Determination of the methanogenic potential of various types of biomass used as an alternative energy source;
• Studies on gas diffusion, oxygen concentration, and redox potential in the soil profile in relation to soil physical properties such as density, aggregation, water-air relations, etc;
• Investigations of the effect of the soil oxygen status on biochemical processes, i.e. redox processes and soil enzymatic activity, nitrogen and carbon transformations including processes of emission and absorption of greenhouse gases;
• Examination of soil capacity for wastewater treatment from biogenic compounds and evaluation of the possibility of soil fertilization with post-fermentation sludge ;
• Assessment of the effect of adverse soil conditions (e.g. anoxia, heavy metal pollution) on biomass production, nutrient availability, and plant defence mechanisms (biochemical markers of oxidative stress);
• Investigations of solubilisation of bioactive compounds of plant origin;
• Studies on the first phase of water erosion – the so-called splash erosion;
• Investigations of solubilisation of plant bioactive compounds;
• Investigations of the stability of soil colloids in aqueous suspensions;
• Investigations of the surface properties of microorganisms based on the electrokinetic potential measurements (zeta);
• Methodical aspects of determination of the shape of particles of the sand sediment fraction by optical microscopy.