Dissolved organic matter is the most mobile fraction of nutrients and energy in soils. Given its small size, high volatility and extremely complex nature, DOM is in the core of soil and landscape research since several decades. Today’s gold standard of DOM sampling is to use suction cups in the profile. However, this is not always possible due to the immense limitations of in-situ sampling techniques. Soil extracts have therefor gained in importance. In the lab, the candidate will compare different soil extraction techniques from simple water extracts to more complex soil column applications. The RefeSol¹ project of Fraunhofer IME and Umweltbundesamt will be used to compare different soil resources. We further will investigate fire impacted soils which we will sample during our excursion into the Harz mountains.

¹https://www.refesol.de/