PPEPSI

Precipitation Pattern Effects on Plant-Soil microbial Interactions

Context

Global environmental change is predicted in Europe to result in increased frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events, including severe droughts and intense precipitation events. Such changes will affect plant physiology, microbial activity and soil nutrient cycling, inducing changes in ecosystem functioning, with expected consequences on in plant community composition, net primary productivity and carbon balance.

Objectives

The main objective of PPEPSI is to understand the mechanisms of the coupling between precipitation patterns and carbon and nitrogen cycling in the plant-soil microbial system.