Kristina Nelke M.Sc.

The present project, which is funded by the DFG, investigates trace metal flux in the context of agriculture with a view to gaining greater insight into the fate of copper and zinc inputs resulting from manure and fungicide applications in agricultural systems. Evidently, these elements are vital micronutrients for both plant and animal life, as well as for humans. Nevertheless, it should be noted that elevated concentrations have the potential to pose a risk to biota and soil fertility. Therefore, the adopted approach is a comprehensive study of the copper and zinc cycles using stable isotope labelling under real field conditions.

My contribution to the project involves the conduction of two field experiments, with a duration of one and a half years, with the objective of enabling the calculation of both the short-term and long-term effects of field management on the uptake of copper and zinc by crops, sorption to different soil fractions, and loss via leaching into the soil solution.

Since 2026: PhD studies. Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany. Advisors: Prof. Moritz Bigalke and Dr. Kai Nitzsche.

2024-2025: Masters Thesis. Federal Institute of Hydrology, Koblenz, Germany. Advisor: Dr. Jan Wiederhold.

2022-2025: MSc. Geoecology. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.

2019-2022: BSc. Geoecology. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.