Mitigation of environmental effects of acid sulphate soils

This project consists of studies on the characteristics and processes of acid sulphate soils and the ultimate aim is to mitigate the environmental loading resulting from their deep artificial drainage. The project supports the CATERMASS LIFE+ project, partly funded by EU. A major objective of the project is to investigate the reactions and distribution of phosphorus in the subsoil upon drainage when the soil pH is decreased from neutrality down to pH values 3-4. Another objective is to investigate the mineral nitrogen reserves, mainly in the form of ammonium, found in the subsoil of acid sulphate soils. The availability and accessibility to plants of these large nutrient reserves is investigated.