Christian Morel

My research focuses on the long-term (decades) phosphorus cycling through agro-ecosystems (crops and pastures). The objectives are to gain a better understanding and quantification of processes that control soil P availability to plants in agricultural field conditions. Then, these processes and fluxes are integrated in one operational model. I developed novel techniques to assess available soil P by measuring orthophosphate ions (P-ions) in solution and associated amount of P-ions that can diffuse which time (rapid and slow kinetics) at the solid-to-solution interface. Operational outputs are: i) to improve P fertilization management gaining in a new diagnostic of crops behaviour in relation with soils types; ii) develop model to simulate and predict accurately plant-availble soil P.