This week we finished data collection phase to our sediment recycling experiment. The greenhouse experiment was harvested in spring 2022 (see more of the background here: http://biochar-hy.blogspot.com/2021/12/our-greenhouse-experiment-on-lake.html), then the plant samples were ground and nutrients extracted from them. In September-October we developed analysis methods for multi-element analysis for our brand new ICP-OES device Thermo Scientific iCAP PRO XP Duo, likely one of the newest such devices in Northern Europe! The device and its user interface impressed us with its flexibility, but, admittedly, there were quite some things for us to learn and try too. Thanks to our lab technician Kati Hakala for being always there for us!
The experiment was a part of the project searching ways to improve the availability of recycled lake sediment phosphorus and other nutrients for crops (ryegrass). We test the fertilizing ability of sediments from the four lakes of the Päijät-Häme region (Enonselkä basin of Lake Vesijärvi, Matjärvi, Kutajärvi, Kymijärvi), but also from two Estonian lakes having different geology. The results will be extrapolated for larger areas, based on the sediment properties from a variety of lakes in southern Finland analysed within the project.
The project is led by Dr Olga Tammeorg (Ecosystems and Environment Research Programme, University of Helsinki) in synergy with our AgriChar Research group. We acknowledge particularly Päijät-Häme Regional Fund of Finnish Cultural Foundation, Maa- ja vesitekniikan tuki ry and Niemi Foundation for providing funding and our Dream Team of hard-working young scientists, Anu Suwal, Nikolai Baranov, Joni Vihavainen, Mina Kiani and Subin Kalu for sample preparation and analysis. Well done!!!
Next step is to analyse the data and wrap up reports, stay tuned!
So great work;)
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