Investigation of soil fungal communities in paddy soils – application of novel molecular techniques

This project addresses the implementation of the modern molecular techniques DGGE and FISH in combination with micropedological methods to investigate fungal communities in rice paddy soils. Paddy soils will serve as a model system, since there is a lack of information about their fungi under drought or post-harvest fallow conditions. Our project will address development of paddy soil fungal communities linked to the availability of organic matter such as rice straw. Since local and global air quality concerns have resulted in the reduction or outright banning of straw burning, the search for alternatives has become essential, especially for our partners in China. One long-term objective is to identify optimal rice straw management practices based on a better understanding of the interaction of bacteria and fungi during rice straw decomposition in paddy soils. This might be crucial in reducing methane emissions from paddy soils, while also making a valuable contribution to the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices in East Asia.