Dr. Maximilian Schneider
Postdoc
Soil Science and Biogeography Unit
Department of Geography
University of Zurich - Irchel
Winterthurerstr. 190
CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
room: | Y25K70 |
email: | |
tel: | +41-44-6355166 |
fax: | +41-44-6356841 |
Research interests
Pyrogenic carbon (PyC) is produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and vegetation and can be understood as a continuum from partly charred plant material through charcoal to graphite and soot particles recondensed from the gas phase, with no general agreement on clear-cut boundaries. The substances that can be found in this “combustion continuum“ (Hedges et al., 2000; Masiello, 2004) of pyrogenic carbon vary significantly in their properties. Pyrogenic carbon represents a small but significant fraction of soil organic carbon. It could serve as a sink in the global carbon cycle as its polycondensed, aromatic structures are relatively resistant against degradation and furthermore, it also improves soil fertility and retention of pollutants in soils. For a better understanding of the beneficial processes in soils related to pyrogenic carbon, it is crucial not only to quantify PyC, but also to gain more information about the quality of PyC in soils. Molecular marker methods are a promising approach for characterisation of PyC in the environment.
Keywords:
Pyrogenic carbon, molecular markers, fate of fire residues in soils and sediments, stabilization of organic matter in soils