Nina Buchmann: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2023 |
| Name | Prof. Dr. Nina Buchmann |
| Field | Graslandwissenschaften |
| Address | Professur Graslandwissenschaften ETH Zürich, LFW C 56 Universitätstrasse 2 8092 Zürich SWITZERLAND |
| Telephone | +41 44 632 39 59 |
| nina.buchmann@usys.ethz.ch | |
| Department | Environmental Systems Science |
| Relationship | Full Professor |
| Number | Title | ECTS | Hours | Lecturers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 751-0206-00L | Applied Laboratory Techniques in Agricultural Sciences  The course is compulsory for students in 5th semester BSc Agricultural Sciences. | 3 credits | 3P | G. Broggini, N. Buchmann, I. Feigenwinter, M. Hartmann, C. Lorrain, S. Neuenschwander, L. P. Schönholzer, B. Studer, S. Yates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Die Lehrveranstaltung ist zweiteilig aus einem Laborpraktikum und einem angewandten Methodentraining aufgebaut. Im Laborpraktikum werden an 6 Kurstagen die wichtigsten Techniken der Molekularbiologie gelehrt. Das folgende Methodentraining findet an 5 Kurstagen im Block in einer der beteiligten Forschungsgruppen statt, um die wichtigsten Methoden aus dem jeweiligen Fachgebiet praxisnah anzuwenden. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | - Aneignung von guter Laborpraxis (Sicherheit, Effizienz, Qualität und Dokumentation) - Erlernen der wichtigsten Labor- und Feldmethoden in den Agrarwissenschaften sowie deren korrekte und sichere Anwendung - Vertieftes Verständnis von molekularen, physiologischen und biochemischen Prozessen in aktuellen agrarwissenschaftlichen Themenbereichen - Aneignung von Kompetenzen für zukünftige Bachelor-, Master-, und Doktorarbeiten - Kritische Beurteilung der angewandten Methoden für verantwortungsvolle Forschung | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Molekularbiologisches Laborpraktikum: DNA Extraktion, DNA Quantifizierung, PCR, Molekulare Marker, Gelelektrophorese, DNA Sequenzierung, Bioinformatik, qPCR Angewandtes Methodentraining: Inhalte definiert durch die jeweiligen Arbeitsgruppen Folgende angewandte Module werden angeboten: 1. Plant Pathology; 2. Plant Nutrition; 3. Grassland Sciences; 4. Molecular Plant Breeding; 5. Sustainable Agroecosystems; 6. Animal Physiology | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Laborjournal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Wird einsprechend den Kursinhalten abgegeben. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 751-3700-00L | Plant Ecophysiology | 2 credits | 2V | N. Buchmann, A. Walter | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | The general theme of this course is the effect of environmental factors (such as light, temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentrations, etc.) on plant physiology: water uptake and transport, transpiration, CO2 gas exchange of plants (photosynthesis, respiration), growth and C allocation, yield and production, stress physiology. Working with measurement data and Jupyter Notebooks is included. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The students will understand the impact of environmental factors on plant physiology and will learn the theoretical basis and terminology of plant ecophysiology that is necessary to analyze yield potentials in agriculture. The students will learn about classical and latest studies in plant ecophysiology. Students will check and implement their knowledge and understanding of ecophysiology using measurement data. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Das Ziel vieler landwirtschaftlicher Managemententscheidungen, d. h., das Erhöhen der Produktivität und des Ertrages, basiert häufig auf Reaktionen der Pflanzen auf Umweltfaktoren, z. B. Nährstoff- und Wasserangebot, Licht, etc. Daher werden in diesem Kurs der Einfluss von Umweltfaktoren auf die pflanzliche Physiologie behandelt, z. B. auf den Gaswechsel von Pflanzen (Photosynthese, Atmung, Transpiration), auf die Nährstoff- und Wasseraufnahme und den -Transport in Pflanzen, auf das Wachstum, den Ertrag und die C-Allokation, auf die Produktion und Qualität der produzierten Biomasse. Anhand der wichtigsten Pflanzenarten in Schweizer Graslandökosystemen werden diese theoretischen Kenntnisse vertieft und Aspekte der Bewirtschaftung (Schnitt, Düngung, etc.) angesprochen. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts stehen online. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Larcher 1994, Lambers et al. 2008, Schulze et al. 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This course is based on basics of plant identification and plant physiology. It is the basis for the courses Plant Production, Part Forage Production and Grassland Systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 751-4003-01L | Current Topics in Grassland Sciences (autumn) | 2 credits | 2S | N. Buchmann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Research results in agro- and forest ecosystem sciences will be presented by experienced researchers as well as by doctoral and graduate students. Citation classics as well as recent research results will be discussed. Topics will range from plant ecophysiology, biodiversity and biogeochemistry to management aspects in agro- and forest ecosystems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students will be able to understand and evaluate experimental design and data interpretation of on-going studies, be able to critically analyze published research results, practice to present and discuss results in the public, and gain a broad knowledge of recent research and current topics in agro- and forest ecosystem sciences. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Research results in agro- and forest ecosystem sciences will be presented by experienced researchers as well as by doctoral and graduate students. Citation classics as well as recent research results will be discussed. Topics will range from plant ecophysiology, biodiversity and biogeochemistry to management aspects in agro- and forest ecosystems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | none | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of plant ecophysiology, terrestrial ecology and management of agro- and forest ecosystems. Course will be taught in English. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 751-4107-AAL | Introduction to Crop and Forage Production Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement. Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit. | 2 credits | 4R | A. Walter, N. Buchmann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course provides an introduction into crop and forage sciences - with a focus on sustainable management methods in Switzerland and Europe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | The students know the basic processes and management methods of arable and forage production in Switzerland and Central Europe. They know the most relevant arable crops. Students can assess the influence of environmental factors and management not only on individual plants, but also on meadow and pasture plant communities and on their yields. They understand the relevance of crop rotation measures and can make recommendations for the establishment of land management methods. The students are familiar with sustainable, climate-friendly and biodiversity-conserving or biodiversity-enhancing management measures and understand the value of species-rich vegetation for the provision of ecosystem services. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The lecture is divided into two parts, i.e., Arable Crop and Forage Production, supervised by different lecturers. The part 'Arable Crop Production' deals with the most relevant arable crops and with basic steps of arable field management such as soil tillage, sowing and plant protection. Effects on soil structure, different tillage measures for different crops as well as differences in the intensity of intervention in comparison of conventional and soil-conserving tillage (e.g. no-till) are explained. The most important differences between conventional, integrated and organic production are addressed. Special emphasis is placed on the establishment of crop rotations taking into account the farm context. In the part 'Forage Production', important plant functional groups and representative plant species as well as different types of grassland systems, i.e., most important mixtures as well as natural plant communities in Central Europe are presented (sward assessment). Based on the ecophysiology of individual plants, the reactions of plant stands to changing environmental conditions are elaborated. Different types of management are presented (e.g. fertilisation, grazing, cutting) and their effects on stand composition and yields are discussed. Feedback mechanisms between environment and grassland systems are addressed. The role of biodiversity is addressed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Available on moodle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 751-5005-00L | Agroecology | 2 credits | 2G | N. Buchmann, S. Keller, M. Sonnevelt | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | Agroecology is a discipline, an agricultural practice, and a political-social movement. Students will attend public lectures by experts from different fields and will reflect on agroecology and its principles. Moreover, students will expand their knowledge with case studies and discuss about the role of agroecology to support sustainable agriculture and food systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students know the thirteen principles of the High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) of the Committee on World Food Security as well as the ten elements of agroecology suggested by FAO and can critically reflect on the important properties as well as benefits and trade-offs of agroecological systems and approaches. Students will be able to transfer their disciplinary and interdisciplinary knowledge about the thirteen principles as guiding principles for policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders across the food system in planning, managing, and evaluating agroecological transformation. Students are part of small groups focusing on selected principles of the HLPE. During the course, students discus the potential and limitations of agroecology and learn about scientific contributions to agroecology. Students form an opinion on the role of agroecology, reflect and argue on the different facets and develop recommendations for real-world applications of agroecology in supporting a transition towards sustainable food systems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The course is designed as a combination of public lectures/webinars on "Agroecology and the Transformation to Sustainable Food Systems” delivered by national and international experts and scientists as well as sessions in which students reflect on the topics addressed in the lecture series in a group work format. The public lectures bring different perspectives to the discussion and are intended as inputs for the students’ sessions. In the student sessions, the student groups deepen their knowledge of the 13 principles of agroecology proposed by the High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) of the Committee on World Food Security. They identify “unknows” and link to other closely related principles. The groups also work out the perspective of a chosen stakeholder. Finally, the groups will take part in a scientific discussion representing their stakeholder perspective. All groups will synthesize their discussions in a short report. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts will be available on the webpage of the course. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | http://www.fao.org/agroecology/en/ Report of HLPE on agroecology: http://www.fao.org/3/ca5602en/ca5602en.pdf | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This course is based on fundamental knowledge about plant ecophysiology, soil science, biogeochemistry, crop and forage science, and ecology in general. The course will be taught in English. The course is only offered in fall. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 751-5101-00L | Biogeochemistry and Sustainable Management | 2 credits | 2G | I. Feigenwinter, N. Buchmann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course focuses on the interactions between ecology, biogeochemistry and management of agro- and forest ecosystems, thus, coupled human-environmental systems. Students learn how human impacts on ecosystems via management or global change are mainly driven by effects on biogeochemical cycles and thus ecosystem functioning, but also about feedback mechanisms of terrestrial ecosystems. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students will analyse and understand the complex and interacting processes of ecology, biogeochemistry and management of agroecosystems, set up a small weather station and program a data logger to collect meteorological variables, analyze large meteorological and flux data sets, and evaluate the impacts of weather events and management practices, based on real-life data. Thus, students will expand their computational competences. Moreover, students will be able to coordinate and work successfully in small (interdisciplinary) teams. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | Agroecosystems play a major role in all landscapes, either for production purposes, ecological areas or for recreation. The human impact of any management on the environment is mainly driven by effects on biogeochemical cycles. Effects of global change impacts will also act via biogeochemistry at the soil-biosphere-atmosphere-interface. Thus, ecosystem functioning, i.e., the interactions between ecology, biogeochemistry and management of terrestrial systems, is the science topic for this course. Students will gain profound knowledge about biogeochemical cycles and greenhouse gas fluxes in managed grassland and/or cropland ecosystems as well as expand their computational competences. Responses of agroecosystems to the environment, i.e., to climate and weather events, but also to management will be studied. Campbell dataloggers will be programmed and a small weather station will be set up. Different meteorological and greenhouse gas flux data will be analysed (using R) and assessed in terms of production, greenhouse gas budgets and carbon sequestration. Thus, students will learn how to collect, analyse and interpret data about the complex interactions of a coupled human-environmental system. Students will work in groups (3-4 persons per group) with real-life data from a small weather station (dedicated to the course) and from the long-term measurement network Swiss FluxNet. Data from the intensively managed grassland site Chamau will be used to investigate the biosphere-atmosphere exchange of CO2, H2O, N2O and CH4. Functional relationships will be identified, greenhouse gas budgets will be calculated for different time periods and in relation to management over the course of a year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts will be available in moodle. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | Prerequisites: Attendance of introductory courses in plant ecophysiology, ecology, and grassland or forest sciences. Knowledge of data analyses in R and statistics. Course will be taught in English. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 751-5125-00L | Stable Isotope Ecology of Terrestrial Ecosystems | 2 credits | 2G | R. A. Werner, N. Buchmann, A. Gessler, M. Lehmann | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Abstract | This course provides an overview about the applicability of stable isotopes (carbon 13C, nitrogen 15N, oxygen 18O and hydrogen 2H) to process-oriented ecological research. Topics focus on stable isotopes as indicators for the origin of pools and fluxes, partitioning of composite fluxes as well as to trace and integrate processes. In addition, students carry out a small project during lab sessions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning objective | Students will be familiar with basic and advanced applications of stable isotopes in studies on plants, soils, water and trace gases, know the relevant approaches, concepts and recent results in stable isotope ecology, know how to combine classical and modern techniques to solve ecophysiological or ecological problems, learn to design, carry out and interpret a small IsoProject, practice to search and analyze literature as well as to give an oral presentation. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content | The analyses of stable isotopes often provide insights into ecophysiological and ecological processes that otherwise would not be available with classical methods only. Stable isotopes proved useful to determine origin of pools and fluxes in ecosystems, to partition composite fluxes and to integrate processes spatially and temporally. This course will provide an introduction to the applicability of stable isotopes to ecological research questions. Topics will focus on carbon (13C), nitrogen (15N), oxygen (18O) and hydrogen (2H) at natural isotope abundance and tracer levels. Lectures will be supplemented by intensive laboratory sessions, short presentations by students and computer exercises. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lecture notes | Handouts will be available on the webpage of the course. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Literature | Will be discussed in class. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prerequisites / Notice | This course is based on fundamental knowledge about plant ecophysiology, soil science, and ecology in general. Course will be taught in English. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Competencies |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||