Plant Nutrition

At the Institute of Crop Sciences, plant nutrition is represented by the two departments Nutritional Crop Physiology and Fertilization and Soil Matter Dynamics. Quality aspects of fertilization are dealt with by the department of Quality of Plant Products. In research and teaching, the departments deal with the functions and dynamics of nutrients in crops, soils and agro-ecosystems from the point of view of plant metabolic processes. The goals are to

• improve the growth of crops
• identify genetic factors of nutrient uptake
• increase the quality of harvested products
• optimize soil fertility
• promote the recycling of nutrients
• reduce the use of production means
• minimize environmental pollution caused by fertilizers.

"I lived with the plants

I put my ear to the ground

And it seemed to me that the plants

Were glad to tell me about the secrets

Of their growth"

Margarete Baronesse von Wrangell (First full professor and founder of the Institute for Plant Nutrition at the Hohenheim Agricultural University, 1877-1932)

"Verify everything, don't believe anything!",

Kurt Maiwald (Professor for Plant Nutrition, 1932-1960)