PhD student of the Institute of Agriculture, Department of Plant Nutrition and Agroecology, attended an internship in Aarhus University on October 4 – November 9. Supervisor of internship was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jim Rasmussen, researcher who published 53 scientific articles dealing with the use of isotope methods.
The aim of the internship was to acquire competence and practice investigating fixation of legume nitrogen, using labelled 15N isotope method. The objectives of internship were: 1) run the experiment to determine the efficiency of soybean nitrogen fixation; 2) update knowledge about labelled 15N isotope method; 3) participate in SOM course.
A new experiment was established in greenhouse conditions in pots. Factors: plant density, inoculation, sowing date. Soybean Merlin from PhD experiments in Lithuania was used. 15N isotopes method was used during the experiment. Observations and calculations were carried out. New knowledges about this method and obtained results were introduced. The possibility of using labelled isotopes method in Lithuanian agronomic researches was estimated. During the internship, the student attended the SOM – ‘Soil organic matter’ course for students. In this course, PhD students from different countries presented their ongoing researches on organic matter in the soil. The latest scientific literature was reviewed and relevant issues were discussed. During the discussion, the experiments carried out under M. Toleikienė’s doctoral program were discussed.
The scientist has acquired new competencies and international experience. The data of experiment will be published in an international article. After the internship, further cooperation with this institution and its scientists is planned.
