- Chair of Biodiversity and Nature Tourism
- Chair of Economics in Rural Economy
- Chair of Environmental Protection and Landscape Management
- Chair of Horticulture
- Chair of Hydrobiology and Fisheries
- Chair of Landscape Architecture
- Chair of Plant and Crop Science
- Chair of Plant Health
- Chair of Soil Science
- Polli Horticultural Research Centre
- Rõhu Experimental Centre
Eesti Maaülikool (the Estonian University of Life Sciences) in Tartu (Estonia), Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
The Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is responsible for research and education development in plant cultivation and plant biology, horticulture, plant health, soil science and agrochemistry, landscape ecology and management, landscape architecture, biological diversity and applied hydrobiology in Estonia (for more information see here).
Chair of Soil Science and Chair of Crop Science and Plant Biology are partners of the IntASEK project.
Chair of Soil Science
The mission of the Chair of Soil Science is to provide academic education and research in soil science and its sub-disciplines; to advance basic understanding and practical management of soils in natural and agricultural ecosystems and disseminate knowledge about the sustainable use of soil resources.
From the Chair of Soil Science are involved three professors:
» Endla Reintam is vice-rector of Studies at Estonian University of Life Sciences and professor at Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Chair of Soil Science. Her areas of teaching are basic soil science, soil classification, international classification systems, soil degradation and reclamation, basic ecology and environmental protection. The main areas of research are soil mechanical and physical properties, soil degradation (compaction). Currently, she is involved in the Horizon2020 project iSQAPER and to the ERASMUS+ projects EduSapMan and FACES. She has been involved also in the projects TILLMAN-Org, FERTIL-Crop, and VIVAGRASS. Now she is the coordinator of the ERASMUS+ project IntASEK.
Keywords: soil ecology, sustainable use of soils, degradation, compaction, plant ecophysiology.
CV:https://www.etis.ee/CV/Endla_Reintam/eng
» Alar Astover is Head of the Chair of Soil Science and professor in Soil Science. He is teaching soil science, agricultural system analysis and composting courses from bachelor to Ph.D. level. His area of research covers various fields in soil science and agriculture. Recent research is focused on soil organic matter and nutrient cycling in agroecosystems, development of
Keywords: soil quality and productivity, soil organic matter, soil nutrient balances, fertilizer optimization, soil information.
CV:https://www.etis.ee/CV/Alar_Astover/eng
» Merrit
Keywords: soil fertility, soil ecology, composts, nutrient cycles, earthworms, earthworms’ ecophysiology.
CV:https://www.etis.ee/CV/Merrit_Shanskiy/eng
Below you can find a list of possible topics for research projects/theses:
In the field of Soil Science:
- Effect of biochar on soil properties/earthworms
- Organic matter and carbon in agricultural soils (experimental and modelling approaches from micro- to landscape scale)
- Use of biodegradable waste composts as fertilizers
- Effect of organic fertilizers on soil chemical properties in a long-term field experiment
- Changes of peat quality under peat excavation
- Soil phosphorus forms and their determination for agronomic and environmental purposes
- Fertilization/plant cover effect on soil structural stability
- Changes of soil water content depending on management and weather conditions
- Changes in soil physical/chemical/biological properties under conventional and organic farming
For further questions please contact Endla Reintam (Vice-rector of Studies, professor, Ph.D.).
Chair of Crop Science and Plant Biology
Chair of Crop Science and Plant Biology is the most international department at Estonian University of Life Sciences. The chair is responsible for research and studies (mainly Ph.D.) in plant physiology and acts as the leading institution in the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Adaptation (ENVIRON). It is also involved in establishing the Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations (SMEAR Estonia).
» Tiina Tosens is an associate professor at Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Chair of Crop Science and Plant biology at EMU. Her areas of teaching are Ecophysiology, Plant
Keywords: plant stress, adaptational mechanisms, photosynthesis.
Below you can find a list of possible topics for research projects/theses:
In the field of Plant Physiology:
- Reconstructing plant structure-function relationships in paleoenvironment.
- Evolution of photosynthesis limitations.
- Induction of plant biogenic volatile organic compounds emission by biotic and abiotic stresses and consequences for plants and air quality
- Biotic or abiotic stress-induced gene expression patterns in plants
- Plant photosynthesis limitations in biotic and abiotic stress conditions
- Adaptability of novel crops in Northern Europe as climate is changing
- The limitations of C4 photosynthesis
- Evolution of photosynthesis
- Emissions of biogenic volatile organic compounds in the response of biotic and abiotic stress
For further questions please contact Tiina Tosens (Associate professor).