Functional Ecology & Biochemistry of Soils & Agroecosystems
The teams from the former CIRAD Functioning and Management of Tree-Based Planted Ecosystems Research Unit joined the Eco&Sols Joint Research Unit on 1 January 2011.
Presentation of the former Functioning and Management of Tree-Based Planted Ecosystems Research Unit
To satisfy growing market demand, planted tropical ecosystems need to increase their long-term productivity without harming the environment.
The unit is working towards biological management of these ecosystems, so as to ensure consistent, sustainable production. The aim is to characterize and formalize the hydric, carbon and mineral functioning of these ecosystems. This ecosystemic approach provides a picture of plant-soil-climate relations, which serves to quantify and model changes in production, the environmental impact of cropping practices and the consequences of climate change for planted tropical ecosystem functioning. The end results are agronomic recommendations, functioning models, environmental indicators and scientific and technical publications. Cropping practices that make minimum use of inputs are suited both to large planting companies and to smallholders. Lastly, the strong involvement of the unit's researchers in training is helping to smooth out inequalities in terms of access to knowledge.