Short description of research activities in CRC 990:

1. To characterize mycorrhizal colonization and root health and nutrition along a land use gradient in forest, jungle-rubber, rubber, oil palm plantations. For this purpose core study plots will be sampled in collective sampling campaigns and root analyses will be done as in Sahner et al. (2015).

2. To characterize the impact of plantation management on root mycorrhizal colonization, nutrition and root health. For this purpose, joint field sampling will be conducted in two oil palm plantations. In the plantations various management parameters will be tested: full fertilization+herbicides+fungicides, moderate fertilization and plant protection, no treatment, manual removal of understory. The influence of these treatments on root traits will be analysed as above. Based on the results management recommendations will be given.