Fellowship experience - Renu Singh
During the visit hands-on training was gained of well-established chemical batch sampling methods (ALPHA samplers as developed and used widely by CEH) into a plot approach combined with inverse dispersion modelling (FIDES model, windtrax) in a grid approach as a basis to estimate ammonia emissions from replicated plots. This approach is designed to complement the existing chamber based methodology, and may also be tested along-side that approach on return to India. My fellowship included cooperation also with Dr. Benjamin Loubet of INRA Grignon, near Paris. As the project will require both field measurements and measurement of ammonium in the chemistry laboratory, a training was provided in the operation and analysis of ALPHA samplers, and also training in the application of a micrometeorological dispersion method. The application of SIP and isotope ratio mass spectrometry for the Indian soils is very limited. Use of these techniques can help to establish the linkages between the emissions of NOx and ammonia and those functional microbial communities. This information can improve the prediction of emissions of NOx and ammonia from different soil types and the management options. I received training on the SIP method at the University of Aberdeen.
Renu Singh
