We use the radionuclides ¹⁴C, ³³P, ³H, and in future ⁵⁵Fe as tracers because they allow us to

• visualize and quantify processes in soil, sediments and plants,
• determine with greatest sensitivity even the slowest processes, like the decomposition of biochar,
• carry out dual labelling experiments (¹³C and ¹⁴C),
• understand P dynamics in soil (e.g., dissolution of Fe-P) without pseudotracers like ¹⁸O-phosphate

We are convinced that radiotracers are indeed “old dogs, that can be taught new tricks” and are invaluable tools in processed-based environmental research. Our laboratory is licensed for max. 1.5 GBq ³³P, 1 GBq ¹⁴C and 1 GBq ³H. Higher activities or other radionuclides (¹³⁷Cs, ³²P ), e.g. as K tracers, or to separate two contrasting P sources, can used in the ISOLAB of the university.

Our radionuclide lab has facilities for:

• Stable and radioactive tracer application (³³P, ¹⁴C, ³H, like ¹⁴CO₂, ¹⁴C-labelled plant residues)
• Incubation cupboards (2-30 °C)
• Wet lab (e.g., microbial biomass, pressure digestion, DNA extraction, enzyme assays, solvent extraction; biomarker analyses)
• Molecular biology
• Plant cultivation, as well as
• element analysis (DOC, DO-¹⁴C), as well as
• Prep-GC and Prep-LC solutions for compound-specific activity determination.

We also have a permission to work with soil and plant material originating from outside the European Union (Quarantine Station sensu EU 2016/2031).