Dr. Jörg Luster

Function

Groupleader

Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry

Soil Functions and Soil Protection

Contact

joerg.luster(at)wslto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 44 739 22 95+41 44 739 22 95

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf

Site

Birmensdorf Bi MG C 52

Main Research Interests

I study biogeochemical cycles in soils of near-natural ecosystems, including plant-soil-microbe
interactions in the rhizosphere. Based on an improved understanding of these processes, I assess
different soil functions and their sensitivity to effects caused by changes in climate and land use
management. The most recent studies focus on the interaction of soil moisture regimes, e.g. drying and rewetting cycles, with the availability and leaching of nutrients and the emission of greenhouse gases
(CO2, N2O, CH4).

For details on processes at the interface between plant root and soil see research focus "Rhizosphere".

For current projects see list below plus

Phosphorus nutrition on acid forest soils; DFG/SNF priority program SPP 1685 "Ecosystem Nutrition"

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Forest soil inventory

The repetition of the forest soil inventory provides the basis for representative forest soil monitoring throughout Switzerland. Through the connection to the sampling network of the National Forest Inventory, a variety of possibilities for the use and evaluation of the collected soil data are possible.

Swiss Biomass

The aim of the project is to determine the biomass of individual trees more precisely using non-destructive measurement methods. Such estimates are central for the greenhouse gas inventory, Kyoto reporting and for the estimation of wood resources and bioenergy potentials.

N2O emissions from soils

This project is part of the large multidisciplinary CCES project RECORD-Catchment, which investigates various aspects of river corridor management in the River Thur catchment. This SNF funded sub-project investigates factors on the microscale that govern the greenhouse gas potential of floodplain and related gleyic forest soils. This includes soil aggregation, plant - soil - microbe interactions and litter accumulations.

BigLink-SoilSolution

This project is part of the multidisciplinary CCES project BigLink (“Biosphere-Geosphere interactions: Linking climate change, weathering, soil formation and ecosystem evolution”). It studies the plant-soil-microbe interactions at early succession stages in the Damma glacier forefield occurring in response to limited nutrient availability.

Soil solution in LWF plots

The chemistry of soil solution and the soil water availability for plants have been monitored since 1997 in seven forest plots in Switzerland. This project, linked to the Swiss Long-term Forest Ecosystem Research project (LWF), aims to assess the soil response to atmospheric pollution (acidifying substances and nitrogen) and to climate change.

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Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Luster, J.; Crockford, L.; Keller, T.; Muñoz-Rojas, M.; Wollschläger, U., 2022: Editorial: Eurosoil 2021: sustainable management of soil functions as a basis to avoid, halt, and reverse land degradation. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2022.1093226

Ozyhar, T.; Marchi, M.; Facciotto, G.; Bergante, S.; Luster, J., 2022: Combined application of calcium carbonate and NPKS fertilizer improves early-stage growth of poplar in acid soils. Forest Ecology and Management, 514: 120211 (11 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120211

Celi, L.; Said-Pullicino, D.; Bol, R.; Lang, F.; Luster, J., 2022: Interconnecting soil organic matter with nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. In: Yang, Y.; Keiluweit, M.; Senesi, N.; Xing, B. (eds), 2022: Multi-scale biogeochemical processes in soil ecosystems. Critical reactions and resilience to climate changes. Hoboken, NJ, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. 51-77. doi: 10.1002/9781119480419.ch3

Prietzel, J.; Krüger, J.; Kaiser, K.; Amelung, W.; Bauke, S.L.; Dippold, M.A.; Kandeler, E.; Klysubun, W.; Lewandowski, H.; Löppmann, S.; Luster, J.; Marhan, S.; Puhlmann, H.; Schmitt, M.; Siegenthaler, M.B.; Siemens, J.; Spielvogel, S.; Willbold, S.; Wolff, J.; Lang, F., 2022: Soil phosphorus status and P nutrition strategies of European beech forests on carbonate compared to silicate parent material. Biogeochemistry, 158: 39-72. doi: 10.1007/s10533-021-00884-7

Joseph, J.; Luster, J.; Bottero, A.; Buser, N.; Baechli, L.; Sever, K.; Gessler, A., 2021: Effects of drought on nitrogen uptake and carbon dynamics in trees. Tree Physiology, 41, 6: 927-943. doi: 10.1093/treephys/tpaa146

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Further scientific publications

Brunner, I.; Luster, J., 2022: Waldböden im Fokus. In: Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL (eds), 2022: Waldböden - intakt und funktional. Forum für Wissen 2022, Birmensdorf. 7-11. doi: 10.55419/wsl:32000

Lang, F.; Luster, J., 2022: Waldökosystemernährung und Klimawandel: Schmilzt mit der Humusauflage auch die Nährstoffverfügbarkeit?. In: Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL (eds), 2022: Waldböden - intakt und funktional. Forum für Wissen 2022, Birmensdorf. 19-25. doi: 10.55419/wsl:32002

Brunner, I.; Hagedorn, F.; Luster, J.; Meusburger, K.; Waldner, P., 2021: Research Unit Forest Soil and Biogeochemistry. In: Ferretti, M.; Fischer, C.; Gessler, A. (eds), 2021: Towards an advanced inventorying and monitoring system for the Swiss forest. Towards an advanced inventorying and monitoring system for the Swiss forest, Birmensdorf. 37-38.

Hagedorn, F.; Walthert, L.; Luster, J., 2019: Föhrensterben im Walllis: Auswirkung von Trockenheit auf den Wasser- und Kohlenstoffkreislauf des Pfynwaldes. In: 2019: Exkursionsführer Bern 2019. Erd-reich und Boden-Landschaften. Gemeinsame Jahrestagung der Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft der Schweiz und der Deutschen Bodenkundlichen Gesellschaft, Bern. 125-136.

Radny, D.; Schirmer, M.; Luster, J.; Guenat, C.; Perona, P.; Bayer, P.; Stauffacher, M.; Seidl, R.; Hollender, J.; Baumann, M., 2018: Flussrevitalisierungsforschung. Wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse zweier Forschungsprojekt im Einzugsgebiet der Thur. Aqua & Gas, 98, 4: 30-38.

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Magazine article and brochures

Luster, J.; Zimmermann, S., 2017: Der Waldboden - kostbar, unentbehrlich, gefährdet. Bündnerwald, 70, 4: 5-8.

Luster, J.; Zimmermann, S.; Frey, B.; Brunner, I.; Lüscher, P.; Walthert, L.; Blaser, P., 2005: Schwermetalle in Schweizer Waldböden. Informationsblatt Wald, 21: 3-4.

Luster, J.; Zysset, M., 1996: Vom Menschen beschleunigt. Bodenversauerung. Wald und Holz, 77, 7: 24-27.

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Curriculum

Born: December 17, 1960

Academic Qualifications

1985: Diploma in chemistry, ETH Zurich
1990: Ph.D., ETH Zurich

Professional Experience

1985: Chemist, EMPA – Materials Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
1985–1986: Teaching Assistant, Laboratory for Inorganic Chemistry, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
1990-1992: Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept. of Soil Science, University of California, Berkeley, U.S.A.
1992-2003: Head Soil Chemistry Laboratory, WSL
1992–2006: Research Scientist, Dept. Soil Ecology, WSL
1992-2007: Chair Supervising Committee of the Central Analytical Laboratory, WSL
since 2006: Head of Research Group „Soil Structure and Function“ and deputy head of the Research Unit „Soil Sciences“, WSL
since 2008: Chair Laboratory Commission, WSL
since 2010: Head of Research Group „Soil Functions and Soil Protection“ and deputy head of Research Unit „Forest Soils and Biogeochemistry“, WSL

Professional Activities

1997: Environmental Risk Assessment for NEAT tunnel construction
2002-2006: Co-Chair Working Group 2 and Coordinator of Swiss Research Activities COST 631 (Understanding and Modelling of Processes in the Rhizosphere Environment)
2003-2004: Scientific Committee „Rhizosphere 2004; perspectives and challenges - A tribute to Lorenz Hiltner“, München
2005: Organising Committee „Metal fluxes and stresses in terrestrial ecosystems“, Centro Stefano Franscini Monte Verità, Ascona
2010: Scientific Committee "Eurosoil 2012", Bari Italy

Bachelor and Master Theses

Digit Soil - A rapid measurement of soil health (M.Sc. thesis project)

According to FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), a quarter of the global surface of agricultural land is already highly degraded, therefore maintaining long-term soil health gains importance. Nevertheless, there are currently no easy, fast, and reliable ways to assess the effects of soil management on soil health and in particular on soil biology.
The planned Thesis-project seeks to support development of an easy-to-use, portable sensor (Digit Soil), measuring the activity of soil enzymes as a soil health indicator.

Starting date: any time 2021 or beginning of 2022

For more information contact joerg.luster@wsl.ch or sonia.meller@wsl.ch

Ph.D. students

Alexander Heim

1997-2000

Committee: E. Frossard (ETHZ), N. Amrein (ETHZ), A. Göttlein (TU München), J. Luster (WSL)

Project: "The role of root exudates in the aluminum tolerance of Norway spruce"

David Rais

2001-2005

Committee: R. Schulin (ETHZ), B. Nowack (ETHZ, EMPA St. Gallen), J. Luster (WSL)

Project: "From Cell to Tree: the Soil"

Jacynthe Dessureault-Rompré (co-supervision)

2003-2007

Committee: R. Schulin (ETHZ), E. Frossard (ETHZ), B. Nowack (ETHZ, EMPA St. Gallen), J. Luster (WSL)

Project: "Root exudation by Lupinus albus and Thlaspi species and effects on trace metal mobility in soils"

Juna Shrestha

2008-2011

Committee: E. Frossard (ETHZ), K. Tockner (IGB Berlin, EAWAG), P. Niklaus (University of Zürich), J. Luster (WSL)

Project: "Nitrogen cycling in floodplain soils"

Benjamin Huber (co-supervision)

2008-2012
Committee: S. Bernasconi (ETHZ), B. Wehrli (ETHZ), W. Borken (University of Bayreuth), E. Graf-Pannatier (WSL), J. Luster (WSL)
Project: "Tracing nitrate in water from the forest to the aquifer using stable isotopes of oxygen and nitrogen"

Musical Stuff

figmus

Links to orchestra I regularly play with:

Harmoniemusik Helvetia Horgen

Swan Big Band

Symphonieorchester Horgen-Thalwil

WSL websites

waldwissen.net

Knowhow for forestry experts and all others interested in the forest

lfi.ch

Swiss National Forest Inventory NFI - a forest information service

envidat.ch

Access to environmental monitoring and research data

natural-hazards.ch

Warnings on natural hazards by Swiss federal authorities

slf.ch

WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF in Davos

Main menu

Main menu

Dr. Jörg Luster

Main Research Interests

For current projects see list below plus

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Forest soil inventory

Swiss Biomass

N2O emissions from soils

BigLink-SoilSolution

Soil solution in LWF plots

Soil matrix LTER

Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Further scientific publications

Magazine article and brochures

Curriculum

Academic Qualifications

Professional Experience

Professional Activities

Bachelor and Master Theses

Ph.D. students

Alexander Heim

David Rais

Jacynthe Dessureault-Rompré (co-supervision)

Juna Shrestha

Benjamin Huber (co-supervision)

Musical Stuff

Links to orchestra I regularly play with:

Navigation mit Access Keys

Main menu

Main menu

Dr. Jörg Luster

Main Research Interests

For current projects see list below plus

Forest soil inventory

Swiss Biomass

N2O emissions from soils

BigLink-SoilSolution

Soil solution in LWF plots

Soil matrix LTER

Academic Qualifications

Professional Experience

Professional Activities

Alexander Heim

David Rais

Jacynthe Dessureault-Rompré (co-supervision)

Juna Shrestha

Benjamin Huber (co-supervision)

Links to orchestra I regularly play with: