Field day for #FORMULA! @azmisheriff.bsky.social (SP4) & Alissa (SP5) combined drone-based multispectral, thermal & RGB imaging with ground measurements (NDVI, NDRE, stomatal conductance) and root/mycorrhiza sampling to link above- & belowground biomass in agroforestry. #Agroforestry #RemoteSensing

🌽🍃 🌽 When maize grows, measurements must adapt. Großmutz, Sophie (SP1) is monitoring NH₃, CO₂, and N₂O emissions throughout the growing season using adapted field methods. Also, sensors, including dendrometers and sap flow measurements, help track water uptake and tree–crop interactions. #FORMULA

🌱 News from SP1 PhD Matthias Beier has successfully completed the first carbon soil sampling campaign at Großmutz. Now: SOC analyses and density fractionation to better understand carbon storage in agroforestry systems. #FORMULA #Agroforestry #SoilCarbon #SOC #CarbonStorage

📢 FORMULA PhD researchers will be presenting their work at the 8th European Agroforestry Conference (EURAF 2026) in Switzerland. 🌳🌾 #EURAF2026 #Agroforestry #FORMULA #Research #SustainableAgriculture #DFG

🌾🌳News SP4 – @azmisheriff.bsky.social is currently focusing on the establishment of a growth chamber experiment investigating plant–mycorrhiza interactions using different crop and forb species under contrasting soil treatments. #FORMULA #Agroforestry #Mycorrhiza

🌽Grossmutz:The first irrigation of the maize was successful.Logistics are all set: Water is tanked at a hydrant in the nearby village and transported to the field in a trailer carrying a 1000l tank. A generator powers the electric pump that pumps the water into the drip irrigation system. #FORMULA

SPZ update: One transect and the irrigated plot were equipped with radiation sensors. The latest generation of LED-based “light sabers”, mounted on poles to monitor radiation dynamics within the agroforestry system. #FORMULA #Agroforestry #RadiationMonitoring #LightSensors #PARSensors

FORMULA ¹⁵N experiment:a multi-scale design combining labelled slurry applications across distance gradients with GHG flux measurements(N₂O, N₂), NH₃ monitoring, microbial isotope analyses, and continuous soil sensing to trace nitrogen pathways at high spatial resolution. #agroforestry #15N #FORMULA

From workshop to field 🌾 What if radiation measurements in crops could be both precise and affordable? FORMULA is assisting in developing low-cost LED-based line ceptometers for spatial and temporal radiation mapping in simple and complex agri-systems. #Agroforestry #AgTech #PlantScience #formula

A few insights from the major work effort by our technician and student assistants at Gladbacher Hof:the soil moisture sensor connections were fully repaired and reconnected to the Dragino system. Spring is in full bloom and so is the workload. #agroforestry #formula #soilmoisture#sensors #fieldwork

FORMULA PhDs joined the Isotope Course 2026 at the University of Tübingen, exploring stable and radioisotope theory, fractionation, and tracers such as carbon and nitrogen. The course featured IRMS and Picarro demonstrations, analytical calculations, and applications in soil and ecosystem research.

#GrüneWoche: Die DFG-Senatskommission zur Transformation von Agrar-/Ernährungssystemen SKAE fordert in einem Positionspapier langfristige Forschung und neue politische Rahmenbedingungen für diversifizierte Anbausysteme von #Nutzpflanzen – und benennt 6 konkrete Handlungsfelder: sohub.io/ijh9

Get to know three more FORMULA members from SP1, SP2 and SP4! #agroforestry #formula

New video alert! During the poster presentation at the Forum Agroforstsysteme, also Helene shared insights into the experiments conducted in SP5. Check out the video on the Faculty 09 @jlugiessen.bsky.social Instagram channel here: www.instagram.com/reel/DQwUKmu.... #formula #agroforestry #JLU

Mobile soil-moisture sensors installed! At our agroforestry site in Großmutz, SP2’s Farimah Asadi added 10 cm sensors to complement the permanent ones at 40 cm and 60 cm. Excited to improve our understanding of near-surface moisture dynamics. #formula #agroforestry

Spielerisch🤹🏼‍♂️ #Wissenschaft und #Demokratie von innen 🏋🏼stärken: ProLOEWE mit dem #Wissenschaftsplanspiel „Wissen🆚Meinung“ #KI, am 28. November 2025 zu Gast bei der @leopoldina.org in Halle. Mehr dazu ➡️ proloewe.de/de/aktuelles... + ➡️ www.leopoldina.org/veranstaltun...

Sampling completed! 🌱 At both of our agroforestry systems and their reference sites, Subproject 2, in particular our PhD candidate Sebastian Gauly and helpers, collected soil samples to determine stocks of mineral N and gravimetric water content at different depths. #formula #agroforestry

A new video from the poster presentation at the Forum Agroforestry Systems is out on the Faculty 09 @jlugiessen.bsky.social Instagram channel! @ajfelipe777.bsky.social shares insights into the research happening in SP2. Watch it here: www.instagram.com/jlu.fachbere... #formula #agroforestry #JLU

Fieldwork in action! SP3 (Biodiversity) was back at the agroforestry site at Gladbacherhof, collecting soil samples along gradients. These samples will reveal how soil microarthropod communities and microorganisms respond to agroforestry dynamics. #formula #agroforestry

Research meets practice: Marcel Dogotari (SP4) teamed up with the Makerspace Gießen to design custom 3D-printed parts - from mounting boards to light seals - enabling his agroforestry measurements for FORMULA. Read more in the article: makerspace-giessen.de/2025/10/09/w... #formula #agroforestry

The SP2 field campaign in Großmutz has been successfully completed! Permanent soil moisture sensors were installed across three transects and the irrigation plot at different depths. This setup now enables detailed monitoring of water fluxes across the site. #formula #agroforestry

Here are some impressions from the 10th Forum Agroforestry Systems at @jlugiessen.bsky.social! We showcased our FORMULA project with three posters, sharing ideas and fostering collaboration with fellow researchers. #formula #agroforestry #afsforum

This week (Sept. 17–18), the 10th Forum Agroforestry takes place at JLU Gießen in cooperation with DeFAF! Andreas Gattinger, PI of FORMULA, will give a keynote on “From forest grazing to modern agroforestry – looking back & into the future.” More info here: agroforst-info.de/forum-agrofo... #formula

Harvest complete! 🌾 Both study sites are done – using manual cuttings and a combine harvester. Data on grain & straw yield from individual agroforestry plots is collected, with more parameters now being analyzed in the lab. #formula #agroforestry

New paper out! A study on selecting reference sites for agroforestry systems -developed in the pre-phase and co-authored by several FORMULA members- has just been published. #formula #agroforestry doi.org/10.1016/j.at...

Update from Sophie & SP1: In Großmutz, CO₂, N₂O & ET fluxes were measured using manual closed canopy chambers. Dendrometers & sap flow sensors were also installed. Back at @zalf.bsky.social, a prototype for the automated chamber systems to measure gas fluxes is being built. #formula #agroforestry

Back from the Organic Field Days 2025! Agroforestry was a widely discussed topic, emphasising its importance in sustainable agriculture. We contributed to the event with a poster presentation and joined valuable discussions. #formula #agroforestry

Meet Alissa from SP5 and Farimah from SP2 - two project members driving our research forward in the FORMULA project in terms of productivity & water fluxes. #agroforestry #formula

SP4's greenhouse experiment at @zalf.bsky.social wrapped! 🌿 Studying root, leaf & hyperspectral traits across crops, phytometers & arable weeds - grown with or without mycorrhiza. Now analyzing individual plants and their leaves and roots to uncover trait variation. #formula #agroforestry

First round of pitfall trapping successfully completed at our agroforestry sites in Hesse & Brandenburg! Now on to species identification - excited to uncover the arthropod diversity as part of FORMULA Subproject 3 on biodiversity. #agroforestry #formula #biodiversity

We’ve officially kicked off FORMULA with our first big in-person meeting at Gladbacherhof and @jlugiessen.bsky.social! A productive start with engaging discussions, clear goals, and great collaboration across teams. Looking forward to what’s ahead! #agroforestry #formula

Introducing Matthias from SP1! He’s advancing our work in FORMULA with a focus on carbon. #agroforestry #formula

In Subproject 2 (Greenhouse gas fluxes and carbon sequestration), soil coring was carried out at the end of February along three transects at the agroforestry site at Gladbacher Hof to assess, e.g. soil organic carbon and bulk density at different depths. #agroforestry #formula

Learn how Brian from SP5 contributes to the FORMULA project and supports our agroforestry research efforts. #agroforestry #formula

In SP5, Alissa, Brian & Helene worked on harmonising their field methods in the agroforestry system at Gladbacher Hof. They will use the same protocols for consistent vegetation monitoring at both sites, measuring e.g. LAI, BBCH or NDVI. #agroforestry #formula

Meet Carlos from SP3! Get to know his role in the FORMULA project and how he contributes to our agroforestry research. #agroforestry #formula

Update from SP3: Soil core samples were taken at Gladbacher Hof to investigate gradients in soil microarthropod diversity and community composition. #formula #agroforestry

Continuing our team spotlight with Helene from SP5! #agroforestry #formula

News from SP5: The set-up of the irrigation plot to study the interactions between the crop abiotic stressors has been successful at both sites. It is established perpendicular to the tree row to include an irradiation gradient to separate the effects of irradiation and water limitation. #formula

Kicking off our team introductions with Alvin from Subproject 2 (SP2). Discover more about Alvin's background, role in FORMULA, and research focus. Stay tuned for more introductions! #agroforestry #formula

Exciting update from SP2: Three Cosmic Ray Neutron Sensors are now installed! By measuring the density of a specific energy band of neutrons produced in the upper atmosphere and reflected from the soil, changes in the water content of the AFS environment will be measured. #crns #agroforestry

Discover the FORMULA Research Unit! We're tackling climate, water, soil, biodiversity, and food production through 6 subprojects. Joint experiments include transect sampling perpendicular to the tree line, 15N-labelling trial on nitrogen competition, and drone/LiDAR data collection. #Agroforestry

JOB ALERT: As part of this project, the Professorship of Soil Resources at the @jlugiessen.bsky.social (Prof. Dr. Jan Siemens) is searching for a doctoral student in the field of nutrient cycling in soils of agroforestry systems! www.uni-giessen.de/de/ueber-uns...

Welcome to the Official Bluesky Channel for the project FORMULA! Join us, a collaborative DFG-funded team from @jlugiessen.bsky.social and @zalf.bsky.social, exploring agroforestry systems and their Nature's Contributions to People (NCP). Follow for updates on research, team insights, and events!