(University of G?ttingen, Germany)
Professor Yakov Kuzyakov worked in various Soil and Environmental Science departments of universities and research institutes worldwide: Germany, USA, UK, Russia and China. His expertise covers soil ecology, biogeochemistry, rhizosphere processes, C and N cycling, soil degradation, land use and agroecology. Methodical expertise is based on application of stable and radioactive isotopes at natural abundance and labeling. Yakov led research projects in many countries such as Germany, China, Korea, Tanzania, Indonesia, Russia and Chile.
Together with his group, Yakov focuses on soil biogeochemistry with long-term and deep expertise for processes of C and N cycles, priming effects and nutrient mobilization. His special interests are soil-plant-microbial interactions in hotspots. Yakov groundbreaking works are in the fields of rhizodeposition, low molecular weight organic substances in soil, priming effects, visualization of enzyme activities, localization of root exudation. These processes are studied depending on land use and soil degradation, as well as such global change components as warming, drought, elevated CO2. Yakov group made many innovative studies to pedogenic carbonates, biochar stability, competition of roots and microorganisms for nutrients, microbial metabolism in soil, effects of plant photosynthesis on CO2 efflux from soil. The applied studies are focused on C sequestration, soil fertility improvements, and reforestation effects.
To understand the process mechanisms, Yakov group use a broad range of stable (13C, 15N) and radioactive (14C, 32P, 33P, 137Cs) isotopes applications including pioneering position specific labeling and combine these approaches with biomarkers (PLFA, amino sugars, neutral sugars) as well as microbial activity parameters (enzyme and respiratory activities, microbial growth rates).
Yakov is an active member of several editorial boards, for top-ranked journals including Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Land Degradation and Development, Biogeosciences, Rhizosphere, Scientific Reports etc. He was awarded in 2015 the John Waid Award for Best Review Paper in Soil Biology & Biochemistry, 2016 the EGU Outstanding Editor Award etc. He has over 40 Highly Cited and 15 Hot Papers. Yakov is Visiting Professor and has very close and intensive collaboration with various top universities and research institutes in China.