Researcher
Franklin Lee Harris
PhD candidate
Wageningen University & Research
I am generally interested in most sciences as a hobby. I often find myself involved in citizen science outside of the field I specialize in. Philosophy is also a big passion of mine, I actually obtained a degree in philosophy during my undergraduate. My favorite book is probably being and time by Heidegger. I also write poetry and play the Native American flute as well as the anglo-concertina. I enjoy martial arts as a physical activity, and look forward to learning the Dutch style of kickboxing while I am here.
Research project
Project: 1.1.2. Soil food web and nutrient cycling
Plants, soil and microbes are largely responsible for feeding most of the human population, regulating many important ecological cycles (nitrogen, phosphorus etc...), and providing unique biological compounds which we can use. I have a passion for elucidating the secrets of belowground interactions. The Cropmix project provides a unique opportunity to do this in conjunction with many other scientists from a plethora of fields in a way that will be greatly beneficial to many people.
Related projects
- Soilborne pathogens and microbial interactions > Margherita Berri
- Modelling key belowground ecological processes in crop mixtures > Kostas Kypros
Results and news
Update September 2024
Root traits contain important information about how plants interact with soil microbes, nutrients, and other plants; yet there is a dirth of literature on how root traits of crops. In his research, Frank aims to investigate these root traits and to tie them to complementarity both in terms of other plants, but also in terms of their microbial community.
But how does one investigate root traits of living plants? For this, Frank uses the facilities at NPEC(Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre) and their magnificent rhizoboxes. The NPEC facility monitors plants in these rhizoboxes daily by taking photos via an automated camera (see photo below).
Currenlty, Frank is running a trial to see if the NPEC measurements can be digitized with root recognition software, and if this method can be used for a future experiment with root traits, microbes and complementarity.
The large mechanical arm stores the racks of plants. The racks move around and once a day a robot moves between them to move the plates to the photo area and take a picture.
Plates with seeds growing, showing the root system clearly.
Researchers involved
- Liesje Mommer
- Gerlinde de Deyn
- Jochem Evers
Related research
- Soilborne pathogens and microbial interactions
- Modelling key belowground ecological processes in crop mixtures
Other research from work package 1
Our work packages
This work package focuses on above-ground and below-ground interactions. We look at the interactions between plants, crops, insects and other species living in the field and the differences between strip cropping and monocultures.
Work package 2 looks at the economic feasibility of investments for farmers to switch to more crop-diverse systems, such as strip farming, and what factors influence their willingness to engage in ecologically sound farming.
We want to identify different transition pathways applicable to different situations. Think of farmers with wide strips and long value chains, but also farmers with narrow strips marketing in a short chain. Or perhaps very different cropping systems that use crop diversity, such as agroforestry. We also look at what consumers and other stakeholders think and their role in the transition to more sustainable agriculture.
