Ein weiteres Animations-Konzept beschäftigt sich mit optimaler Düngung und Bewässerung sowie dem komplexen Wechselspiel zwischen Zeitpunkt und Menge der Düngung. Nachstehend also ein Auszug aus dem „Fertilization – Concept“.
Wie viele der großen Forschungsinstitute in Wien und auf internationaler Ebene legt auch die IAEA großen Wert auf die Wissenschaftsvermittlung.

ANIMATION CONCEPT

wednesday, 31th august

understanding fertilization optimization…

Application of N14 and N15, optimizing the water/fertilizer balance and protecting water quality…

1. We start with an birds eye perspective from an healthy crop field. The narrator explains that plants need food alike humans do. A n established fertilizer is N14 with its natural isotope N15. Different ferilizers like manure, compost or different brands of industrial fertilizers have specific „N14/N15-ratio-signatures“. We gradually zoom close into the field.

2. We see a few maize plants being fertilized with N14 + N15. The fertilizer enters the soil and some of it gets absorbed by the plants. Plants only grow if they have enough water and „food“, so a balanced combination of both is crucial for it’s optimal growth. We zoom in to a detail of the plant in order to explain that the absorbed N14 and N15 is now inside the plant. We repeat: This specific ratio tells us parts of the plant’s history.

3. Inadequate watering is one problem that effects this balance. Too much watering will sweep away large amounts of the fertilizer and therefore not impact the plants growth. The swept away N14 and N15 potentially pollute ground water or lead to an over-fertilization elsewhere. In either case its bad for the plants health and the environment. We can see water washing away the fertilizers.

4. We see the same plants and another fertilization starts. This time we over apply N14 and N15. Over-Application can lead to several problems: 1. „fertilizer burn“, 2. drying out roots, 3. damage or death of the plant. We visualize each scenario.

5. We see the maize plants again and start flying trough the field. Trough laboratory analysis we can determine how much of the N14 and N15 is absorbed by the plant. Because of the fact that different types of fertilizers have different N14/N15-ratio-signatures we can determine which plant type and which fertilizer is the best for every environment depending on natural waterflow, rainfall and other factors like soil type and so on in. This is important for minimizing the cost as well as minimizing environmental impact and ensuring maximum water quality.

IMAGES:

the following pictures are very draft versions to underline the animation concept, the pictures below do not represent the final quality and are for clarifying purpose only.

the numbers above the image indicate the according scene.