This research field focuses on a realistic determination of the transport, fate and degradation of organic and inorganic substances in the agricultural landscape and in food chains.

The key interest is on agri-relevant substances (especially agrochemicals) that are used in conventional or integrated, but partly also in organic farming. The focus is on plant protection products (PPP), their active ingredients and metabolites. Here we also consider the respective processes used to apply these PPP, e.g. seed dressing. The accumulation of PPP in organisms and food chains (such as birds, rodents) is investigated. In addition to the PPP other groups of substances such as heavy metals and fertilizers are subject of the interest as well.

For the chemical analysis, advanced instrument systems for gas and liquid chromatography (GC/LC) with the mass analysis capabilities of mass spectrometry (MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) are available. This technical equipment makes it possible to determine environmental contaminants and interpret degradation processes in soil and water.