Dr Agnieszka Rutkowska from the Department of  Plant Nutrition and Fertilization visited Ghent University (UGent), Faculty of Bioscience Engineering (FBE) Laboratory of Applied Physical Chemistry (ISOFYS), Belgium (30 September – 14 October 2012).

During the scientific visit in Gent University, dr Agnieszka Rutkowska deepened her knowledge of biological nitrogen fixation by leguminous plants using the isotopic methods ¹⁵N. She participated in analyses of stable isotopes (¹⁵N, ¹³C) in solid samples on an EA-IRMS system and trace gas samples on TGII – IRMS system as well as mineral N measurements with a continuous flow analyzer and trace gas analyzes with gas chromatography (Shimandzu GC-14B). She learnt about an experimental method to assess the quantity of atmospheric nitrogen fixed by legumes and its utilization by accompanying cereal plants in mixtures.