As phosphorus (P) and micro-nutrients (e.g. Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Co, and Ni) are essential elements for all living organisms including plants, their availability in soils is important for sustaining a healthy ecosystem. Climate change-driven soil drying-rewetting or drying-flooding processes may promote increased mobilization and thus scarcity of these elements to plants, with potential implications for soil fertility and surface water quality. The aim of my research is to understand how climate change-driven naturally occurring soil processes (drying-rewetting and drying-flooding) may influence mobilisation/leaching of soil nutrients. This involves a series of controlled laboratory experiments, with the following research objectives: (1) How the intensity and duration of soil drying, rate of soil rewetting and frequency of drying-rewetting cycles influence the leaching of soil-borne nutrients. (2) To determine the contribution of microbial biomass-P to the leaching of dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) and (3) To examine whether soil drying followed by extended flooding enhances solubilisation of phosphorus and metals (Fe, Mn, Al, Cu, Cr, Co, Zn and Ni).
I am an environmental scientist with particular interests in the biogeochemistry of nutrients and trace metal contaminants in the soil-water system as well as solid waste landfill leachate. I am also interested in environmental impact assessment (EIA). My current research focuses on the impact of climate change mediated soil drying-rewetting and drying-flooding processes on the mobilization of soil borne macro-and micro-nutrients.
Karim, S., Chaudhry, M. N., Ahmed, K and Batool, A. (2010) Impacts of solid waste leachate on groundwater and surface water quality. Journal of Chemical Society of Pakistan, 32(5), 606-612
Ahmed, K and Karim, S.( 2009) Contamination of groundwater by mercury and arsenic. The Environ Monitor- Journal of Environmental Sciences, Technologies and Engineering, 9 (7-8),12-23
Ahmed, K and Karim, S.(2009) Effects of sewage irrigation on groundwater and crops, Science Technology and Development, 28(1),14-23
Other relevant publications – Conference and Workshop items
Karim, S and Ahmed, K.( 2009) Impact of Sewage Irrigation on seasonal crops and its management. In: 5th international conference on statistical sciences, 23-25 Jan 2009, National College of Business Administration and Economics, Lahore, Pakistan.
Karim, S and Ahmed, K. (2009) Impact of Mercury on Groundwater and Surface water resources of Pakistan. In: Workshop of National Stackholders on Management of Mercury and Mercury containing waste in Pakistan. 30th July 2009, Avari Hotel, Lahore, Pakistan.
Karim, S and Ahmed, K.(2008) Monitoring of arsenic in the ground waters of Pakistan. In: 4th international conference on Statistical sciences, 09-11 May 2008, university of Gujarat, Gujarat, Pakistan.
Khan Sidra, Hooda Peter, Blackwell Martin, Busquets Rosa (2019) Effects of long-term drought and flooding induced anaerobic conditions on soil phosphorus dynamics and speciation from two contrasting UK grassland soils. In: SEC conference 2019; 03 April 2019, Kingston University, London, UK.
Khan Sidra, Hooda Peter, Blackwell Martin, Busquets Rosa (2018) Effects of climate change-driven soil drying-rewetting on phosphorus leaching and soil security. In: Soil Security and Planetary Health -3rd Global soil security conference; 4-6 Dec, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Khan Sidra, Hooda Peter, Blackwell Martin, Busquets Rosa (2018) Microbial biomass responses to soil drying-rewetting and phosphorus leaching. In: SEC conference 2018; 04 May, Kingston University, London, UK.
Khan Sidra, Hooda Peter, Blackwell Martin, Busquets Rosa (2018) Influence of flooding induced reducing conditions on solubilization of heavy metals. In: SEC conference 2018; 04 May, Kingston University, London, UK.
Khan Sidra, Hooda Peter, Blackwell Martin, Busquets Rosa (2018) Influence of flooding induced reducing conditions on solubilization of heavy metals. In: Advanced Materials for Environmental Protection, UK-Thailand Researchers Links. Pathum Thani, Thailand.
Khan Sidra, Hooda Peter, Blackwell Martin, Busquets Rosa (2017) Impact of Soil Drying-Rewetting on Leaching of Nutrient Trace Elements. In: 14th International Conference on the Biogeochemistry of Trace Elements 16-20 July, ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
Khan Sidra, Hooda Peter, Blackwell Martin, Busquets Rosa (2016) Effects of drying-rewetting intensity and duration on soil phosphorus leaching. In: DIRC/CEESR Student Conference; 14 June 2016, Kingston University, London, UK.
Khan Sidra, Hooda Peter, Blackwell Martin, Busquets Rosa (2015) Effects of drying-rewetting on soil phosphorus leaching. In: British Society of Soil Science 2015 Annual Meeting; 26th November 2015, Royal College of Physicians, St Andrew's Gate, Regent's Park, London, UK.