In May 2018, the first joint research expedition in Kostanay region was performed by the ReKKS WP 5 and WP 6 team members.

To evaluate the N-availability and N-efficiency of liquid fertilizers two neighbouring fields under different management but same use and fertilization were locally labelled with 15-N species of ammonia and nitrate. The label was applied to the seed furrow after seeding and fertilization. Hereby three different forms of fertilizers in liquid and solid form were investigated in triplicates.

The second sampling campaign for completion of our north-south gradient took place from the 01.05.-28.05.2018. The subprojects SP 4 and SP 5 started in the south at our project partners in Lasovoe, Zhaltir, Shortandy and ended their work in the north in Yasnaya Polyana.