Hugo Murillo
Profile & curriculum
BSc in Bioengineering -- ULB (2018-2021)
MSc in Bioengineering: Agricultural Sciences -- ULB (2021-2023)
PhD student (2024-present)
Research interests
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Nitrogen cycling in soils and microbial diversity in soils
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Biological nitrification inhibition (BNI)
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Plantago lanceolata as pasture/cover crop
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Methodologies for BNI detection
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Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
Soil degradation is a major and worrying environmental consequence, given the crucial importance of soil to agriculture. Artificially loading large amounts of N from the atmosphere (via the Haber-Bosch process) into soil is a starting point for several impacts on the (agro-)ecosystems. Nitrification, a natural microbial process in soils that is a step in the nitrogen cycle, is overstimulated by intensive fertilization (NH4+ input). This situation creates an imbalance, resulting in ecosystem pollution, substantial nitrogen losses, and greenhouse gas emissions (via denitrification).
Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) is a new field of research that focuses on the ability of some crops to reduce over-nitrification through root exudates and/or biomass degradation. The inclusion of such crops could promote soil nitrogen fertility (i.e., NH4+ retention in the soil), plant diversity, and reduce the need for intensive fertilization.
Research project
The PlantaGO project, a collaboration among ULiège (Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech), ULB (Agroecology Lab), and the FiBL research center in Switzerland, is dedicated to exploring the potential of ribwort (Plantago lanceolata) to reduce (de)nitrification, overproduction of nitrate, and over emission of nitrogen in agricultural landscapes by producing biological nitrification inhibitors (BNIs).
We are screening around 60 plantain genotypes to assess their BNI performance with various lab techniques that we are optimizing to make them as reliable and relevant as possible. We aim to gain insights into the potential of ribwort plantain in established and emerging BNI technologies, and to develop methods to detect BNI potential across various methodological contexts.
The interaction between BNI activity and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) colonization is investigated to deepen understanding of this potential microbial relationship in plantain and other BNI-active plants.
For further information, please follow the link in the middle left of this page: https://www.plantago project.net/