Dr. Alba Llovet

Post Doc

My research interests are underpinned by agroecosystem sustainability. During my PhD at CREAF, I devoted special attention to nitrogen cycling in agroecosystems concerning a recalcitrant carbon material used as a soil amendment, biochar. Another pivotal aspect of my research refers to soil quality assessment and soil fertility conservation. To this end, I discovered the overarching role of soil fauna as indicators.

Currently, as a Margarita Salas postdoctoral researcher at UAB, CREAF and CTFC, I’m mainly focused on unveiling the potential benefits of sowing diverse forage mixtures upon a wide array of ecosystem services.

Llovet, A., Vidal-Durà, A., Alcañiz, J.M., Ribas, A., and Domene, X. 2022. Biochar addition to organo-mineral fertilisers delays nutrient leaching and enhances barley nutrient content. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2022.2161092

Llovet, A., Mattana, S., Chin-Pampillo, J., Gascó, G., Sánchez, S., Mondini, C., Briones, M.J.I., Márquez, L., Alcañiz, J.M., Ribas, A., and Domene, X. 2021. Long-term effects of gasification biochar application on soil functions in a Mediterranean agroecosystem: Higher addition rates sequester more carbon but pose a risk to soil faunal communities. Science of The Total Environment, 801, 149580. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149580

Llovet, A., Mattana, S., Chin-Pampillo, J., Otero, N., Carrey, R., Mondini, C., Gascó, G., Martí, E., Margalef, R., Alcañiz, J.M., Domene, X., and Ribas, A. 2021. Fresh biochar application provokes a reduction of nitrate which is unexplained by conventional mechanisms. Science of the Total Environment, 755, 142430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142430

Margalef-Marti, R., Llovet, A., Carrey, R., Ribas, A., Domene, X., Mattana, S., Chin- Pampillo, J., Mondini, C., Alcañiz, J.M., Soler, A., and Otero, N. 2021. Impact of fertilization with pig slurry on the isotopic composition of nitrate retained in soil and leached to groundwater in agricultural areas. Applied Geochemistry, 125, 104832. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeochem.2020.104832

Cuscó, F., Bota, G., Llovet, A., and Mañosa, S. 2020. Nesting and incubation behaviour of the little bustard Tetrax tetrax and its relation to hatching success. Ardeola, 68(1), 95-122. https://doi.org/10.13157/arla.68.1.2021.ra6

Selected communications

Llovet A., Llurba, R., Aljazairi, S., Ibañez, M., Mattana, S., Sebastià, M.T., and Ribas, A. Potential role of plant diversity in optimising nitrogen cycling in a Mediterranean grassland. Oral presentation. N workshop, Madrid (Spain), 24/10/2022 – 28/10/2022.

Llovet A., Llurba, R., Aljazairi, S., Ibañez, M., Sebastià, M.T., and Ribas, A. Links between plant sown diversity and water and nutrient use efficiency in a Mediterranean grassland. Poster. SIBECOL/ AIL meeting, Aveiro (Portugal), 03/07/2022 – 08/07/2022.