Celia Fernandez Balado

Celia Fernandez Balado is a Researcher at the Institute of Soil Research within the Department of Ecosystem Management, Climate and Biodiversity at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU). Holding a Master of Science degree, she actively contributes to multiple European Commission-funded research projects focused on soil carbon dynamics and sustainable agricultural practices from 2021-2025.

Her research expertise centers on soil science, particularly carbon sequestration mechanisms in agricultural systems. She specializes in advanced 13C isotope labeling techniques to track carbon movement from plants to soil, conducting field trials with crops like maize and winter wheat to quantify root carbon inputs. Her work integrates aerial measurements with isotopic analysis to comprehensively assess cover crop contributions to soil carbon in long-term field experiments.

Recent publications and conference presentations highlight her methodological innovations in determining net belowground carbon inputs and analyzing carbon cycling in agricultural systems. Her research directly addresses climate-smart agricultural management by investigating how different cropping systems and soil management practices affect carbon sequestration potential.

Celia works under the supervision of Hood-Nowotny Rebecca on seven active research projects, collaborating with researchers across multiple BOKU institutes including the Institute of Wood Technology and Renewable Materials. Her work contributes significantly to understanding sustainable soil management practices that balance agricultural productivity with environmental stewardship in the face of climate change.