Font Size:
Site Colors:
Accesskey
S - Skip navigation
1 - Home page
4 - Search
Accessibility Statement
עב

Nativ Rotbart

Soil Water & Environment

The Soil and Water Laboratory is a multidisciplinary team composed of researcher, field service specialists, research assistants, and students. It operates as an integral part of the Golan Agriculture and Innovation Unit, in close collaboration with Golan Water, the Ministry of Agriculture, regional researchers, and local growers.

Our team specializes in applied field research, combining scientific investigation with hands-on agricultural practice. We work closely with farmers to develop and implement innovative approaches that enhance irrigation and fertilization strategies. Our primary research objective is to deepen the understanding of soil–water–plant interactions, with the aim of optimizing agricultural productivity while minimizing environmental impact.

We focus on the development and testing of both accessible and advanced tools for precision agriculture, emphasizing soil variability and local conditions. Through this localized approach, we strive to generate insights and technologies that can contribute to broader agricultural resilience and sustainability.

Our combined experience continues to shape our lab’s approach bridging fundamental science with practical agricultural solutions for a more sustainable future. Because local innovation can drive global change.

Soil, water and environmental lab
Research Interests
Selected Publications
Team
Photos
  • Providing professional support to Golan farmers: Enhancing the productivity and sustainability of existing crops through tailored guidance and applied research.
  • Assessing irrigation water sources: Investigating the effects of using diverse water sources—including treated wastewater and brackish water on crops, soil health, and the environment to promote sustainable water use.
  • Optimizing fertilization practices: Studying the impact of fertilizers, composts, and recycled organic materials on plant health, soil fertility, and environmental outcomes.
  • Recycling organic matter in agriculture: Evaluating the use of compost, manure, and treated wastewater as sustainable soil amendments.
  • Mitigating soil degradation: Developing strategies to reduce soil erosion and salinization in agricultural landscapes, with a focus on long-term environmental impact.
  • Role of plant cover: Examining how vegetation cover influences runoff, erosion control, and nutrient cycling, particularly in orchards and irrigated systems.
  • Improving water and nutrient use efficiency: Designing tools and protocols to enhance irrigation and fertilization efficiency, reduce inputs, and increase farm profitability.
  • Advanced monitoring and analysis: Utilizing remote sensing, GIS, and laboratory diagnostics to support precision agriculture and inform research outcomes.
  • Agro-voltaics and land-use integration: Exploring dual-use growing systems by integrating solar energy (agro-photovoltaics) with agriculture in regional production areas
Chloroform fumigation extraction for measuring soil microbial biomass: The validity of using samples approaching water saturation

Geoderma

Adi Oren, Nativ Rotbart, Mikhail Borisover, Asher Bar-Tal. 2018
Chloroform fumigation extraction for measuring soil microbial biomass: The validity of using samples approaching water saturation

Geoderma 3019 204-207

Adi Oren, Nativ Rotbart, Mikhail Borisover, Asher Bar-Tal.
Treated wastewater irrigation: Soil variables and grapefruit tree performance

Agricultural water management 204, 126-137.

Indira Paudel, Asher Bar-Tal, Guy J Levy, Nativ Rotbart, Jhonathan E Ephrath, Shabtai Cohen
Lower leaf gas‐exchange and higher photorespiration of treated wastewater irrigated Citrus trees is modulated by soil type and climate

Physiologia plantarum 156, 4, 478-496.

Indira Paudel, Avi Shaviv, Nirit Bernstein, Bruria Heuer, Or Shapira, Victor Lukyanov, Asher Bar‐Tal, Nativ Rotbart, Jhonathan Ephrath, Shabtai Cohen
Examination of residual chloroform interference in the measurement of microbial biomass C by fumigation-extraction

Soil Biology and Biochemistry 111, 60-65

Rotbart, Nativ, Borisover, Mikhail, Bukhanovsky, Nadezhda, Nasonova, Alla, Bar-Tal, Asher & Oren, Adi.
Estimating olive leaf nitrogen concentration using VIS-NIR spectral reflectance

Biosystems Engineering Vol114, Iss 4, Pages 426-434.

Nativ, R., Z. Schmilovitch, Y. Choen, V. Alcahantis, R. Erel, T. Ignat, C. Shenderey, A. Dag and U. Yermiyahu
Water quality changes seasonal variations in root respiration, xylem CO2, and sap pH in citrus orchards

Agricultural Water Management

Indira Paudel, Asher Bar-Tal, Nativ Rotbart, Jhonathan Ephrath, Shabtai Cohen. 2018
Examination of residual chloroform interference in the measurement of microbial biomass C

fumigation-extraction

Rotbart, Nativ, Borisover, Mikhail, Bukhanovsky, Nadezhda, Nasonova, Alla, Bar-Tal, Asher & Oren, Adi. 2017
Lower leaf gas‐exchange and higher photorespiration of treated wastewater irrigated Citrus trees is modulated by soil type and climate

Physiologia plantarum

Indira Paudel, Avi Shaviv, Nirit Bernstein, Bruria Heuer, Or Shapira, Victor Lukyanov, Asher Bar‐Tal, Nativ Rotbart, Jhonathan Ephrath, Shabtai Cohen. 2017

Schwartz Sahar

B.Sc in Biotechnology and Agriculture at Tel Hai College. Research Assistant - Soil Surveys, Establishment of Field and Greenhouse Experiment.

Eyal Nevo