Strengthening bioenergy regions (BEST), WP 'irrigation'

Background and Objective

The Thuringian basin is one of the driest regions in Germany. The irrigation of short rotation coppice (SRC) stands with biologically treated wastewater is an interesting option to compensate water shortage and to increase biomass production for energy use. The studies are aimed at examining the additional yield potentials in irrigated versus non-irrigated short rotation coppice (SRC) stands.

Approach

• Development of concepts for wastewater irrgation.
• Measurement of irrigation demand of short .rotation coppices (SRC) by an irrigation model ("ZEPHYR").
• Implementation of afurrow irrigationby a tank wagon.
• Establishment of field plots; assessments of field ecological and yield parameter.

Data and Methods

In order toquantifythe growth offast-growing tree species as a function ofprecipitation andirrigationevents, the following measurementswere performed:

Results

• Due to irrigation regime the short rotation coppice (SRC) stand could grow in the years 2012 and 2013 under optimal water supply (>50% of the soil available water storage), and thus could produce high amounts of biomass.
• Irrigated stands showed a higher radial and height increment than the non-irrigated ones, and produced more leaf and woody biomass.

Links and Downloads

best-forschung.uni-goettingen.de