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Project

Strengthening bioenergy regions (BEST), WP 'irrigation'



© Thünen-Institut WO/Öko
Measuring the water fluxes in short rotation coppices with willows

Strengthening bioenergy regions - work package 'irrigation' (BEST, IO-A4)

The most importantfactorfor the yieldofenergyresourceisthe availability of water. Due to thedry conditionsof the Thuringian Arable Plain, the use of localwater resourcesis a necessary conditionforan optimal yieldofshort-rotationcoppices.

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:

Parameter

Equipment

Frequency BERTA I + II

Openland precipitation

Rain gauge

After rain

Throughfall

Rain collector

1x monthly

Radial growth

Dendrometer

1 Apr.-30 Sept.: 3x weekly

Height growth

Telescopic rod

1 Apr.-30 Sept.: 2x weekly

 Total stem volume

Callipers, telescopic rod

After vegetation period

Leaf biomass/ leaf area index (LAI)

Collection of dead leaves

Leaf harvesting from representative trees

1x monthly; in autumn 1x fortnightly

Woody biomass

Balance

After vegetation period 2013

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

 

Funding Body

  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
    (national, öffentlich)

Duration

3.2011 - 8.2014

More Information

Project funding number: FKZ 033L028
Project status: finished

Publications

  1. 0

    Lorenz K, Müller J (2015) The effects of irrigation on the growth of poplar and willows cultivated in short rotation. In: Butler Manning D, Bemmann A, Bredemeier M, Lamersdorf N, Ammer C (eds) Bioenergy from dendromass for the sustainable development of rural areas. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, pp 147-159

  2. 1

    Lorenz K, Müller J (2013) Ergebnisse zur Nettoprimärproduktion von mit biologisch geklärtem Abwasser bewässerten Pappeln und Weiden im Kurzumtrieb. Landbauforsch Appl Agric Forestry Res 63(4):307-320, DOI:10.3220/LBF_2013_307-320

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/bitv/dn053244.pdf

Contact

Dr. Tanja Sanders


Institute of Forest Ecosystems

Alfred-Möller-Straße 1, Haus 41/42
16225 Eberswalde
Telephone
+49 3334 3820 339
Fax
+49 3334 3820 354
Email
tanja.sanders@thuenen.de

Head of Ecology and Forest Dynamics, Contact person Intensive Forest Monitoring


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