Options for the management of water use in energy crop production in areas prone to summer drought

Publication Type
Contribution to conference
Authors
Trimborn, M., Heck, C., Asch, F., Brueck, H.
Year of publication
2008
Published in
Italian Journal of Agronomy
Editor
Paola Rossi Pisa
Pubisher
Italian Siociety of Agronomy , Bologna, Italy
ISBN / ISSN / eISSN
1125-4718
Page (from - to)
623-625
Conference name
10th Congress of the European Society for Agronomy, 15-19. Sept. 2008
Conference location
Bologna, Italy
Abstract

Prolonged lack of rainfall in summer is one of the major production constraints for energy crops grown on sandy soils in south-east Germany. Capturing residual moisture from the spring rains by using soil meliorates capable of storing water for extended periods may decrease the risk of crop failure. A field trial was established on former coal mining areas near Cottbus and a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted at the Institut for Plant Nutrition in Bonn using soil from the field site. Water use (WU) and water use efficiency (WUE) were investigated for sunflower, maize, oil seed rape and cocksfoot. Crops were supplied with either an organic or a mineral soil meliorate mixed into the top 0.3m of the soil. Soil moisture was monitored in 5 depths in the field and transpiration was monitored on a daily basis in the greenhouse. Whereas in the field trial plants were kept under natural moisture supply, in the greenhouse trial plants were either fully watered or subjected to a controlled drought stress. Biomass development was measured at regular intervals and yield was determined at the end of the vegetation period. The effect of the soil meliorates on soil moisture, plant growth, nutrient uptake, WU and WUE was determined. Soil meliorates differed in their effect on WU and WUE between species and among the substrates. Whereas the organic substrate appeared to affect the nutrient supply, the mineral soil meliorate significantly increased WUE in maize and sunflower. Results are discussed with regard to options of water management, soil meliorate properties and choice of crop.

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