Soil carbon cycle and sustainability of organic fertilization in a Mediterranean short rotation woody crops
Author(s)
Maienza, Anita
Date Issued
April 27, 2012
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Short Rotation Woody Crops (SRWC) is a method of cultivation of selected material of fast growing species (poplar, willow, eucalyptus, black locust) to produce in short time large quantity of biomass for energy purposes (calorific or/and electric energy). In a SRWC very high plant density per hectare is used (from 5-10,000 to 15,000 plants per hectare), the rotation age is 2-3 years. It is estimated that a SRWC Eucalyptus requires an average of at least 100 kg of N year, thus the use of irrigation and fertilization to meet the demand of this type of crop is not feasible because is a very uneconomic crop. Irrigation can be used as a rescue intervention and inorganic fertilizer at planting and after the cuts. For this reason, the fertilization with manure, where available, may be an attractive option because allows to properly dispose of the sewage and to give to the plant nutrients necessary for growth.
The European Union Directive 91/676/EEC, known as Nitrates Directive, has dictated basic agronomic principles regarding the use of animal manure source, zoo-technical and waste waters from small food companies.
The use of nitrification inhibitors together with animal effluents may be beneficial for nutrient recycling, soil quality, plant productivity and greenhouse gas emission, and offers economic advantages to make it an alternative to conventional fertilizers.
The aim of this research was to investigate the sustainability of organic fertilization combined with a nitrification inhibitor in relations to carbon dynamics.
Were compared the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor 3,4 dimethyl pyrazole phosphate (DMPP), together with the addition of fresh organic matter (bovine effluent, BE) to the soil of a short rotation forestry.
The results of microcosm experiments suggested that the combined use of DMPP and BE could be a good solution to limit the drastic effect of BE application on soil biological properties and microbial dynamics. The preliminary study of field application of DMPP and BE evidenced that this strategy of fertilization could be also a good solution to reduce the ammonia and carbon dioxide emissions and to improve the productivity in SRWC agro-ecosystems of Mediterranean environment and preserve the soil functions.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Ecologia forestale
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