Abstract
The European Union Directive 91/676/EEC, known as Nitrates Directive, has dictated basic agronomic principles regarding the use of animal manure source as well as livestock and waste waters from small food companies. The use of nitrification inhibitors together with animal effluents as organic fertilizers could be beneficial for nutrient recycling, plant productivity, and greenhouse gas emission and could offer economic advantages as alternative to conventional fertilizers especially in the Mediterranean region. The aim of the present study was to investigate differences in plant productivity between bovine effluent treatments with (or without) addition of a nitrification inhibitor (3,4 DMPP) in a short rotation woody crop system. Results of the field experiment carried out in a Mediterranean dry environment indicated that the proposed strategy could improve tree growth with indirect, beneficial effects for agroforestry systems.
Highlights
Short rotation woody crops (SRWC) include fast growing species capable of producing large amounts of biomass for energy purpose in a relatively short time
The European Union Directive 91/676/EEC, known as Nitrates Directive, has dictated basic agronomic principles regarding the use of animal manure source as well as livestock and waste waters from small food companies
Plant growth estimates showed high variability of the Basal Area (BA) values for E. camaldulensis with nonsignificant effects of treatment (Mann-Whitney U, P < 0.05). These results are probably due at high genetic variability of E. camaldulensis and no sufficient number of replications
Summary
Short rotation woody crops (SRWC) include fast growing species (e.g., poplar, willow, eucalyptus, and black locust) capable of producing large amounts of biomass for energy purpose in a relatively short time. Two cultivation models are suggested for eucalyptus SRWC in Italy: (i) 5,000–5,500 plants/ha−1 for 3-4 rotation cycles f 2-3 years each and (ii) 1,100–1,600 plants/ha−1 for 2 rotation cycles instead of 5-6 age. Eucalyptus SRWC with rotation age of 2-3 years each requires higher amount of water and nutrients than conventional Eucalyptus crop. In Brazil SRWC Eucalyptus plantation 2.5 years of age (5,000–6,000 plants/ha−1 and 2/3 years of rotation age) is estimated to absorb in the vegetal tissues high amounts of N,P, K, and Ca from soil [5] three times higher than a conventional plantation (600 to 1,600 p ha−1 and eight years of rotation age). In conventional E. globulus Labill. plantation in Spain and Brazil, the quantity of water to produce 1 kg of dry biomass is evaluated in 306 and 344 liters, respectively [3, 6]
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