Title:
Evapotranspiration and Water Use Efficiency on a Northern Italy Switchgrass First Year Plantation
Author(s):
Facini, O., Di Virgilio, N., Nardino, M., Rossi, F.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Eddy covariance technique is able to determine at the same time crop evapotranspiration (ETc) and carbon fixation over a large kind of agricultural and natural ecosystems. Switchgrass is recognized as a feedstock for biofuel production, the knowledge of water requirement under Mediterranean condition characterized by high temperatures during summer and water deficiency play an important role for switchgrass cultivation expansion and for its capability to assimilate CO2 from the atmosphere and consequently to act as sink of greenhouse gas (GHG). An Eddy covariance tower was established in a large switchgrass field at sowing time in Cadriano (Bologna, Italy) recording water fluxes in a high time resolution. Total amount of evapotranspiration during the whole vegetative season under rain fed conditions resulted 2962.2 m3 ha-1, at the same time carbon fixation (Gross Primary Production GPP) was 10.2 t C ha-1, the mean seasonal Water Use Efficiency (WUE), expressed by the ratio between kg C fixed and m3 of water lost by evapotranspiration, was 3.4 kg, meaning that for each m3 of water it is fixed 3.4 kg of carbon.
Keywords:
measurement, switchgrass, yield, water use, eddy covariance
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Sustainability assessment and criteria
Event:
21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
5CV.2.31
Pages:
2020 - 2021
ISBN:
978-88-89407-53-0
Paper DOI:
10.5071/21stEUBCE2013-5CV.2.31
Price:
FREE
