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Effect of long-term irrigation with wastewater on growth, biomass production and water use by Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.) planted at variable stocking density

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Title Effect of long-term irrigation with wastewater on growth, biomass production and water use by Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus tereticornis Sm.) planted at variable stocking density
Not Available
 
Creator P.S. Minhas,
R.K. Yadav,
K. Lal,
R.K. Chaturvedi
 
Subject Wastewater use
High rate transpiration systems
Sewage disposal
Eucalyptus tereticronis
Stocking density Tree water productivity
 
Description Not Available
Irrigation of high transpiring forest species has been put forward for recycling and reuse of wastewater
and conservation of nutrient energy into biomass and thereby bringing multiple benefits such as fuel
wood production, environmental sanitation and eco-restoration. But loading rates, the tree plantations
can carry, continue to be contradictory. Therefore, the growth patterns, biomass production, water use
and changes in soil properties were evaluated for a 10-year rotation of Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus tereticornis
Sm.) plantations of variable stocking density and irrigated with either sewage (SW) or a good quality
groundwater (GW). The irrigated trees grew rapidly and the stock volumes attained after 10 years were
164.0 and 127.1 m3 ha−1 with SW and GW, respectively. The tree growth improved with stocking density
and the maximum shoot biomass (262 Mg ha−1) was produced under high (HD, 1993 stems ha−1),
followed by the recommended (RD, 517 stems ha−1; 178 Mg ha−1), very high (VHD, 6530 stems ha−1;
127 Mg ha−1) and low stocking density (LD, 163 stems ha−1; 55 Mg ha−1). Sap flow values almost coincided
with growth rates and increased until sixth year of planting and stabilised thereafter. The annual
sap flow values ranged between 418–473, 1373–1417 and 1567–1628 mm during 7–10 year of planting
under LD, RD and HD, respectively. The daily sap flow values were 0.56*PAN-E (USWB Class A Open
Pan Evaporation) during summer months of April–June, 1.24*PAN-E during August–October, i.e. active
growth period and 1.12*PAN-E during winter months of December–February. Reference evapotranspiration
(ETref) computed using Penman–Monteith method could better describe water use; the sap flow
being 0.87–1.23*ETref with an average 1.03*ETref. The water productivity for timber was 1.54, 1.71 and
1.99 kg m−3 for LD, RD and HD, respectively. Similarly, the water use efficiency increased by about 40%
with HD and also with SW (11%) under RD. The soil quality improved considerably with sewage irrigation
and the plant absorbed carbon was also greater. The annual carbon absorption was 3.5, 12.0, 13.9 and
7.0 Mg ha−1 under LD, RD, HD and VHD, respectively. It is concluded that Eucalyptus plantations can act
as potential sites for year round and about 1.5 fold recycling of sewage than the annual crops. However,
cautions, rather regulatory mechanism should be devised to control loading rates since these are not as
profligate consumers of water as has been claimed.
Not Available
 
Date 2019-11-29T09:57:13Z
2019-11-29T09:57:13Z
2015-01
 
Type Research Paper
 
Identifier Not Available
Not Available
http://krishi.icar.gov.in/jspui/handle/123456789/25875
 
Language English
 
Relation Not Available;
 
Publisher Not Available