04 Apr CONDITIONING AND PLANTING WORKS IN THE PLOTS OF VITORIA-GASTEIZ (FEBRUARY & MARCH 2017).
In February several works related to the conditioning of the plots S5a-S5b and S6 have been advanced. On the one hand, Organic Compost from Vitoria-Gasteiz Biomechanical Treatment Plant (TMB) has been added as an organic amendment at a rate of 75 Tons per hectare, rotavating the soil to foster the mixture. On the other hand, the whole perimeter has been fenced with wooden stakes and barbed wire and chains and metal poles have been installed with padlocks to restrict passage to experimental areas. In addition, two information panels have been placed next to the plots for the explanation of the project to potential visitors.
Fencing and information board.
Consequently, the amended soil has been sampled in order to characterize it agronomically, with personal support from the three local partners of the project: CEA, UPV-EHU and NEIKER. The samples were sent to the laboratory of the partner USC for analysis.
In addition, it is worth highlighting that the inoculated stakes of willow and poplar have spent the winter in the CEA greenhouses at Olarizu under optimal conditions. And after transplanting them to 1L forest trays containing soil previously collected from the sites where they will be planted, it has been observed that they have developed a good radical and aerial system. With all these interventions, therefore, the parcels were left ready and conditioned for the plantation.
Willow stakes.
During March, energy crops (alfalfa and rapeseed) were planted in the S5a-b and S6 plots, respectively. Moreover, poplars (Baldo and AF18 clones) and willows (Olof clone) were planted (in plots S5a-b and S,6 respectively) with phytoremediation and biomass production purposes; the cuttings have then been watered for proper rooting.
Following the protocol, a second dose of inoculum were added to foster mycorrhiza development. Mycorrhization will promote the survival and rooting of the cuttings, as well as in the decontamination of the plot.
The plantation design in the subplots has been carried out according to the heterogeneity that they present in terms of type and concentrations of pollutants. To this end, a plan has been drawn up with the experimental design; where aspects such as contamination, agronomic quality and future access and operability of working machinery have been taken into account.
Experimental design of the plots S5a (left), S5b (middle) and S6 (right).
To conclude, it is worth mentioning that an important local journal, Diario de Noticias de Álava, interviewed Juan Vilela and Aitor Albaina and published an article (online version in Spanish here) summarizing the actions made so far and reporting on the Summer Course that has been organized for mid-July.