03 Jul FIRST RESULTS AT THE VITORIA-GASTEIZ PLOTS (S5 & S6 SITES)
During the months of May and June visits to the plots have been carried out, there has been observed the state and advance of the plantations, and maintenance works has been done. In addition, a counting of dead-cuttings has been done to replace them in autumn, and the first results of the experiment have been thus obtained.
Simultaneously, on June 21, a second inoculation (Bioaugmentation) of the cuttings in the field was carried out by irrigation with a previously prepared solution. The inoculation was made on the cuttings that were already inoculated in March, however, some of them have been left strategically un-inoculated to study the effect of this second intervention.
As far as the S6 and S5b plots are concerned, planted crops (rapeseed and alfalfa respectively) have germinated without problems and are in full growth; however, in plot S5a alfalfa sowing has not been as effective and stands out more the ruderal species that the alfalfa. In the S6 plot the rapeseed has surpassed in height the willow and some of the stakes are being invaded by brambles (Rubus ulmifolius), but we think that this can be beneficial to maintain the humidity in the ground and also to force the willows to grow up in search of light.
Status of plot S5b as of June 2017.
In spite of the frequent storms during the month of June, it is necessary to emphasize that the heat wave suffered in the middle of June has forced to realize irrigations frequently. The percentage of dead-cuttings detected in the plots is 31%, 12% and 6% for plots S5a, S5b and S6 respectively. Below are more results as far as the dead-cuttings and forest species are concerned.
Conclusions:
- The plot that is not contaminated (S6) is the one that has presented the least number of dead-cuttings.
- The Olof willow is the variety that less dead-cuttings has presented, the AF18 poplar instead, the most.
- Among the detected dead-cuttings, the plants that were inoculated against the non-inoculated have a lower percentage, coinciding in all species and varieties.
Dry sample of an AF18 poplar. Mantle of Rubus ulmifolius on the ground.