BioMatNet Item: FAIR-CT96-1913 - SORGHUM: Environmental studies on sweet and fibre sorghum sustainable crops for biomass and energy

FAIR-CT96-1913
SORGHUM: Environmental studies on sweet and fibre sorghum sustainable crops for biomass and energy

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Crops for Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : Crops for Paper/Pulp : FAIR Area 4.3 - Diversification : Fibre : Liquid Biofuels and Biogas : Paper/Pulp : Sugar

	Proposal No:	FAIR-CT96-1913
	Date Prepared:	June 2000, September 1999
	Source:	2000 Progress Report Executive Summary 1999 Progress Report

2000 Progress Report Executive Summary

1999 Progress Report

Introduction

The overall aim of the project is to study the environmental impacts of sweet and fiber sorghum within real cropping systems with particular reference to nitrogen balance and to assess the quantity and quality of the production of the two crops in order to meet the needs of the EU in terms of biomass for energy and pulp for paper.

Objectives

The objectives of this reporting period were:

carrying out the field experiments on crop rotation, low input and crop productivity
to produce F2 and F3 hybrids to study the heritability of the traits for the resistance to low temperature and for a best nitrogen use efficiency in sweet sorghum
to start the study of early sowing dates with primed and umprimed seeds
to set up the instrumentation for measuring ¹⁵N and ¹⁴C in order to define the nitrogen and the carbon balance
to define the crop nitrogen uptake and the nitrogen balance of the studied crops
to compute water balance, water used and water use efficiency of the crop
to calibrate and validate WINSORG model for above ground biomass growth and of sorghum
to calibrate and validate CERES model for nitrogen balance and soil nitrogen cycle
define the trials to be carried out in winter period
define a strategy for dissemination of the results
organise seminars for dissemination of the results of the project

Activities

Within the framework of each task and subtask the work carried out was as follows:

Task 1: Productivity trials

experimental fields were established to study the productivity trials of sweet and fiber sorghum in different areas of Europe
to perform the second year of the crop rotation trials in sorghum in order to study its effects on soil fertility
carried out the experimental field trials on using different energetic inputs (high and low input)
a crop productivity trial involving from 8 to 10 genotypes of grain, fiber and sweet sorghum was carried out by all partners in order to set up a data network
genetic activity to study the heritability of the traits for cold resistance and nitrogen use
laboratory experiments on the response of sorghum seed to low temperature
to study the effect of anticipating sowing date using primed and unprimed seeds on seed germination and crop growth
to continue the study the photosynthesis response to C0₂ in different genotypes in order to select the best nitrogen use performance

Task 2: Agroecosystem studies

in experimental trials with a factorial "nitrogen x water" scheme, the nitrogen balance and the water balance were studied
carrying out analysis of soil samples (organic nitrogen content, organic matter content, organic matter size, nitrate content) in order to define a nitrogen balance of the crop and the amount of nitrogen residues in the soil
detection of soil water content and percolation
measurements of carbon and organic matter of biomass and soil have been carried out in experiments conducted in controlled environment and in the field

Task 3: Environmental studies

analysis of nitrate concentration and water deep percolation by means of soil sampling or water solution in lysimeters and in microlisimeters
collection of runoff and sediments in soil erosion trials with fiber sorghum
laboratory analysis of runoff and sediments (nitrate concentration, nitrogen content, organic matter, soil characteristics, macronutrients)

Task 4: Modelling activity

the WINSORG model specifically developed under this project modifying the more general WIMOVAC model was calibrated using the data on above ground biomass produced within the project by all partners
the CERES model modified under the activity of this project was calibrated using data on nitrogen and nitrate generated within the project
a first version of this model with an "easy" user interface now exists under the INRA web pages (Address http:www.biocl'im.grignon.inra.fr or http://ultra2.grignon.inra.fr)
the University of Essex published a WEB site www2.essex.ac.uk/wimovac/homepage.htm

Progress

In general this was in line with the technical annex:

with regard to the crop rotation and low input field experiments preliminary information is available on the effect of sorghum on the following crop in the rotation, indications were also pointed out on the response of sorghum to low input supply in different environmental conditions
the first year of the crop productivity experiments was performed and preliminary information on the biological and productive response of some varieties of sorghum are available
low temperature experiments to test seed germination were conducted in laboratory on many commercial genotypes and hybrid genotypes bred within the project
field experiments on sowing dates were carried out in five localities throughout Europe and according to the results it is worth investigating an unusual effect of osmopriming with PEG on seed germination in the field
for genetic activity new material was prepared and 140 progeny genotype have been reared
data on water balance, nitrogen cycle, nitrogen cycle, in cropping systems including sweet and fiber sorghum are now available
data to determine carbon and organic matter balances have been measured by many partners in field experiments and in controlled conditions and their analysis are in progress
simulations by WINSORG model was applied on field data produced within the project on leaf area index and above ground biomass
the modules for nitrogen cycle simulation in the CERES model were defined and the calibration and validation were carried out on field data on nitrogen cycle and nitrogen use produced within the project.

Results

The main achievements were:

results on the effects of sorghum in a crop rotation
determination of input needs for low input cultivation
genetic activity produced a series of F2 and F3 hybrids were selection is going ahead
preliminary results on nitrogen balance and water balance
information on the nitrogen use and nitrogen use efficiency of the sorghum crop
information on the water use and water use efficiency of the sorghum crop
nitrate leaching in crop rotations including sorghum
results on the effects of the presence of sorghum against soil erosion were obtained
results on the response to low temperature of the germination of seed of different varieties
development and calibration of WINSORG model for the above ground growth and development
development and calibration of new submodels for nitrogen balance in CERES sorghum model
organisation of meetings for the dissemination of the results of the project
results dissemination through publishing in scientific journals and presentation at congresses

Future activities

Some conclusions which could constitute the basis for future action to be undertaken in the third and last year of the project are:

the opportunity, first of all, to develop and investigate thoroughly the aspects of the energy balance, carbon balance, nitrogen and water balance especially with the aim of contributing to the qualification of the project under the environmental profile
in strict correlation with the building up of the balances and the environmental goal, to collect more information on the uptake of nitrogen from the soil by sorghum and on the losses of nitrogen for denitrification, nitrates leaching, ammonia volatilisation, sediment runoff in slopes within the framework of the studied crop rotations and of the interaction effects with the irrigation levels and the nitrogen fertilisers doses
to verify, paying attention to the possible applications, the levels of production obtainable using reduced inputs
to analyses with specific care, the components of total nitrogen in the soil, organic, mineral, nitric, for a better comprehension of the meaning and the values of uptake by the sorghum crop and by the crops in the rotations in the long term
to submit to careful assessment, the good results of the production of wheat after sorghum, to analyse the causes in order to remove inconsistencies and therefore be able to set up the most suitable crop management system for each different environmental and technical situations
develop the analysis of the genotypes supplied by prof, Lorenzoni to whom, in the meanwhile we thank, as a means to enrich the collection of genotypes to be evaluated
to submit to a more careful investigation, particularly for atmospheric and substrate controlled conditions, the reasons why the seeds treated with PEG did not show in the field the same results shown in laboratory, as far as the germination at low temperature is concerned
to direct the analysis of plant density to 9-12-15 plant per square meter interval together with the interaction with the different genotypes of sorghum for a better control of the production also through a control of lodging and related factors
to increase interaction with the modelling work as some models have been developed but there is need for a better calibration and validation
to participate in scientific congresses of general and specific topics
to organise a seminar to disseminate the results of the project
to publish papers on scientific journals and non specialised magazines.