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Publication Date
1981
Description
The areas with sandy soils in the Pleistocene lowland of the GDR are being ameliorated on a large scale. In these lowlands, low bogs appear together with hydromorphic sandy soils. The latter are situated higher above the groundwater level. Because of the lowering of groundwater by drainage, these sandy soils are no longer suitable for intensive and high-yielding grass cultivation. Especially during summer the comparat:i.vely shallow-rooted grasses cannot gain their water requirement from ground water. Therefore, we investigated whether and under what conditions higher and more reliable forage yields could be obtained on such soils by cultivation of the deeper-rooted alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). In addition to forage-yield experiments, water consumption and removal of macronutrients were determined with groundwater lysimeters. Several soil types were identified that differed in substratum, content of calcium carbonate, carbon, nitrogen, pH value, degree of base saturation, and amplitude of gi:ound water. The ground-water level varied from 40 to 250 cm, depending on soil type and weather conditions. The relationships between these factors and the value of alfalfa for cultivation were quantified. The experiments demonstrated that new spring seedlings were not able to use the ground water at 70 or 100 cm of depth until the beginning or the end of June, respectively. Although old alfalfa plants can utilize deeper ground water, new seedlings require water in the topsoil and subsoil. Medium ground-water levels of about 100 cm appear especially favorable for alfalfa production. In the vegetative growth period, higher ground-water levels are tolerated well. At the same water supply and the same weather conditions, evapo-transpiration by alfalfa is similar to that of cultivated grasses. At a ground-water level of 120 cm, alfalfa removed 20% to 70% of its total water consumption from the ground water, depending upon weather conditions. Five to 11 mm/day were removed from the ground water at this level in an obviously vast utilization of the soil-water store during dry periods. In practice, reasonable alfalfa yields were still obtained at ground-water levels of 150 to 220 cm. Depending upon the type of sandy soils, annual yields of 6.0 to 8.5 metric tons (t) of dry matter/ha were achieved on large areas.
Citation
Wojahn, E; Mundel, G; and Kreil, W, "Suitability of Early Pleistocene Sandy Lowlands for the Cultivation of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)" (1981). IGC Proceedings (1981-2023). 12.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1981/section3/12)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Suitability of Early Pleistocene Sandy Lowlands for the Cultivation of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
The areas with sandy soils in the Pleistocene lowland of the GDR are being ameliorated on a large scale. In these lowlands, low bogs appear together with hydromorphic sandy soils. The latter are situated higher above the groundwater level. Because of the lowering of groundwater by drainage, these sandy soils are no longer suitable for intensive and high-yielding grass cultivation. Especially during summer the comparat:i.vely shallow-rooted grasses cannot gain their water requirement from ground water. Therefore, we investigated whether and under what conditions higher and more reliable forage yields could be obtained on such soils by cultivation of the deeper-rooted alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). In addition to forage-yield experiments, water consumption and removal of macronutrients were determined with groundwater lysimeters. Several soil types were identified that differed in substratum, content of calcium carbonate, carbon, nitrogen, pH value, degree of base saturation, and amplitude of gi:ound water. The ground-water level varied from 40 to 250 cm, depending on soil type and weather conditions. The relationships between these factors and the value of alfalfa for cultivation were quantified. The experiments demonstrated that new spring seedlings were not able to use the ground water at 70 or 100 cm of depth until the beginning or the end of June, respectively. Although old alfalfa plants can utilize deeper ground water, new seedlings require water in the topsoil and subsoil. Medium ground-water levels of about 100 cm appear especially favorable for alfalfa production. In the vegetative growth period, higher ground-water levels are tolerated well. At the same water supply and the same weather conditions, evapo-transpiration by alfalfa is similar to that of cultivated grasses. At a ground-water level of 120 cm, alfalfa removed 20% to 70% of its total water consumption from the ground water, depending upon weather conditions. Five to 11 mm/day were removed from the ground water at this level in an obviously vast utilization of the soil-water store during dry periods. In practice, reasonable alfalfa yields were still obtained at ground-water levels of 150 to 220 cm. Depending upon the type of sandy soils, annual yields of 6.0 to 8.5 metric tons (t) of dry matter/ha were achieved on large areas.
