Supervivencia al fuego en edafófitos endémicos y amenazados (Sierra Alpujata, Málaga, España)

En la Cuenca Mediterránea, los afloramientos serpentínicos constituyen ecosistemas especiales muy condicionados por la roca y suelos hostiles a la flora (serpentinófitos), lo que supone un esfuerzo adaptativo adicional al clima Mediterráneo. El objetivo de este trabajo es dar a conocer la respuesta de las principales plantas constituyentes del matorral serpentinícola suribérico ante el fuego, para contribuir a generar conocimiento que pueda mejorar su gestión pre y post-incendio. Para ello, se establecieron parcelas de seguimiento en un afloramiento ultramáfico en el sur de la Península Ibérica (Sierra Alpujata, Málaga, Hidalgo-Triana y Pérez Latorre, 2018), que sufrió un incendio en agosto de 2012. La respuesta de las plantas después del incendio fue estudiada (años 2012-2015) comprobando si éstas eran rebrotadoras, germinadoras, ambas o si no presentaban ningún tipo de respuesta de supervivencia (Pausas et al., 2004). Del total de plantas estudiadas, destacan los serpentinófitos obligados (O) y preferentes (P) siguientes: Alyssum serpyllifolium subsp. malacitanum (O), Bupleurum acutifolium (O), Cephalaria baetica (O), Galium boissieranum (P), Genista hirsuta subsp. lanuginosa var. lanuginosa (O), Klasea baetica (O), Linum carratracense (O) y Staehelina baetica (O). Del total de plantas estudiadas (23 taxones, pertenecientes a Digitali laciniatae-Halimietum atriplicifolii), entre los que se encontraban los serpentinófitos, el hiperacumulador de níquel Alyssum serpyllifolium subsp. malacitanum fue el único que no mostró capacidad de supervivencia. El resto todos mostraron regeneración tras el incendio con las condiciones climatológicas de los años estudiados. Galium boissieranum, además de mostrar este tipo de estrategia actuó también como germinador. Puesto que en el afloramiento estudiado no han podido estudiarse todos los serpentinófitos suribéricos y sus posibles respuestas ante los incendios, sería conveniente conocer el resto de respuestas.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech (Se va a solicitar ayuda del Plan Propio de Investigación de la UMA)

Seasonal nutrient dynamics and biomass quality of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) and miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deuter) as energy crops

The importance of energy crops in displacing fossil fuels within the energy sector in Europe is growing. Among energy crops, the use of perennial rhizomatous grasses (PRGs) seems promising owing to their high productivity and their nutrient recycling that occurs during senescence. In particular, nutrient requirements and biomass quality have a fundamental relevance to biomass systems efficiency. The objective of our study was to compare giant reed (Arundo donax L.) and miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter) in terms of nutrient requirements and cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin content. This aim was to identify, in the Mediterranean environment, the optimal harvest time that may combine, beside a high biomass yield, high nutrient use efficiency and a good biomass quality for second generation biofuel production. The research was carried out in 2009, in San Piero a Grado, Pisa (Central Italy; latitude 43°41' N, longitude 10°21' E), on seven-year-old crops in a loam soil characterised by good water availability. Maximum above-ground nutrient contents were generally found in summer. Subsequently, a decrease was recorded; this suggested a nutrient remobilisation from above-ground biomass to rhizomes. In addition, miscanthus showed the highest N, P, and K use efficiency, probably related to its higher yield and its C4 pathway. Regarding biomass quality, stable values of cellulose (38%), hemicelluloses (25%) and lignin (8%) were reported from July onwards in both crops. Hence, these components appear not to be discriminative parameters in the choice of the harvest time in the Mediterranean environment. In conclusion, our results highlighted that, in our environment, a broad harvest period (from late autumn to winter) seems suitable for these PRGs. However, further research is required to evaluate the role of rhizomes in nutrient storage and supply during the growing season, as well as ecological and productive performances in marginal lands, in particular those where water availability may be a limiting factor

Double row spacing and drip irrigation as technical options in energy sorghum management

The effect of two row spacing configurations and four water supply levels was investigated on sweet and fibre sorghum in Central Italy for two consecutive years. Results highlighted the influence of both irrigation and row spatial configuration on crop productivity. Indeed, several studies have pointed out the positive response of sorghum to irrigation in Mediterranean climate, as in this environment water stress represents one of the main limiting factors on crop productivity. On the other hand, few attempts have been made to explore the role of row spacing on energy sorghum productivity. Results outlined an average increase in sorghum dry biomass yield ranging from +23% to +79% at variable rates of water supply as compared to rainfed control. The positive effect of irrigation was also observed on leaf area index and radiation use efficiency. Moreover, we observed a crop yield increase, from 9% to 20%, under double row spacing compared to the standard planting pattern ( i.e. single row spacing). Finally, it was confirmed the efficient use of water by sorghum and the great ability of sorghum to increase its biomass yield in response to increasing volumes of water supplied. Therefore, this work suggests how row spacing configuration and drip irrigation could be feasible technical options to increase sorghum biomass yields in Mediterranean environments. These techniques should be experienced by farmers towards a sustainable intensification of current cropping systems

Enhancing water resource management in rural areas by means of simulation tools

Conjunctive use of ground- and surface-water in agriculture is of paramount importance in many rural areas of Europe, where freshwater resource is facing growing pressure, due to both human impacts and climate changes. In this framework, the development of open source public domain GIS-integrated, fully distributed and numerically-based simulation platforms may provide powerful tools to support planning, management and monitoring activities. The HORIZON 2020 FREEWAT (FREE and open source software tools for WATer resource management, www.freewat.eu) implements the Farm Process (FMP) embedded in MODFLOW-OWHM to simulate conjunctive water use in rural areas under demand-driven and supply-constrained conditions, taking also into account constraints on well abstraction and water-rights ranking of water accounting units. The choice to integrate the FMP, after a careful review of the available codes, is related to the rigorous approach in dealing with the groundwater component. Thus the FMP allows to dynamically integrate infiltration, surface runoff and deep percolation components, to effectively balance crop water demand and supply from both sources of water

Two years monitoring of soil N2O emissions on durum wheat in a Mediterranean area: the effect of tillage intensity and N-fertilizer rate

Two years monitoring of soil N2O emissions on durum wheat in a Mediterranean area: the effect of tillage intensity and N-fertilizer rate. EGU General Assembly 2016 Conference Abstracts, European Geophysical Unio

Aproximación a la primera checklist de la flora vascular invasora del entorno ibérico del Mar de Alborán: densidad y afecciones

El aumento de especies invasoras es un problema global. El entorno del Mar de Alborán es un claro ejemplo, ya que existen muchas especies invasoras que afectan gravemente a la biodiversidad y a los Hábitats de Interés Comunitario (HIC) costeros de la Directiva 92/43 CEE. Es por esto que, para una correcta gestión de dichos hábitats, resulta necesario contar con herramientas como es una “checklist” de especies invasoras. El objetivo del presente trabajo es crear la primera “checklist” de especies alóctonas y alóctonas invasoras del entorno de las costas ibéricas del Mar de Alborán, estudiando la abundancia de cada taxón y representarla en mapas de calor. El segundo objetivo consiste en estudiar cuáles son los HIC más afectados por ambos tipos de plantas, además de generar mapas de calor de los lugares con mayor presencia de invasoras. Para ello, se realizaron trabajos de campo en el litoral de Málaga y Granada, desde 2021 hasta la actualidad, en el marco de diversos proyectos de investigación (CEIMAR, LIFEWATCH ALBORAN, Al-andaLit). La “checklist” preliminar comprendía un total de 91 especies de flora vascular alóctona y alóctona invasora, con un total de 750 registros de presencia de estos taxones. Del total, destacan las 10 siguientes (constituyendo el 65% de registros del listado y/o con elevada abundancia, de 100-500 individuos o más en algunas localidades): Acacia saligna, Arctotheca calendula, Arundo donax, Carpobrotus edulis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Lantana camara, Nicotiana glauca, Oxalis pes-caprae, Ricinus communis y Stenotaphrum secundatum. Otros taxones a destacar, ya que hasta el momento no se tenían datos de su potencial invasor en la zona son: Kleinia neirifolia y Asparagus asparagoides. Y otros a señalar por su alta presencia en algunas zonas del litoral son: Aizoon pubescens, Cortaderia selloana y Heliotropium curassavicum.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech. LIFEWATCH ALBORÁN CEIMAR-CEIJ-00

Productivity of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) and miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deuter) as energy crops: growth analysis

The growing interest in bioenergy crops is leading to the development of new research aims. In fact, there is a lack of knowledge of most of these crops in terms of suitability to specific environmental conditions and of biotic and abiotic influences. The objective of our study was to compare giant reed ( Arundo donax L.) and miscanthus ( Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter), two promising lignocellulosic energy crops in Southern Europe, in terms of productivity, through growth analysis, in order to understand environmental and/or management constraints to crop development. Our research was carried out in 2009, in San Piero a Grado, Pisa (Central Italy; latitude 43°41' N, longitude 10°21' E), on a seven-year-old crop, in loam soil characterised by good nutrient and water availability. Results confirmed high yields in both species, about 40 t/ha/yr in miscanthus and 30 t/ha/yr in giant reed, achieved in the second half of October. Different growth strategies were noted as miscanthus developed a greater number of stems per square meter and higher stems, although it showed minor basal stem diameter and leaf area changes. In addition, the physiological difference between crop pathways (C3 in giant reed vs C4 in miscanthus) in a non-limiting environment allowed miscanthus to perform better. As a result, the choice of the proper crop has to be made in order to obtain maximum yield levels, minimising external inputs and optimising the land use