University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU) - Research portal
Gewählte Master / Diploma Thesis:
Helen Magdalena Haupt
(2021):
Unterflur-Tropfbewässerung im Bio-Pfefferminzanbau: Effizienter Wassereinsatz und nachhaltige Ertragssteigerung.
Master / Diploma Thesis - Institut für Ökologischer Landbau (IFÖL),
BOKU-Universität für Bodenkultur,
pp 181.
UB BOKU
obvsg
FullText
- Abstract:
- The consequences of climate change are increasing the need of water. Water is one of the most essential resources for a prosperous agricultural production. Therefore, the focus turns to smart techniques such as a subsurface drip irrigation in order to use limited resources of water more efficiently. This master thesis outlines the advantages and consequences of a subsurface drip irrigation. The data are originating from a field experiment that was implemented on an organic farm nearby Horn in Lower Austria. The culture grown on the field trial was peppermint, Mentha x piperita L. The data are examined on two treatments — watered by the subsurface drip irrigation and not watered with the control variable usage. High amounts of natural rain strongly impacted the significance of the results since it was only possible to irrigate six times during the season. Nevertheless, measuring the amount of water in the soil weekly by using TDR probes (Time Domain Reflectometry), the harvest of peppermint as well as the sampling of soil brought up differences in soil water contents, in soil nutrients (Nmin) and in harvest parameters. The main outcomes showed a significant short-term increase in soil water content, a rising availability of soil nutrients (Nmin) and significantly higher harvest quantities of the watered treatment. The results also highlighted that the essential oil content was not rising in the plant itself, though higher quantities of the peppermint resulted into higher amounts of essential oil. The subsurface drip irrigation reduced the number of brown leaves and tended towards a better leaf-stem-ratio of the watered variety. Furthermore, a positive effect of the irrigation technique was evaluated in a simplified weed management. Further research could examine economic impacts of the subsurface drip irrigation on lower variable costs as well as an easier water management during the next seasons.
- Beurteilende*r: Friedel Jürgen Kurt