Evaluation of lignin-based hydrogels as a potential key measures for sustainable reforestation under climate change conditions
Abstract
Longer and more frequent spring and summer droughts associated with climate change processes lead to increased mortality of tree seedlings. Key measures need to be found to support sustainable and cost-effective reforestation following large-scale disturbances or forest conversion. One potentially promising lever is the addition of novel, lignin-based hydrogels to increase soil water supply. The project will investigate the interaction of hydrogel with tree seedlings and soils under controlled drought stress conditions. The study consists of two parts: In the rhizobox experiment, soil and ecophysiological methods (incl. D-isotopes) will be used to investigate to what extent spruce or larch can use the water stored in the hydrogels during drought stress periods (spring, summer) (incl. effect on growth above/below ground), and what influence the hydrogel addition has on plant nutrition (incl. ectomycorrhizae, ECM) and the hydraulic system of the plant (roots to leaf). In the 2nd sub-experiment, changes in soil physicochemical properties due to the hydrogel are investigated. Both experiments will be performed with two typical, contrasted (hydraulic properties., nutrient availability) soil types. In cooperation with an ongoing, in situ "forest fund" experiment (same species, soil types), it is subsequently possible to formulate recommendations for the use of hydrogels in forestry practice, to identify (side) effects (ECM, nutrient supply) (and to report back to the hydrogel producers), and to better understand the functional relationships of hydrogel addition and drought stress mitigation on tree seedlings.
keywords drought stress reforestation water absorbing polymers forests tree roots
Publikationen
Project staff
Marie Lambropoulos
Mag.a Marie Lambropoulos
marie.lambropoulos@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91222
Project Leader
01.03.2023 - 31.07.2024
Project Staff
01.03.2023 - 28.02.2023
Boris Rewald
Assoc. Prof. Dipl.-Biol. Dr.rer.nat. Boris Rewald
boris.rewald@boku.ac.at
Project Leader
01.03.2023 - 28.02.2023