Bring it to the reeds and cattails in the practice Paludikulturen

Drained, agricultural Moore are responsible for about one-third of the greenhouse gas emissions of the local agricultural sector1 . The Rewetting would greatly reduce emissions, it requires from the perspective of farmers of but equivalent utilization concepts for the wet surfaces. The University of Greifswald and the State Research Institute for agriculture and fisheries of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania want to optimize the extraction of reeds and cattails for construction and fuels on wiedervernässtem low Moor grassland given this. The researchers are looking for suitable types and genotypes and determine the optimal inventory management for the various product lines. Including cultivation and harvest attempts are planned on an eight-acre area, to check the feasibility in practice. In addition, researchers assess the economy and develop proposals for the adaptation of legal frameworks.

The Ministry of food and agriculture promotes the project “Paludi-PRIMA” of his promoter, the specialist agency renewable raw materials e. V. (FNR).

In Germany, about seven percent of the agricultural land consist of drained peatlands. That these areas are in this country among the largest sources of greenhouse gas agriculture, so far little is known – about one-third of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions go to your account. The Rewetting offers the chance to save a large part of these emissions and to make a contribution to climate protection plan by 2050. In particular farmers but often hostile face this request, unless they lose productive areas. Solution was the concept of Paludikultur (“palus” – Latin “Swamp, morass”) developed agricultural and forestry use of wet high and fens.

Paludi-PRIMA project researchers want to implement now practically the Paludikultur on re-flooded grassland sites with Reed (Phragmites australis) and cattails (Typha angustifolia, Typha latifolia). This is to identify suitable genotypes, which are suitable for growing in Germany and bring the required quality for use as building material (including roof Reed), as well as to optimize the cultivation and harvesting. Currently imports the raw material mainly from southern and Eastern Europe and China. There is a demonstration area of eight acres available, which is used for the demonstration also farmers for field trials.

The economic analysis plays an important role. Paludi-PRIMA-team determined costs and revenues, to give a decision aid to farmers, but also, to show the amount of any required support. Also, they want to evaluate questions for assessing water a permanent waterlogging of grassland and possible objections by the nature protection. The agricultural law, which currently provides for a prohibition of conversion for grassland, raises further questions.

To be attractive for farmers, the eligibility of the land must be maintained according to the researchers. You want to develop proposals, can be as intergiert Paludikulturen useful in the regulatory and funding framework.

Information about the project at www.fnr.de see the grant number 22026017 and 22032718 and www.moorwissen.de available.

Source

Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) e.V., press release, 2019-07-10.

Supplier

Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR)
Universität Greifswald

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