The aim of this project (running 2010–2014) was to investigate the effects of a shelterbelt of fast-growing trees in a short rotation system on an adjacent wind-exposed field in the federal state of Brandenburg in terms of soil erosion protection, carbon sequestration in the soil and increasing landscape structuring and richness, biodiversity and microclimate. Moreover, it should be examined whether the energetic use of fast-growing trees is an economical alternative for farmers to the cultivation of annual crops, and general recommendations for practical use shall be derived from the project results. This project is financed by the Volkswagen AG. It is part of the larger framework ‘Biomasse für Sunfuel’ wherein the federal states of Lower Saxony, Hesse and Brandenburg and the Volkswagen AG join forces to achieve new knowledge for the development and introduction of synthetic biofuels. At the study site in Casekow, county Uckermark, NE Brandenburg, a short rotation coppice plantation (SRC) was established in spring 2010, dividing a 90-hectare field in north-south direction, the main wind direction being west. The shelterbelt of SRC has a width of 40 m and a length of 800 m. Different tree species and clones as well as different planting densities were considered. The aim was to manage the middle part of the shelterbelt with wider spaced poplars in a longer rotation (5–8 years), while its edges, composed of densely planted poplars and willows, should be harvested in a short rotation (3–4 years), in order to provide a continuous (but not identical) windbreak effect on the leeward adjacent arable land. The presentation will introduce and discuss results of the project e.g. biomass data from the different tree species and clones, results from wind measurements on the adjacent field and results from an ornithological investigation in the shelterbelt.

Há muitas empresas que têm necessidades de armazenamento em estaleiros abertos de materiais granulares em pilhas. Tal facto leva a que esses materiais estejam sujeitos à erosão provocada pelo vento, o que implica que eles possam contaminar o ar, criando-se problemas económicos, ambientais e de saúde para as populações. O formato da pilha em estudo nesta dissertação é o oblongo. As dimensões do modelo são 74 mm de altura, 635 mm de comprimento e 226 mm de largura. Fizeram-se ensaios de erosão em túnel de vento, uma vez que existem poucos estudos experimentais da erosão de pilhas com este formato. Assim, mostram-se os resultados experimentais da erosão provocada pelo vento, que vai deformar a pilha, bem como da taxa de erosão da pilha. Estes resultados são apresentados para vários instantes de tempo de erosão. São usadas duas velocidades de escoamento incidente nestes ensaios: 9.08 e 9.90 m/s. A medição da erosão provocada na pilha é feita usando duas grelhas de medição distintas: uma mais refinada e outra mais grosseira. Verificou-se que não havia diferença, a nível qualitativo na taxa de erosão nem na medição da deformação da pilha, entre a grelha de medição grosseira e a refinada.São usadas duas direções de escoamento incidente: perpendicular à pilha e formando um ângulo de 60º com a pilha. Observa-se que a erosão da pilha é simétrica, para o caso do escoamento incidente ser perpendicular à pilha e que a taxa de erosão da pilha é maior para a velocidade mais elevada. Para além disso, a rotação da pilha tende a reduzir a sua deformação, sendo este efeito mais notório para a velocidade de escoamento incidente de 9.08 m/s.

The production of energy wood on arable land increased in Germany during the last years. Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a suitable tree species in order to ensure substantial woody biomass yields on agricultural sites in eastern Germany. Arranged in hedge structures (alley cropping) positive effects on wind velocity and hence on soil erosion can be expected for the whole agricultural production area. Results of field measurements carried out in several alley cropping sites located in eastern Germany show that wind velocity can be reduced by more than 50 percent, even though tree hedgerows were not higher than four meters. Here, the reduction of wind speed was depending on the distance to woody crops, the width of the crop alleys and the orientation of hedgerows. As a result of wind speeds reduction the potential of soil erosion by wind decreases considerably. The risk of wind erosion is even nearly negligible for 24 m wide or smaller crop alleys. In this presentation, wind velocity data of comprehensive measurements will be shown depending on tree height and arrangement of black locust hedgerows. Moreover, derived from wind speed results specific statements about soil erosion risk by wind are given, taking into account soil texture data.