AGRO-ECOLOGICAL ZONING FOR TALL WHEATGRASS (Thinopyrum ponticum ) AS A POTENTIAL ENERGY CROP AND FORAGE IN SALT-AFFECTED AND DRY LANDS OF ARGENTINA

PITTA-ALVAREZ, S.I.; C. MIRANDA DEL FRESNO; FALASCA SILVIA

The Scientif Pages of Crop Science

The Scientif Pages

Año: 2017 vol. 1 p. 10 - 19

2322-1690

Thinopyrum ponticum, is the most disseminated halophyte speciescultivated for forage on hydro-halomorphic soils in the world. Theobjective of the present work was to identify the geographicareas fordevelopment of tall wheatgrass on halomorphic soils in Argentina, for forageand as feedstock for bioenergy. To define the agroclimate in Argentina, we considered the thermal and hydric limits of the species in its place of originand in locations where it is successfully cultivated around the world. The maps corresponding to the bioclimatic indices were drawn using a GIS, andthe map obtained by overlaying them defined the agroclimatic suitability. Thiszoning was finally superimposed on the drylands saline and alkaline soils inthecountry, thus defining the agro-ecological suitability of Argentina forthis species under different moisture regimes: moist-subhumid,dry-subhumid, semiarid to arid climate. The the agro-ecological zoning showsthe potential growing areas for tall wheatgrass in Argentina on soils withhalomorphism processes under dry climates.