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    Water footprint analysis for the assessment of milk production in Brandenburg (Germany)
    (München : European Geopyhsical Union, 2010) Drastig, K.; Prochnow, A.; Kraatz, S.; Klauss, H.; Plöchl, M.
    The working group "Adaptation to Climate Change" at the Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB) is introduced. This group calculates the water footprint for agricultural processes and farms, distinguished into green water footprint, blue water footprint, and dilution water footprint. The green and blue water demand of a dairy farm plays a pivotal role in the regional water balance. Considering already existing and forthcoming climate change effects there is a need to determine the water cycle in the field and in housing for process chain optimisation for the adaptation to an expected increasing water scarcity. Resulting investments to boost water productivity and to improve water use efficiency in milk production are two pathways to adapt to climate change effects. In this paper the calculation of blue water demand for dairy farming in Brandenburg (Germany) is presented. The water used for feeding, milk processing, and servicing of cows over the time period of ten years was assessed in our study. The preliminary results of the calculation of the direct blue water footprint shows a decreasing water demand in the dairy production from the year 1999 with 5.98×109 L/yr to a water demand of 5.00×109 L/yr in the year 2008 in Brandenburg because of decreasing animal numbers and an improved average milk yield per cow. Improved feeding practices and shifted breeding to greater-volume producing Holstein-Friesian cow allow the production of milk in a more water sustainable way. The mean blue water consumption for the production of 1 kg milk in the time period between 1999 to 2008 was 3.94±0.29 L. The main part of the consumed water seems to stem from indirect used green water for the production of feed for the cows.
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    Agricultural Water Management in Brandenburg
    (Berlin : Gesellschaft für Erdkunde, 2011) Drastig, Katrin; Prochnow, Annette; Baumecker, Michael; Berg, Werner; Brunsch, Reiner
    The present study explores whether regional water resources can be used more efficiently by Brandenburg’s agricultural systems. A systematic analysis of measures to raise the water efficiency follows the description of agriculture in Brandenburg today. Brandenburg’s agricultural systems are separated into three sections: soils, plant production and livestock farming. Within these sections measures to increase water efficiency are listed and analysed with reference to five objective criteria for raising water use efficiency. In the soil section the measures soil tillage and humus conservation management are assigned to the criteria. The following fields in the plant production section are similarly investigated: breeding, seeding, fertilisation, tactically chosen crops, avoidance of competition by herbicide use and efficient irrigation practices as well as watersaving storage and cleaning of field crops. In livestock farming the supply of drinking water and cleaning and cooling processes are analysed. In view of the complexity of the agricultural farming systems in Brandenburg, general measures to raise water use efficiency could not be derived. Sitespecific tillage practices and crop patterns adjusted to the recent weather conditions may reflect the specific diversity of Brandenburg more efficiently.