Effects of heat emission of an underground high voltage direct current transmission on soils and crops in Saxony-Anhalt

50hertz Elia Group
Short description
The aim of the project is to evaluate the possible effects of heat emission from the planned High-Voltage Direct-Current (HVDC) underground cables in Saxony-Anhalt (SuedOstLink) on soil and crop plants. Therefore, we designed and constructed large planting vessels (50x140 cm) for a greenhouse trial. Those were filled with different regional soil types considering dry bulk density and top- and subsoil layering. Temperature and water content were measured at three depth and Minirhizotron tubes for root observation installed. A crop rotation consisting of spring barley, sugar beet and spring wheat was established.
Project duration
Apr 2019 – Dec 2022
Staff involved
- Ken Uhlig
- PD Dr. Jan Rücknagel
- Steffen Both
- Helge-Stephan Pentschew
- Viola Röder
Funding
- 50Hertz Transmission GmbH
Impressions & photos

(Photo: Maike Glöckner)
Interesting article about the research project published in the online magazine “Campus Halensis” of Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg (Vol. 03/2021, in German) [Link ].

(Photo: Ken Uhlig)
Spring Wheat is growing in heated soil monolith we developed.