Title:
Multicriteria Assessment of French Cropping Systems Including Energy Catch Crops
Author(s):
Marsac, S., Labalette, F., Sausse, C., Laboubée, C.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
The introduction of energy catch crops into cropping systems could be an alternative to land use competition. We assessed the feasibility and the performances of innovative double cropping systems (i.e. 3 crops over 2 years) including energy catch crops. Productivity, environmental parameters and quality traits were measured for each crop of the rotations in two pedo-climatic conditions. A multicriteria analysis was done for the whole innovative crop rotation compared to a regular one. Winter catch crops (rape or triticale) were studied in rain-fed conditions and sorghum as a summer catch crop in irrigated conditions. As results, energy catch crops expressed average yields from 6 to 8 dry matter (DM)tha-1 but many crop management adjustments were necessary to limit the impact on the following crop. Double cropping systems improved environmental parameters of the whole crop succession but the production cost of the delivered biomass remained still higher than 150 € t-1 DM. The introduction of energy catch crop into traditional cropping systems should offer a great potential for biomass production. However the whole crop rotation management has to be improved to ensure performances and cost efficiency of these innovative systems.
Keywords:
cropping systems, energy catch crop, multicriteria assessment
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Energy crops and energy grasses
Event:
23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1BO.13.1
Pages:
68 - 73
ISBN:
978-88-89407-516
Paper DOI:
10.5071/23rdEUBCE2015-1BO.13.1
Price:
FREE
