Title:
Canopy Cover and Solar Radiation Conversion Efficiency of the Herbaceous Perennial Giant Reed (Arundo Donax L.)
Author(s):
Ceotto, E., Di Candilo, M., Marletto, V.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Although giant reed is one of the most productive biomass crop, little is known about its utilization of solar radiation throughout the growing season. The objectives of this study were: i) to evaluate the ability of giant reed in capturing solar energy and converting it into aboveground biomass; ii) to estimate the radiation use efficiency (RUE) of giant reed; iii) to assess whether the prolonged canopy cover of giant reed is associated with high growth rate, maintained over the season. We here show that giant reed has an exceptional ability in converting solar energy into useful biomass, i.e. 5.30 g dry matter per MJ of intercepted PAR, + 51% compared to maize. It is unfortunate, however, that such ability decreases abruptly in the last part of the growing season, owing presumably to sink limitations.
Keywords:
biomass, climate, ecology, energy crops
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Energy crops (session 5)
Event:
19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
VP1.3.67
Pages:
740 - 743
ISBN-13:
978-88-89407-55-4
ISBN-10:
88-89407-55-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-VP1.3.67
Price:
FREE
