Paper details

Title:

A Comparative Analysis of Biomass Production from Seven Energy Crop Species Grown in a Mediterranean Environment

Author(s):

Archontoulis, S.V., Struik, P.C., Yin, X., Danalatos, N.G.

Document(s):

Abstract:

We re­analyzed 34 experiments (112 sets of biomass and leaf area index, LAI, curves) following a common protocol for seven energy crop species (sunflower, kenaf, cynara, rapeseed, miscanthus, sorghum and maize). These experiments were all carried out at 39°N latitude providing, therefore, an appropriate basis for a comparative analysis across the seven species. We calculated the following traits per data set: maximum total dry biomass, maximum crop growth rate, days required to reach maximum yield, days with LAI>3, maximum LAI and total water applied. The most important agronomic outcomes are: the perennial crops miscanthus (20–40 t ha­1) and cynara (17–34 t ha­1) give high biomass yields because of a long stay­green period (LAI above 3 for ~150 and ~250 ­1 ­1 days, respectively); sweet and fibre sorghum showed the highest crop growth rates (162–567 kg had) and rapeseed ­1 ­1 the lowest (90–160 kg had). Taking also into consideration production costs and other agronomically relevant parameters, we conclude that cynara should be prioritized among other species for bioenergy production in Mediterranean environments as soon as current logistic and product quality issues have been solved.

Keywords:

kenaf, maize, miscanthus, rapeseed, sunflower, cynara, sorghum

Topic:

Biomass Resources

Subtopic:

Energy crops (session 2)

Event:

19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition

Session:

OB4.3

Pages:

72 - 80

ISBN-13:

978-88-89407-55-4

ISBN-10:

88-89407-55-7

Paper DOI:

10.5071/19thEUBCE2011-OB4.3

Price:

FREE