Revitalization of abandoned agricultural lands in Croatia using the energy crop Miscanthus x giganteus

We assess the possibility of using biochar and ash from plant biomass to fertilise giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus). The paper concerns the optimisation of the combination of fertiliser applications of the aforementioned materials in the context of the plant yield obtained. There was an increase in yield of 8–68% over the two years of research when compared with the control plots. It was found that the application of biochar, ash from biomass and a combination of the two at appropriate rates as a soil additive can substitute for classic mineral fertilisers and strengthen the ecological aspects of energy crop cultivation. The interpretation of the results obtained enabled the selection of optimum fertiliser applications, resulting in a significant increase in the yield of plants and an improvement in soil chemical properties. It was found that the highest yield of dry matter of giant miscanthus plants, after both the first and second year of cultivation, was obtained by applying the fertiliser containing ash at a rate of 1.5 t ha−1, together with biocarbon and the combination of biochar and ash at a rate of 1.5 t ha−1.

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Evaluation of self-heating in Miscanthus x giganteus energy crop clamps and the implications for harvesting time

Energy ◽

10.1016/j.energy.2013.06.022 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 58 ◽

pp. 350-356 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Colm D. Everard ◽

John Finnan ◽

Kevin P. McDonnell ◽

Martin Schmidt

Keyword(s):

Energy Crop ◽

Miscanthus X Giganteus ◽

Harvesting Time ◽

Self Heating

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Research Regarding the Evaluation of Potential Land Suitable for Energy Crop Production (Biomass) in Cluj County

Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca Agriculture ◽

10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:4227 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Aurel ŞANDOR ◽

Avram FIŢIU ◽

Dana-Adriana ILUŢIU-VARVARA

Keyword(s):

Energy Source ◽

Renewable Energy Source ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Crop Production ◽

Energy Crops ◽

Energy Crop ◽

Agricultural Lands ◽

Short Term ◽

Term Energy ◽

Potential Land

The paper presents research regarding the evaluation of potential land suitable for energy crop production in order to obtain biomass as a renewable energy source. Statistic data is presented regarding the evolution of the fancier fund use, starting from 1990, until 2007, in form of pastures, vineyards and orchards, hayfields and inferior category arable lands. On the bases of the use rate of these types of land, land areas were estimated available for biomass type energy crops, at the level of Cluj County. The study proposes the identification of the lands suitable for short term energy crops, like agricultural lands from the inferior category or from the degraded and unproductive lands category.

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Microbial properties of soil fertilized by sewage sludge and cultivated with energy crops

Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae ◽

10.21697/seb.2016.14.3.07 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 131-142

Author(s):

Ewa Beata Górska ◽

Wojciech Stępień ◽

Izabella Olejniczak ◽

Stefan Pietkiewicz ◽

Hazem M. Halaji ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Microbial Activity ◽

Thermophilic Bacteria ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Energy Crops ◽

Energy Crop ◽

Miscanthus X Giganteus ◽

The Impact ◽

Bacterial Groups ◽

Spore Forming Bacteria

The microbial activity of soil enriched with sewage sludge and cultivated with energy crops, is little known. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of sewage sludge fertilization on selected microorganisms in soil cultivated with the following crops: Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus Greef et Deu), Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby) and Common Osier willow (Salix viminalis L.). Sewage sludge was used in two rates 10 and 20 t/ha dry weight (DW). The numbers of total coliforms bacteria, sulphate-reducing spore-forming bacteria, Proteus sp., saprophytic, thermophilic and aerobic spore-forming bacteria were examined. Sewage sludge increased the number of coliforms and sulphate-reducing spore-forming bacteria, and stimulated the growth of saprophytic and thermophilic bacteria. Cultivation of Miscanthus limited the number of coliforms bacteria, while Virginia mallow and Miscanthus reduced the number of sulphate- -reducing spore-forming bacteria. Common Osier willow stimulated the growth of saprophytic bacteria in the soil, while Virginia mallow the number of spore-forming bacteria. Our results revealed that microbial activity of soil expressed as the number of selected bacterial groups, depends not only on the applied rate of sewage sludge fertilizer, but also on the cultivated energy crop.

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