Energetic Properties and Biomass Productivity of Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) under Agroecological Conditions in Northwestern Croatia

Biomass as a renewable energy source includes energy crops that are not used for food but solely for biomass production with the goal of conversion to various forms of biofuel. Switchgrass, a perennial grass native to North America, has been explored as an energy crop for many years. It is suitable...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Agronomy (Basel) 2023-04, Vol.13 (4), p.1161
Main Authors: Matin, Božidar, Leto, Josip, Antonović, Alan, Brandić, Ivan, Jurišić, Vanja, Matin, Ana, Krička, Tajana, Grubor, Mateja, Kontek, Mislav, Bilandžija, Nikola
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Alternative energy sources
Ash
Ashes
Autumn
Biofuels
Biomass
Biomass burning
Calorific value
Carbon
Carbon content
Combustion
Dry matter
energy crop
Energy crops
Energy industry
energy properties
Grasses
Harvest
harvest date
Laboratories
Moisture content
Moisture effects
Nitrogen
Renewable energy sources
Soil erosion
Spring
Spring (season)
Statistical analysis
Sulfur
switchgrass
Water content
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Summary:Biomass as a renewable energy source includes energy crops that are not used for food but solely for biomass production with the goal of conversion to various forms of biofuel. Switchgrass, a perennial grass native to North America, has been explored as an energy crop for many years. It is suitable because it does not require much agrotechnical input, is highly resistant to pest infestation and disease development, and can provide very high biomass yields. The aim of this work was to determine the biomass quality of the mentioned plant in relation to the autumn and spring harvest, considering its use in direct combustion processes. Significant differences were found in the percentages of ash, carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and water, as well as in the percentages of micro and macro elements, in the harvest dates studied. Compared to the autumn, the moisture content decreased from 33.88% to 10.95% and ash content from 4.59% to 3.1% in the spring harvest, while the carbon content increased from 47.02% to 47.49%, dry matter from 38.91% to 89.22%, and heating value from 18.60 MJ kg−1 to 18.73 MJ kg−1. Shifting the harvest date from autumn to spring resulted in the production of higher quality biomass for use in combustion processes.
ISSN:2073-4395
2073-4395
DOI:10.3390/agronomy13041161