Title:
Effect of Treated Sewage Sludge on Dry Weight Biomass Production in Ten Different Energy Crops
Author(s):
Bautista, I., Amorós, M.C., Belver, S., Cano-Ruiz, J., Plaza, A., Lobo, M.C., Mauri, P.V.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
The use of alternative energy sources is becoming an urgent issue due to the growing scarcity of fossil fuels. Biomass production of energy purposes is a friendly alternative to petrol all over the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect on dry weight biomass production of two types of treated sewage sludge as soil amendment, composted with pruning wastes (CP) and thermally dried (ST), in a field experiment in 4.5x10m2 plots, and compare them with the production without application of any organic amendment (control). The assay tests ten taxa of woody species for energy purposes: Ulmus minor (field elm, tree clones), Ulmus laevis (European white elm), Prunus x amygdalo-persica (adafuel), Tamarix gallica (tamarisk), Salix alba (white willow), Paulownia tomentosa (princess tree), Populus x euramericana (Canadian poplar) and Platanus x hispanica (plane tree). Three years after the amendment, biomass was evaluated. TD treatment increased significantly the biomass in eight of the ten taxa. Only one taxon (Ulmus laevis) presented higher production in CP treatment, as well as a single taxon (Paulownia tomentosa) showed higher yields in the control plot. According to the obtained results, the use of treated sewage sludge is an adequate strategy to increase energy crop biomass and improve soil fertility.
Keywords:
biomass, perennial energy crops, sewage sludge, sustainability, production, dry matter
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Biomass crops and energy grasses
Event:
27th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1BV.8.18
Pages:
201 - 206
ISBN:
978-88-89407-19-6
Paper DOI:
10.5071/27thEUBCE2019-1BV.8.18
Price:
FREE
