Title:
Effect of Groundwater Level on Giant Reed (Arundo Donax, L.) Plants Grown in Mesocosms
Author(s):
Santangelo, E., Beni, C., Paris, E., Del Giudice, A., Zacchini, M., Pietrini, F., Gallucci, F.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
Biomass plant species may be better suited to be grown under marginal conditions. However, it is important to identify the limits beyond which the cultivation of non-food species is no longer convenient. The present work aimed at analyzing the behavior of the common reed (Arundo donax L.) in the presence of two groundwater levels (40 and 70 cm) and the lack of water till 130 cm (drought). For this purpose, the plants were grown in a mesocosm system where it was possible to set the groundwater level. The study on two-year-old Arundo plants spanned from June to November. Plant growth was favoured by the presence of water at the intermediate level (70 cm) while high (40 cm) or low (below 130 cm) water availability influenced negatively the morphological traits (plant height, base diameter of the main stem, number of stems, biomass yield). The value of main energy parameters (ashes content, heating value, CHNO content) resulted comparable among the treatments but the energy output achievable per surface unit was the highest when groundwater was set at 70 cm.
Keywords:
biomass, energy crops, high calorific value, water use
Topic:
Sustainable Resources for Decarbonising the Economy
Subtopic:
Biomass crops and energy grasses
Event:
28th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1DV.2.20
Pages:
212 - 215
ISBN:
978-88-89407-20-2
Paper DOI:
10.5071/28thEUBCE2020-1DV.2.20
Price:
FREE
