Title:
Effects of Festulolium Cultivar, Red Clover, and Harvest Strategy on Yield and Methane Potential in Perennial Grass for Biogas Production
Author(s):
Larsen, S.U., Stefanek, K., Madsen, K.H., Møller, H.B.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Perennial grasses such as Festulolium may be of interest for biogas production. We investigated the effect of species composition and harvest strategy on biomass yield and methane potential in three field trials, established in Denmark in 2007, each with 2x2x2=8 treatments: Two cultivars of Festulolium were sown either with or without red clover (Trifolium pratense) and harvested either two or three times year-1. Treatments with and without red clover were fertilized with 250 and 350 kg N/ha/year, respectively. Dry matter yield was measured during the years 2008 and 2009, and the methane potential was analysed in samples from 2008. Both in 2008 and 2009, annual dry matter yield was significantly higher at three compared to two harvests per year. The Festulolium cultivar Hykor was more persistent and higher yielding than Achilles in 2009. There was no significant difference dry matter yield of between treatments with and without red clover, i.e. the same yield level was achieved but at a lower nitrogen input. The methane potential was significantly higher at three harvests compared to two harvests year-1. Consequently, the potential methane yield per hectare was significantly higher in the three-harvest strategy than in the two-harvest strategy (5,162 vs. 3,545 Nm3 methane ha-1). However, there was interaction between species composition and harvest frequency, and red clover appeared to reduce the methane potential when combined with two harvests year-1..
Keywords:
biogas, perennial energy crops, grass, festulolium, management, yield
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Energy crops and energy grasses
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1CO.9.5
Pages:
230 - 233
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-1CO.9.5
Price:
FREE
