Can <i>Miscanthus</i> Fulfill Its Expectations as an Energy Biomass Source in the Current Conditions of the Czech Republic?—Potentials and Barriers
Our article analyzes the main biological potentials and economic barriers of using <i>Miscanthus</i> as a new energy crop in agricultural practice in the Czech Republic and the Central-Eastern European region. We have used primary data from long-term field experiments and commercial plan...
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MDPI AG
2021-01-01
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Series: | Agriculture |
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/1/40 |
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author | Jan Weger Jaroslav Knápek Jaroslav Bubeník Kamila Vávrová Zdeněk Strašil |
author_facet | Jan Weger Jaroslav Knápek Jaroslav Bubeník Kamila Vávrová Zdeněk Strašil |
author_sort | Jan Weger |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Our article analyzes the main biological potentials and economic barriers of using <i>Miscanthus</i> as a new energy crop in agricultural practice in the Czech Republic and the Central-Eastern European region. We have used primary data from long-term field experiments and commercial plantations to create production and economic models that also include an analysis of competitive ability with conventional crops. Our results showed that current economic conditions favor annual crops over <i>Miscanthus</i> (for energy biomass) and that this new crop shows very good adaptation to the effects of climate change. Selected clones of <i>Miscanthus</i> × <i>giganteus</i> reached high biomass yields between 15–17 t DM ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup> despite very dry and warm periods and low-input agrotechnology, and they have good potential to become important biomass crops for future bioenergy and the bioeconomy. Key barriers and factors are identified, including gene pool and agronomy improvement, change of subsidy policy (Common agriculture policy-CAP), climate change trends, and further development of the bioeconomy. |
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institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2077-0472 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:30:56Z |
publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
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series | Agriculture |
spelling | doaj.art-0f1842771150484eb05b964bd2fcd2832023-12-03T12:32:09ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722021-01-011114010.3390/agriculture11010040Can <i>Miscanthus</i> Fulfill Its Expectations as an Energy Biomass Source in the Current Conditions of the Czech Republic?—Potentials and BarriersJan Weger0Jaroslav Knápek1Jaroslav Bubeník2Kamila Vávrová3Zdeněk Strašil4Silva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, Public Research Institute (VÚKOZ), 252 43 Průhonice, Czech RepublicFaculty of Electrical Engineering (ČVUL FEL), Department of Economics, Management and Humanities, Czech Technical University in Prague, 166 27 Prague, Czech RepublicSilva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, Public Research Institute (VÚKOZ), 252 43 Průhonice, Czech RepublicSilva Tarouca Research Institute for Landscape and Ornamental Gardening, Public Research Institute (VÚKOZ), 252 43 Průhonice, Czech RepublicCrop Research Institute, Public Research Institute (VÚRV), 161 00 Prague-Ruzyně, Czech RepublicOur article analyzes the main biological potentials and economic barriers of using <i>Miscanthus</i> as a new energy crop in agricultural practice in the Czech Republic and the Central-Eastern European region. We have used primary data from long-term field experiments and commercial plantations to create production and economic models that also include an analysis of competitive ability with conventional crops. Our results showed that current economic conditions favor annual crops over <i>Miscanthus</i> (for energy biomass) and that this new crop shows very good adaptation to the effects of climate change. Selected clones of <i>Miscanthus</i> × <i>giganteus</i> reached high biomass yields between 15–17 t DM ha<sup>−1</sup> y<sup>−1</sup> despite very dry and warm periods and low-input agrotechnology, and they have good potential to become important biomass crops for future bioenergy and the bioeconomy. Key barriers and factors are identified, including gene pool and agronomy improvement, change of subsidy policy (Common agriculture policy-CAP), climate change trends, and further development of the bioeconomy.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/1/40<i>Miscanthus</i>energy biomassyieldsinvasive behavioreconomics |
spellingShingle | Jan Weger Jaroslav Knápek Jaroslav Bubeník Kamila Vávrová Zdeněk Strašil Can <i>Miscanthus</i> Fulfill Its Expectations as an Energy Biomass Source in the Current Conditions of the Czech Republic?—Potentials and Barriers Agriculture <i>Miscanthus</i> energy biomass yields invasive behavior economics |
title | Can <i>Miscanthus</i> Fulfill Its Expectations as an Energy Biomass Source in the Current Conditions of the Czech Republic?—Potentials and Barriers |
title_full | Can <i>Miscanthus</i> Fulfill Its Expectations as an Energy Biomass Source in the Current Conditions of the Czech Republic?—Potentials and Barriers |
title_fullStr | Can <i>Miscanthus</i> Fulfill Its Expectations as an Energy Biomass Source in the Current Conditions of the Czech Republic?—Potentials and Barriers |
title_full_unstemmed | Can <i>Miscanthus</i> Fulfill Its Expectations as an Energy Biomass Source in the Current Conditions of the Czech Republic?—Potentials and Barriers |
title_short | Can <i>Miscanthus</i> Fulfill Its Expectations as an Energy Biomass Source in the Current Conditions of the Czech Republic?—Potentials and Barriers |
title_sort | can i miscanthus i fulfill its expectations as an energy biomass source in the current conditions of the czech republic potentials and barriers |
topic | <i>Miscanthus</i> energy biomass yields invasive behavior economics |
url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/11/1/40 |
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