Suitability of Wild <i>Phragmites australis</i> as Bio-Resource: Tissue Quality and Morphology of Populations from Three Continents

We collected and analyzed morphological characteristics and tissue nutrient concentrations of common reed (<i>Phragmites australis</i>) populations from Denmark, USA, and China, harvested late summer at the peak of the biomass production. The aim was to estimate the suitability of the bi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Franziska Eller, Xiao Guo, Siyuan Ye, Thomas J. Mozdzer, Hans Brix
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-12-01
Series:Resources
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/9/12/143
_version_ 1797545542370197504
author Franziska Eller
Xiao Guo
Siyuan Ye
Thomas J. Mozdzer
Hans Brix
author_facet Franziska Eller
Xiao Guo
Siyuan Ye
Thomas J. Mozdzer
Hans Brix
author_sort Franziska Eller
collection DOAJ
description We collected and analyzed morphological characteristics and tissue nutrient concentrations of common reed (<i>Phragmites australis</i>) populations from Denmark, USA, and China, harvested late summer at the peak of the biomass production. The aim was to estimate the suitability of the biomass for different bioenergy purposes. The potential of reed as bioenergy feedstock is increasingly recognized, as the species already is utilized for construction, water purification, and pulp production. Our morphological data showed that biomass yield can be allometrically predicted to be high, especially in the reed populations of the US. However, no consistent pattern according to geographical origin was detected, and especially tissue nutrient concentrations varied within and between populations. Some mineral concentrations were above the desirable threshold for biocombustion, such as nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S). Iron (Fe) was higher than the critical toxicity concentration in many populations and hence, negatively correlated with morphological and growth traits. A different harvest time is likely to result in lower ion concentrations. Some populations had low C to N ratios, which are suitable for biomethane production, while the relatively low ash content of all populations (ranging from 3.9% to 8.5%) suggested a high heating value and theoretical energy potential. Reed biomass production is a promising alternative to fossil fuels and potentially suitable for other bio-based product. Improved knowledge is needed to examine local needs and application possibilities for reed biomass.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T14:16:56Z
format Article
id doaj.art-c9eef62394a84d1297a89019ea0964c3
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2079-9276
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T14:16:56Z
publishDate 2020-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Resources
spelling doaj.art-c9eef62394a84d1297a89019ea0964c32023-11-20T23:45:19ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762020-12-0191214310.3390/resources9120143Suitability of Wild <i>Phragmites australis</i> as Bio-Resource: Tissue Quality and Morphology of Populations from Three ContinentsFranziska Eller0Xiao Guo1Siyuan Ye2Thomas J. Mozdzer3Hans Brix4Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle 1, 8000 Aarhus, DenmarkCollege of Landscape Architecture and Forestry, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Biogeosciences, China Geological Survey, Qingdao Institute of Marine Geology, CGS, MLR, Fuzhou Road 62, Qingdao 266071, ChinaBryn Mawr College, 101 N Merion Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, USADepartment of Biology, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Alle 1, 8000 Aarhus, DenmarkWe collected and analyzed morphological characteristics and tissue nutrient concentrations of common reed (<i>Phragmites australis</i>) populations from Denmark, USA, and China, harvested late summer at the peak of the biomass production. The aim was to estimate the suitability of the biomass for different bioenergy purposes. The potential of reed as bioenergy feedstock is increasingly recognized, as the species already is utilized for construction, water purification, and pulp production. Our morphological data showed that biomass yield can be allometrically predicted to be high, especially in the reed populations of the US. However, no consistent pattern according to geographical origin was detected, and especially tissue nutrient concentrations varied within and between populations. Some mineral concentrations were above the desirable threshold for biocombustion, such as nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S). Iron (Fe) was higher than the critical toxicity concentration in many populations and hence, negatively correlated with morphological and growth traits. A different harvest time is likely to result in lower ion concentrations. Some populations had low C to N ratios, which are suitable for biomethane production, while the relatively low ash content of all populations (ranging from 3.9% to 8.5%) suggested a high heating value and theoretical energy potential. Reed biomass production is a promising alternative to fossil fuels and potentially suitable for other bio-based product. Improved knowledge is needed to examine local needs and application possibilities for reed biomass.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/9/12/143biocombustionbiomethanenutrient concentrationpaludicultureinvasive reed
spellingShingle Franziska Eller
Xiao Guo
Siyuan Ye
Thomas J. Mozdzer
Hans Brix
Suitability of Wild <i>Phragmites australis</i> as Bio-Resource: Tissue Quality and Morphology of Populations from Three Continents
Resources
biocombustion
biomethane
nutrient concentration
paludiculture
invasive reed
title Suitability of Wild <i>Phragmites australis</i> as Bio-Resource: Tissue Quality and Morphology of Populations from Three Continents
title_full Suitability of Wild <i>Phragmites australis</i> as Bio-Resource: Tissue Quality and Morphology of Populations from Three Continents
title_fullStr Suitability of Wild <i>Phragmites australis</i> as Bio-Resource: Tissue Quality and Morphology of Populations from Three Continents
title_full_unstemmed Suitability of Wild <i>Phragmites australis</i> as Bio-Resource: Tissue Quality and Morphology of Populations from Three Continents
title_short Suitability of Wild <i>Phragmites australis</i> as Bio-Resource: Tissue Quality and Morphology of Populations from Three Continents
title_sort suitability of wild i phragmites australis i as bio resource tissue quality and morphology of populations from three continents
topic biocombustion
biomethane
nutrient concentration
paludiculture
invasive reed
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/9/12/143
work_keys_str_mv AT franziskaeller suitabilityofwildiphragmitesaustralisiasbioresourcetissuequalityandmorphologyofpopulationsfromthreecontinents
AT xiaoguo suitabilityofwildiphragmitesaustralisiasbioresourcetissuequalityandmorphologyofpopulationsfromthreecontinents
AT siyuanye suitabilityofwildiphragmitesaustralisiasbioresourcetissuequalityandmorphologyofpopulationsfromthreecontinents
AT thomasjmozdzer suitabilityofwildiphragmitesaustralisiasbioresourcetissuequalityandmorphologyofpopulationsfromthreecontinents
AT hansbrix suitabilityofwildiphragmitesaustralisiasbioresourcetissuequalityandmorphologyofpopulationsfromthreecontinents