Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Persistence of Perennial Grass Species Grown in Mediterranean Marginal Lands
Biomass production in marginal lands represents one of the most challenging and promising alternatives to sustainably produce biofuels. Native species seem to be the most adequate option to obtain a profitable output when low-input techniques are applied, and biomass is grown in depleted soils and h...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-10-01
|
| Series: | Agronomy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/10/2060 |
| _version_ | 1827680428411060224 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel Sacristán Josep Cifre Miquel Llompart Jaume Jaume Javier Gulias |
| author_facet | Daniel Sacristán Josep Cifre Miquel Llompart Jaume Jaume Javier Gulias |
| author_sort | Daniel Sacristán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biomass production in marginal lands represents one of the most challenging and promising alternatives to sustainably produce biofuels. Native species seem to be the most adequate option to obtain a profitable output when low-input techniques are applied, and biomass is grown in depleted soils and harsh climatic conditions. In this study, a 5-year field trial in the island of Majorca served to investigate different autochthonous and naturalized Mediterranean perennial grasses as novel candidate lignocellulosic bioenergy crops for the semi-arid Mediterranean area and compare them with commercial ones (both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean). Species and growing season had a significant effect on biomass production, perennialism and biomass quality. <i>Arundo donax</i> (winter crops) and <i>Piptatherum miliaceum</i> (autumn crops) performed better than the commercial species tested (<i>Panicum virgatum</i> for winter crops and <i>Festuca arundinacea</i> for autumn crops) in biomass production and perennialism. In terms of biomass quality, <i>Panicum virgatum</i> was the best species, having high structural content (mainly cellulose and hemicellulose), low non-structural content and the lowest ash. However, <i>Ampelodesmos mauritanicus</i> and <i>Arundo donax</i> rendered similar results, with no significant difference in terms of cellulose production for this latter but with higher lignin content. For the autumn species, <i>Festuca arundinacea</i> was the species with the best biomass quality but with the highest ash production for all the species considered. Hence, both for winter or autumn regimes, native or naturalized plants seem to be better suited than the commercial commonly used for biomass production with energy-producing purposes. Further research must be conducted in terms of seed biology and physiology, seedbed preparation methods, sowing time, seedling density and weed control before they can firmly be proposed as adequate alternatives for energy purposes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:47:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d012e5c1a4024e61bccbde3bdde4b5ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4395 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:47:41Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agronomy |
| spelling | doaj.art-d012e5c1a4024e61bccbde3bdde4b5ca2023-11-22T17:07:39ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952021-10-011110206010.3390/agronomy11102060Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Persistence of Perennial Grass Species Grown in Mediterranean Marginal LandsDaniel Sacristán0Josep Cifre1Miquel Llompart2Jaume Jaume3Javier Gulias4Plant Biology Department, University of Valencia, 46100 Valencia, SpainResearch Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, SpainResearch Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, SpainResearch Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, SpainResearch Group on Plant Biology under Mediterranean Conditions, Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, 07122 Palma de Mallorca, SpainBiomass production in marginal lands represents one of the most challenging and promising alternatives to sustainably produce biofuels. Native species seem to be the most adequate option to obtain a profitable output when low-input techniques are applied, and biomass is grown in depleted soils and harsh climatic conditions. In this study, a 5-year field trial in the island of Majorca served to investigate different autochthonous and naturalized Mediterranean perennial grasses as novel candidate lignocellulosic bioenergy crops for the semi-arid Mediterranean area and compare them with commercial ones (both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean). Species and growing season had a significant effect on biomass production, perennialism and biomass quality. <i>Arundo donax</i> (winter crops) and <i>Piptatherum miliaceum</i> (autumn crops) performed better than the commercial species tested (<i>Panicum virgatum</i> for winter crops and <i>Festuca arundinacea</i> for autumn crops) in biomass production and perennialism. In terms of biomass quality, <i>Panicum virgatum</i> was the best species, having high structural content (mainly cellulose and hemicellulose), low non-structural content and the lowest ash. However, <i>Ampelodesmos mauritanicus</i> and <i>Arundo donax</i> rendered similar results, with no significant difference in terms of cellulose production for this latter but with higher lignin content. For the autumn species, <i>Festuca arundinacea</i> was the species with the best biomass quality but with the highest ash production for all the species considered. Hence, both for winter or autumn regimes, native or naturalized plants seem to be better suited than the commercial commonly used for biomass production with energy-producing purposes. Further research must be conducted in terms of seed biology and physiology, seedbed preparation methods, sowing time, seedling density and weed control before they can firmly be proposed as adequate alternatives for energy purposes.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/10/2060biomass yieldperennial grassessurvivalMediterranean region |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Sacristán Josep Cifre Miquel Llompart Jaume Jaume Javier Gulias Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Persistence of Perennial Grass Species Grown in Mediterranean Marginal Lands Agronomy biomass yield perennial grasses survival Mediterranean region |
| title | Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Persistence of Perennial Grass Species Grown in Mediterranean Marginal Lands |
| title_full | Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Persistence of Perennial Grass Species Grown in Mediterranean Marginal Lands |
| title_fullStr | Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Persistence of Perennial Grass Species Grown in Mediterranean Marginal Lands |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Persistence of Perennial Grass Species Grown in Mediterranean Marginal Lands |
| title_short | Lignocellulosic Biomass Production and Persistence of Perennial Grass Species Grown in Mediterranean Marginal Lands |
| title_sort | lignocellulosic biomass production and persistence of perennial grass species grown in mediterranean marginal lands |
| topic | biomass yield perennial grasses survival Mediterranean region |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/10/2060 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielsacristan lignocellulosicbiomassproductionandpersistenceofperennialgrassspeciesgrowninmediterraneanmarginallands AT josepcifre lignocellulosicbiomassproductionandpersistenceofperennialgrassspeciesgrowninmediterraneanmarginallands AT miquelllompart lignocellulosicbiomassproductionandpersistenceofperennialgrassspeciesgrowninmediterraneanmarginallands AT jaumejaume lignocellulosicbiomassproductionandpersistenceofperennialgrassspeciesgrowninmediterraneanmarginallands AT javiergulias lignocellulosicbiomassproductionandpersistenceofperennialgrassspeciesgrowninmediterraneanmarginallands |