1,720,977 research outputs found
Functional traits and community structure of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in 10-year old rainfead Arundo donax and Miscanthus x giganteus energy crops under Mediterranean conditions
No full textSeasonal Dynamics of Aboveground and Belowground Biomass and Nutrient Accumulation and Remobilization in Giant Reed (Arundo donax L.): A Three-Year Study on Marginal Land
No full textGiant reed (Arundo donax L.) is a perennial rhizomatous
grass that shows promise as a bioenergy crop in
the Mediterranean environment. The species has spread
throughout the world, catalyzed by human activity, though
also as a result of its intrinsic robustness, adaptability, and
versatility. Giant reed is able to thrive across a wide range of
soil types and is tolerant to drought, salinity, and flooding.
This tolerance to environmental stresses is significant and
could mean that growing energy crops on marginal land is
one possible strategy for reducing competition for land with
food production and for improving soil quality. We devised
an experiment in which we cultivated giant reed in a sandy
loam soil with low nutrient availability. Our goal was to
evaluate the dynamics of aboveground and belowground
biomass and assess the nutrient dynamics of this grass
species, focusing particularly on nutrient accumulation and
remobilization. The species demonstrated good productivity
potential: In the third year, aboveground dry biomass yield
reached around 20 tha−1, with a corresponding rhizome dry
biomass yield of 16 tha−1. Results for this species were
characterized by low nutrient contents in the aboveground
biomass at the end of the growing season, and its rhizome
proved able to support growth over the spring period and to
store nutrients in the autumn. Nevertheless, the adaptability
of giant reed to marginal land and the role of its belowground
biomass should be investigated over the long-term,
and any further research should focus on its potential to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maintain soil fertility
Giant reed (Arundo donax L.) as energy crop in Central Italy: A review
No full textIn the European Union energy security have been driving the search
for economically viable and environmentally sustainable renewable
energy sources since the 90’s. Energy crops could represent a good
opportunity to combine the energy goals with the conservation of
farmer incomes and the global climate change control. Giant reed
(Arundo donax L.) is a perennial rhizomatous grass particularly attractive
for energy production because of a high yield potential, a generally
positive environmental impact and a good attitude to energy conversion.
Long-term studies carried out in Central Italy confirmed its high
production level, in both fertile and marginal lands (aboveground
yields from 38 to 20 t ha–1 year–1). In addition, the crop highlighted a
high growth rate at the beginning of the growing season, progressively
decreasing in summer when high temperature and low water availability
occurred. Giant reed nutrient requirements were generally low
and part of nutrient stocks were remobilized from the rhizome to the
aboveground biomass over the spring, with the opposite flow occurring
in autumn. From an environmental point of view giant reed showed a
positive energy balance with a high-energy efficiency. Compared to
other energy crops, giant reed showed the lowest GHG emissions per
unit of energy and the best performance in terms of cost per ton of dry
biomass or per unit of energy.
To improve knowledge on giant reed and to favour the diffusion of
energy crops in Italian cropping systems, further studies are needed to
analyze the long-term effects of giant reed on soil fertility and the optimal
soil management after its cultivation. In our researches the environmental
impacts of giant reed and its production costs were referred
to the production phase. Therefore, there is the need to extend the
research activity to the whole energy chain and to identify the most
sustainable conversion technologies (e.g. biogas, 2nd generation
bioethanol, etc.) for the different environments
Soil texture and crop management affect switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) productivity in the Mediterranean
No full textRoot and soil organic matter distribution in mature stands of Arundo donax and Miscanthus × giganteus
No full textEnvironmental performances of giant reed (Arundo donax L.) cultivated in fertile and marginal lands: A case study in the Mediterranean
No full textPerennial rhizomatous grasses (PRGs) tend to have a high yield combined with a low environmental impact. Cultivation in marginal or poorly cultivated land is recommended in order not to compromise food security and to overcome land use controversies. However, the environmental impacts of using different types of soil are still unclear. We thus assessed the environmental impact of two giant reed (GR) systems cultivated in a fertile soil (FS) and in a marginal soil (MS) through a cradle-to-plant gate LCA. We analyzed energy balance, GHG emissions (including LUC, not including iLUC), and the main impacts on air, water and soil quality. In both systems the annualized soil carbon sequestration was more than twofold the total GHG emitted, equal to -6464 kg CO2eq ha-1 in FS and -5757 kg CO2eq ha-1 in MS. Overall, soil characteristics affected not only GR yield level, but also its environmental impact, which seems to be higher in the MS system both on a hectare and tonne basis. The production of GR biomass in marginal soil could thus lead to higher environmental impacts and a more extensive land requirement
Growing giant reed (Arundo donax L.) in a marginal soil: short-term effect on soil organic carbon
No full textCultivation of Miscanthus in Mediterranean environment: preliminary results of productivity and CO2 soil emissions under different crop management
No full text- …
