LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS PRODUCTION FROM ANNUAL ENERGY CROPS

Objective

THIS PROJECT CONSIDERS THE POSSIBILITY TO CULTIVATE ONOPORDUM NERVOSUM BOISS AND CYNARA CARDUNCULUS L., ANNUAL HERBS OF THE IBERIAN PENINSULA, FOR HERBACEOUS LIGNOCELLULOSIC BIOMASS PRODUCTION.

THESE SPECIES HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY THEIR HIGH BIOMASS PRODUCTIVITY IN NATURAL POPULATIONS (ABOUT 20 T DRY MATTER/HA) AND ADAPTATION TO GROW IN POOR LANDS, BEING NECESSARY TO ADAPT THEM TO LARGE SCALE CULTIVATION.
DURING THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE EXECUTION OF THESE PROJECT (SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1986) IT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND EVALUATION OF THE BIOMASS PRODUCTIVITY FROM THE PLANTATIONS OF ONOPORDUM NERVOSUM, IN DIFFERENT VEGETATIVE CYCLES AND CYNARA CARDUNCULUS, ESTABLISHED THE YEAR BEFORE. PRODUCTIVITY ANALYSIS WERE CARRIED OUT AT THE END OF THE CYCLES (AUGUST 1986).
RESULTS SHOW THAT FIFTHEEN MONTHS DEVELOPMENT CYCLE IN O.NERVOSUM IS THE MOST SUITABLE FOR BIOMASS PRODUCTION PURPOSES, WITH A YIELD OF 17 T/HA. C.CARDUNCULUS SHOWS GOOD RESULTS SINCE ITS CULTIVATION YIELDS ABOUT 16 T DRY MATTER/HA, HAVING THE ADVANTAGE OF A YEARLY NATURAL SPROUTING, AGAINST O.NERVOSUM THAT NEEDS A YEARLY SEEDING.

Programme(s)

FP1-ENNONUC 3C - Research and development programme (EEC) in the field of Non-Nuclear Energy, 1985-1988

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Fundación Universidad-Empresa de Madrid

Address

5,Serrano Jover
28015 Madrid
Spain

Participants (1)

DEPARTAMENTO DE BOTANICA AGRICOLA-ETS DE INGENIEROS AGRONOM

Spain