No abstract

The aim of the research was to investigate the effect of biogas plant waste on the physiological activity, growth, and yield of Jerusalem artichoke and the energetic usefulness of the biomass obtained in this way after the torrefaction process. The use of waste from corn grain biodigestion to methane as a biofertilizer, used alone or supplemented with Apol-humus and Stymjod, caused increased the physiological activity, growth, and yield of Jerusalem artichoke plants and can limit the application of chemical fertilizers, whose production and use in agriculture is harmful for the environment. The experiment, using different equipment, exhibited the high potential of Jerusalem artichoke fertilized by the methods elaborated as a carbonized solid biofuel after the torrefaction process. The use of a special design of the batch reactor using nitrogen, Thermogravimetric analysis, Differential thermal analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and combustion of Jerusalem artichoke using TG-MS showed a thermo-chemical conversion mass loss on a level of 30% with energy loss (torgas) on a level of 10%. Compared to research results on other energy crops and straw biomass, the isothermal temperature of 245 °C during torrefaction for the carbonized solid biofuel of Jerusalem artichoke biomass fertilized with biogas plant waste is relativlely low. An SEM-EDS analysis of ash from carbonized Jerusalem artichoke after torrefaction was performed after its combustion.

No abstract

The effect of foliar application of Cyanobacteria and Chlorella sp. monocultures on physiological activity, element composition, development and biomass weight of basket willow (Salix viminalis L.) and the possibility to prepare biofuel from it in the fortification process was studied. Triple foliar plant spraying with non-sonicated monocultures of Cyanobacteria (Anabaena sp. PCC 7120, Microcystis aeruginosa MKR 0105) and Chlorella sp. exhibited a considerably progressive impact on metabolic activity and development of plants. This biofertilization increased cytomembrane impermeability, the amount of chlorophyll in plants, photosynthesis productivity and transpiration, as well as degree of stomatal opening associated with a decreased concentration of intercellular CO2, in comparison to control (treatments with water, Bio-Algeen S90 or with environmental sample). The applied strains markedly increased the element content (N, P, K) in shoots and the productivity of crucial growth enzymes: alkaline or acid phosphorylase, total dehydrogenases, RNase and nitrate reductase. Treatments did not affect energy properties of the burnt plants. These physiological events were associated with the improved growth of willow plants, namely height, length and amount of all shoots and their freshly harvested dry mass, which were increased by over 25% compared to the controls. The effectiveness of these treatments depended on applied monoculture. The plant spraying with Microcystis aeruginosa MKR 0105 was a little more effective than treatment with Chlorella sp. and Anabaena sp. or the environmental sample. The research demonstrate that the studied Cyanobacteria and Chlorella sp. monocultures have prospective and useful potential in production of Salix viminalis L., which is the basic energy plant around the word. In this work, a special batch reactor was used to produce torrefaction material in an inert atmosphere: nitrogen, thermogravimetric analysis and DTA analysis, like Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The combustion process of Salix viminalis L. with TG-MS analysis was conducted as well as study on a willow torrefaction process, obtaining 30% mass reduction with energy loss close to 10%. Comparing our research results to other types of biomasses, the isothermal temperature of 245 °C during thermo-chemical conversion of willow for the carbonized solid biofuel production from Salix viminalis L. biomass fertilized with Cyanobacteria and Chlorella sp. is relatively low. At the end, a SEM-EDS analysis of ash from torrefied Salix viminalis L. after carbonization process was conducted.

Information concerning corn plant development within predicted environmental constraints and the possibility of alleviating their negative infl uence by ecological compounds is limited. Thus the aim of our research was to evaluate the physiological activity, growth, and development of corn plants under the expected climate-change conditions and treated with Biojodis (certifi cated extract of humus and active iodine; Jodavita, Lithuania) and Cyanobacteria (a mixture of monocultures of Microcystis aeruginosa MKR 0105 and Anabaena sp. PCC 7120). 'Cyrkon' corn plants (Zea mays L.) were cultivated in several simulated predicted climate conditions, including constant or periodically changing temperature and soil moisture content. During the vegetative season they were treated at three-week intervals using Biojodis at concentrations of 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0%, and Cyanobacteria, and then assessed using growth and physiological parameters.The obtained results showed the corn's different reactions to the applied conditions. Plants that grew at constant or periodically changing different temperatures (0 to 40ºC) or in unsatisfactorily (20% m.c.) or excessively (60% m.c.) watered soils, developed slowly in comparison with those growing at 20ºC and in optimally moistened media (30% m.c.). Watering, spraying, or watering and spraying of corn plants with Biojodis (1, 2, 3%) and a foliar application of Cyanobacteria increased their growth at optimal or unfavourable temperature and in unsatisfactory or excessively moistened soil. The three times spraying with Biojodis (1 or 2%) and with Cyanobacteria was most promising. The plant development changes related to the used compounds and simulated environmental constraints were associated with the changes in indexes of chlorophyll content in leaves, stability of membranes, gas exchange, and activity of acid or alkaline phosphatase and RNase. The above indicates that foliar and soil application of Biojodis and plant sprayings with Cyanobacteria increased growth of corn cultivated under optimal temperature and soil