A multi-adaptive framework for the crop choice in paludicultural cropping systems

Abstract

The conventional cultivation of drained peatland causes peat oxidation, soil subsidence,\ud nutrient loss, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity reduction. Paludiculture\ud has been identified as an alternative management strategy consisting in the cultivation of\ud biomass on wet and rewetted peatlands. This strategy can save these habitats and restore the\ud ecosystem services provided by the peatlands both on the local and global scale.\ud This paper illustrates the most important features to optimise the crop choice phase, which is\ud the crucial point for the success of paludiculture systems.\ud A multi-adaptive framework was proposed. It was based on four points that should be\ud checked to identify suitable crops for paludicultural cropping system: biological traits,\ud biomass production, attitude to cultivation and biomass quality. The main agronomic\ud implications were explored with the help of some results from a plurennial open-field\ud experimentation carried out in a paludicultural system set up in the Massaciuccoli Lake Basin\ud (Tuscany, Italy) and a complete example of the method application was provided. The tested\ud crops were Arundo donax L., Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter, Phragmites australis\ud L., Populus × canadensis Moench. and Salix alba L. The results showed a different level of\ud suitability ascribable to the different plant species proving that the proposed framework can\ud discriminate the behaviour of tested crops. Phragmites australis L.was the most suitable crop\ud whereas Populus × canadensis Moench and Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter (in the\ud case of biogas conversion) occupied the last positions in the ranking

Effect of Harvest Time and Frequency on Biomass Quality and Biomethane Potential of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) Under Paludiculture Conditions

“…In addition to the provided environmental services such as restoration of water regimes (no drainage), improvement of water quality, reduction of GHG emissions, and slowing down mineralization of the organic matter and soil subsidence, paludiculture can contribute to a sustainable production of biomass on former degraded, unproductive, and marginal lands. The crucial point for the success of paludiculture cropping systems is the choice of the crop to use, because it has to meet different needs such as longevity, harvestability, productivity, and attitude to produce bioenergy [60].…”

Ornamental plants for floating treatment wetlands: preliminary results

“…Although Silvestri et al (2017) reported a multi-adaptive framework to select crops in paludicultural cropping systems, mainly basing on crops biological traits, biomass production and quality as well as aptitude to cultivation, no similar methodologies have been found for artificial floating islands. For this reason, a suitability index (SI) was elaborated to describe the capability of ornamental species to survive in FTWs.…”