Bioenergy potential of perennial grasses’ phytocenosis

Abstract

V. Kurgak, doctor of agricultural sciences A. Tkachenko NSC "Institute of Agriculture of NAASU" BIOENERGY POTENTIAL OF PERENNIAL GRASSES' PHYTOCENOSISThe purpose. To determine bioenergy potential of perennial grasses' phytocenosis of Ukraine and to make suggestions on its implementation. Methods. System analysis, field, laboratory, economic-mathematical. Results. Bioenergy potential is shown of perennial grasses' phytocenosis of Ukraine and power productivity of rare perennial crops and varied meadow grass stands depending on technological receptions of growing. Conclusions. Perennial agrophitocenosises (natural forage lands, vegetation of overflow lands, marshes, and power crops) are the important reserve for production of biological fuel from biomass. The most efficient perennial power crops (Miscanthus× giganteus J.M. Greef, Deuter ex Hodk., Silphium perfoliatum, Polygonum weyrichii and Polygonum sachalinensis, Sida hermaphrodita Rusby, Heliánthus tuberósus) ensure deriving of 14 -18 tons of dry solid matter from 1 hectare and 250 -300 gigajoules of heat energy, improved natural forage lands -4 -6 tons and 75 -110 gigajoules accordingly.Key words: perennial grasses' phytocenosis, bioenergetics, biomass, energy potential, natural forage lands, productivity.To reduce Ukraine's energy dependence great value has the development and use of biofuel renewable energy, in particular biomass. Due to the cost rising of energy resources, huge amounts of renewable energy, including biomass, successfully used worldwide. In current situation, approximately 80% of world energy supplies rely on nonrenewable fossil fuels.At the current rate of consumption, all types of traditional fuel expected to last for around 60 years [11]. Today the volume of biomass production as fuel is the fourth largest in the world. Its share in total primary energy production is 10%. In the European Union the share of biomass in total energy consumption is 7% [9]. In leaders among EU countries (Latvia, Finland, Sweden, of Denmark, Austria) share of biomass in gross energy consumption is between 16 and 28%, while in Ukraine -not more than 1%. Among all types of biomass, share of solid biomass is the largest and makes 80% and vary by country from 0 to 94%. The largest is in Finland.

Prospectives of Growing Energy Crops for the Production of Different Types of Biofuel

“…The theoretical potential of biomass is almost 50 million tons of fuel equivalent, while the economically feasible volume ranges from 2 to 27 million tons. As for non-traditional herbaceous perennial energy crops, such as silphium, Jerusalem artichoke, miscanthus and sida, their production is estimated at 0.60 and 0.35 million tons, respectively [Kurgak et al, 2013;Kurgak et al, 2021;Radchenko et al, 2023]. The use of new high-yielding herbaceous energy crops, which are not yet widely used in the agricultural sector of Ukraine, has obvious advantages.…”

“…The use of new high-yielding herbaceous energy crops, which are not yet widely used in the agricultural sector of Ukraine, has obvious advantages. The yield of thermal energy per hectare of energy crops is different [Kurgak and Tkachenko, 2016]. In particular, sida and miscanthus produce the largest amount of energy for the production of solid fuels [Heletukha et al, 2010;Rieznik et al, 2021].…”