Biomass and Biogas Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) Grown under Artificial Shading

Abstract

Agroforestry, as an improved cropping system, offers some advantages in terms of yield, biodiversity, erosion protection or habitats for beneficial insects. It can fulfill the actual sustainability requirements for bioenergy production like food supply, nature conservation, stop of deforestation. However, competition between intercropped species for water, nutrients and light availability has to be carefully considered. A field trial with shading nets was conducted in Southwest Germany to evaluate the influence of different shading levels (−12, −26, and −50% of full sunlight) on biomass growth, dry matter yield and biogas quality parameters of maize (Zea mays L., cv. ‘Corioli CS’). Shading the plants causes a delayed development, a reduction in height and leaf area index and a slower senescence. Dry matter yields were reduced about 18%, 19%, and 44% compared to 21.05 Mg ha−1 year−1 at full sunlight. Biogas and methane yields were also significantly reduced, the 50% shading treatment showed a reduction of 45% for both parameters. Further, shading led to higher crude protein and crude ash contents. If silage maize is grown under shade, the yields of dry matter, biogas, and methane are nearly halved under 50% shade. Cultivation up to 26% shading could be possible.

Chemical Composition and Biogas Formation potential of Sida hermaphrodita and Silphium perfoliatum

“…Ash is not a substrate for biogas production, and protein has a markedly lower digestibility coefficient as compared with the other components included in the model. The XA of the Sida and Silphium were high in comparison with other energy crops, e.g., maize [37]. The XA content in the examined biomass was higher in crops harvested in June, just as in the study of the chemical properties of perennial energy crops depending on harvest period, which showed that the biomass of the other semi-wood or straw crop species contained less ash on later harvest dates [38].…”

Impact of Different Shading Levels on Growth, Yield and Quality of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

“…A distance of 0.5 m between the nets and canopy surface was guaranteed. Further information about the experiment layout can be found in Schulz et al [39]. Table 2 shows the total incoming daily solar irradiance at the experimental site from the time of the potato crop emergence (Growth Stage (GS) 009) to the tuber harvest (GS 909) for each experimental year and the theoretically reduced incoming total solar irradiance under the shading nets.…”

“…In all cases, after finding significant differences via the F-test, differences between treatments were compared at α = 5% using Fisher's least significant difference test (LSD). More information on the statistics used can be found in Schulz et al [39]. The growth parameters for plant height were fitted for each plot with the function 'nls' of the R packages 'nlstools' and 'car' [54,55].…”

Green, Yellow, and Woody Biomass Supply-Chain Management: A Review

“…In the same work, the energy performance under different in-field operational management scenarios was evaluated for these two crops. The effect of three levels of shade (low, medium, and high) on Maize production (such as growth and yield) that is cultivated for biogas production was evaluated in [27]. These levels of artificial shading were presented to affect the biogas-related parameters (such as leaf area index and energy availability for plant growth) and the final biogas and methane yield.…”