Biomass Resources of Phragmites australis in Kazakhstan: Historical Developments, Utilization, and Prospects

Abstract

Common reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steud.) is a highly productive wetland plant and a potentially valuable source of renewable biomass worldwide. There is more than 10 million ha of reed area globally, distributed mainly across Eurasia followed by America and Africa. The literature analysis in this paper revealed that Kazakhstan alone harbored ca. 1,600,000–3,000,000 ha of reed area, mostly distributed in the deltas and along the rivers of the country. Herein, we explored the total reed biomass stock of 17 million t year−1 which is potentially available for harvesting in the context of wise use of wetlands. The aim of this paper is to reveal the distribution of reed resource potential in wetland areas of 13 provinces of Kazakhstan and the prospects for its sustainable utilization. Reed can be used as feedstock as an energy source for the production of pellets and biofuels, as lignocellulosic biomass for the production of high strength fibers for novel construction and packaging materials, and innovative polymers for lightweight engineering plastics and adhesive coatings. Thereby, it is unlikely that reed competes for land that otherwise is used for food production.

Water Level Fluctuations and Air Temperatures Affect Common Reed Habitus and Productivity in an Intermittent Wetland Ecosystem

“…Vital reed stands may increase the resilience of the landscape because by producing high biomass quantities, they provide various ecosystem services. They positively affect the local climate, purify water, present a source of biomass and a reservoir for water, and serve as a habitat and refuge for a variety of species [25,33,[48][49][50][51].…”

Study of the Floristic, Morphological, and Genetic (atpF–atpH, Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), matK, psbK–psbI, rbcL, and trnH–psbA) Differences in Crataegus ambigua Populations in Mangistau (Kazakhstan)

“…Genetic differences between populations were identified for four out of six markers, which indicates the robust utility of these genetic markers in populations of C. ambigua . Genetic markers are among the best tools for identifying key populations [ 46 , 72 ]. The fourth population of Samal, based on the genetic marker psbK–psbI, stood out as the root group of the others.…”

L-(+)-Lactic Acid from Reed: Comparing Various Resources for the Nutrient Provision of B. coagulans

“…Notably, sustainable harvesting of reed is beneficial to the wetland ecosystem, while at the same time expected to provide viable income to local communities [11]. In their recent study, Baibagyssov et al [12] estimated a quantity of at least 30 million tonnes of annually available biomass worldwide.…”