Energy production analysis of Common Reed – Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin.

Abstract

Slovakia is acountry with limited natural resources, therefore its essential task is to search for new renewable sources of energy to reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels. The results of research confirmed that the Common Reed (Phragmites australis(Cav.) Trin.) has considerable potential of phytomass production and energy storage (calorific value reached 17,448 J g−1d.w.). Biomass production of Common Reed under natural conditions of the lower Liptov region reached 12.702 tons of a dry mater per hectare with the calculated energy storage of 221.622 GJ ha−1. The average biogas production was 351.31 l kg−1of a dry matter of which the methane (CH4) content represents 185.21 l kg−1(52.72%). With regards to the values of combustion heat, a calorific value and the production of methane it can also be noted that in case of Common Reed it is more profitable to focus on direct combustion of biomass than the production of biogas and methane.

Secondary enrichment of soil by alkaline emissions: The specific form of anthropo‐geogenic soil degradation near magnesite processing factories and possibilities of land management

“…Higher Mg accumulation was identified in plants growing in affected area and forming large monocultures: E. repens 21,208 mg kg −1 , P. australis 6,860 mg kg −1 , and A. stolonifera 5,419 mg kg −1 (Fazekaš et al, 2018). Of these plants, only P. australis was characterised by high biomass production, that is 12.7 t ha −1 of dry matter (Demko, Machava, & Saniga, 2017). Therefore, its' use as a source of biomass bio‐forticated by Mg for compost production can be considered.…”

“…A prospective plant is P. australis , which is abundant in humid locations with pH above 9 (Huttmanová et al, 2015) and this has spontaneously appeared in our study locality recently. Natural production in Slovakia is 12.7 t ha −1 of dry matter with high‐energy storage of 221.622 GJ ha −1 (Demko et al, 2017). Therefore, it is more profitable to use P. australis for direct biomass combustion, or production of biofuel pellets, than for the production of biogas and methane.…”

“…A prospective plant is P. australis, which is abundant in humid locations with pH above 9 (Huttmanová et al, 2015) and this has spontaneously appeared in our study locality recently. Natural production in Slovakia is 12.7 t ha −1 of dry matter with high-energy storage of 221.622 GJ ha −1 (Demko et al, 2017).…”

Secondary enrichment of soil by alkaline emissions: the specific form of anthropogenic soil degradation near magnesite processing factories and possibilities of land management

“…6,860 mg kg -1 and Agrostis stolonifera (L.) 5,419 mg kg -1 (Fazekaš et al, 2018). Of these plants, onlyPhragmites australis was characterised by high biomass production, that is 12.7 t ha -1 of dry matter (Demko et al, 2017). Therefore, its use as a source of biomass bio-forticated by Mg for compost production can be considered.…”

“…A prospective plant is Phragmites australis , which is abundant in humid locations with pH above 9 (Huttmanová et al, 2015) and has spontaneously appeared in the locality only recently. Natural production in Slovakia is 12.7 t ha -1 of dry matter with high-energy storage of 221.622 GJ ha -1 (Demko et al, 2017). Therefore, it is more profitable to usePhragmites australis for direct biomass combustion, or production of biofuel pellets, than for the production of biogas and methane.…”