Evaluation of biomass quality of selected woody species depending on the soil enrichment practice

Abstract

A b s t r a c t. Perennial energy crops are a source of the biomass used to generate energy. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical and thermophysical parameters of short rotation woody crops (black locust, poplar and willow), depending on soil enrichment practice (mineral fertilisation, lignin and mycorrhiza), in three-and four-year harvest cycles. In the study, the thermophysical properties and elemental composition of the biomass were determined. All analyses were performed in triplicate according to the standards. The fresh black locust biomass had the lowest moisture content, which resulted in the best lower heating value (10.16 MJ kg -1

Energy Value of Yield and Biomass Quality of Poplar Grown in Two Consecutive 4-Year Harvest Rotations in the North-East of Poland

“…The C, H, S and N content as determined in the authors' earlier examinations of 4-year old shoots of Populus nigra × P. Maximowiczii Henry cv. Max-5 was similar: 51.0, 5.8, 0.024, 0.44% DM [46]. The C, H, S and N content in other studies was also similar: 50.3, 6.1, 0.03 and 0.42% DM [50].…”

“…In another study, the average ash content in 4-year old shoots of Populus nigra × P. Maximowiczii Henry cv. Max-5 was slightly higher (1.8% DM), and the LHV was very similar (7.5 MJ kg −1 ) [46]. Different LHV results in our study were determined by different moisture content and biomass HHV between the rotations since LHV was calculated based on these two parameters.…”

“…In another study by the authors, the fixed carbon and volatile matter content in 4-year old shoots of Populus nigra × P. Maximowiczii Henry cv. Max-5 was 20.8% d.m and 77.4% DM, respectively, and the moisture content was 55.7% [46]. Other studies have also confirmed that the moisture content in poplar upon harvest is high and exceeds 50%; sometimes even exceeding 60% [33,[47][48][49][50].…”

Willow Biomass as Energy Feedstock: The Effect of Habitat, Genotype and Harvest Rotation on Thermophysical Properties and Elemental Composition

“…The mean ash content in willow biomass harvested in a 3-and 4-year rotation was 1.4% d.m. and 1.2% d.m., respectively [36]. Even higher ash content in willow biomass (1.9-3%) was found in another study [38,43].…”

“…Moreover, the willow biomass moisture content in this study was relatively low -it was below 50% in the majority of cases. In contrast, the biomass moisture content in willow harvested in 3-or 4-year rotations often exceeded 50% [36][37][38]. The biomass moisture content in a longer, 7-year rotation in S. alba exceeded 52%, and it was below 50% in S. viminalis [10].…”