Perennial Grass Production Opportunities on Marginal Mediterranean Land

Fernando, Ana Luísa Almaça da Cruz; Boléo, S.; Barbosa, B.; Costa, J.; Duarte, Maria Paula; Monti, Andrea

doi:10.1007/s12155-015-9692-0

Cited by 48 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…The life-cycle energy use and GHG savings of reed canary grass, miscanthus, giant reed and switchgrass used in combined heat and power generation, has been ascribed as one of the most efficient option [43]. The environmental impact assessment (that included cultivation, post-harvest handling and logistic, conversion, use, and end of life), of perennial grasses on marginal Mediterranean lands showed a low erodibility potential with a few environmental side effects [8].…”

Section: Environmental Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Owing to the little land disturbance compared to annual crops, perennial grasses have a high cover value for wildlife, scoring between forests and annual crops in terms of effects on biodiversity [8]. However, negative traits, such as invasiveness for instance, might affect biodiversity significantly.…”

Section: Environmental Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Perennial energy grasses have the ability to grow in variable environments, including marginal lands, thus minimizing the competition with food crops on indirect land use change (iLUC) effects [6]. High environmental and energetic sustainability has also been recognized, as perennial grasses are established only once and harvested yearly, in a plantation life-time spanning from 10 to 25 years [7], resulting in highly positive energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) balances [8]. One of the most important sustainability characteristics of perennial grasses is the lignocellulosic structure of their cell walls that contributes to the natural resistance to pest and diseases [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Perennial Energy Grasses: Resilient Crops in a Changing European Agriculture

Scordia

Cosentino

2019

Agriculture

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This review describes the multiple utilization of perennial grasses as resilient crops for a multifunctional agriculture. Beyond its role of producing food, feed and fiber, the concept of multifunctional agriculture includes many other functions, such as ecosystem services, renewable energy production and a contribution to the socio-economic viability of rural areas. Traditionally used for feed, some perennial grasses—known as perennial energy grasses (e.g., miscanthus—Miscanthus × giganteus Greef et Deuter, giant reed—Arundo donax L., switchgrass—Panicun virgatum L., reed canary grass—Phalaris arundinacea L.)—have been recommended as a biomass source for both energy and non-energy applications, and ecosystem services. Perennial grasses are lignocellulosic, low-cost feedstock, able to grow in variable environments including marginal lands. Due to their high yield, resilient traits, biomass composition, energy and environmental sustainability, perennial grasses are a candidate feedstock to foster the bio-based economy and adapt to a changing agriculture. However, perennial grasses for biomass production are largely undomesticated crops, or are at early stages of development. Hence, a great potential for improvements is expected, provided that research on breeding, agronomy, post-harvest logistic and bioconversion is undertaken in order to deliver resilient genotypes growing and performing well across a broad range of environmental conditions, climatic uncertainty, marginal land type and end-use destinations.

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Section: Environmental Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perennial Energy Grasses: Resilient Crops in a Changing European Agriculture

Scordia

Cosentino

2019

Agriculture

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“…Large scale cultivation of the cardoon in southern Europe, Portugal, with 77.4 ha, biomass average yield was estimated at 7.5 Mg dm ha −1 with 556 mm annual precipitation [47]. Furthermore, cardoon was included in the European project Optimization of Perennial Grasses for Biomass Production in the Mediterranean Area (OPTIMA) due to its higher yield and adaptability to the Mediterranean marginal areas [48], with the aim to establish new strategies for the sustainable use of the marginal land in Mediterranean areas. These facts exhibit its suitability for the inclusion in energy-cropping systems on marginal lands [49].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Arable Marginal Lands under Rainfed Conditions for Bioenergy Purposes in Spain

et al. 2019

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The cultivation of bioenergy crops could be considered as sustainable; however, its use in fertile lands could conflict with food production. The general purpose of this study is to identify areas where traditional food crops are not economically sustainable, but where they could be substituted by energy crops without changing the land use in Spain. We studied the profit margin of the main crops of the country, which are wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), the spatial location of the growing areas, and the biophysical constraints. Spain has an extended area of 9.93 million hectares, with biophysical and/or economic constraints in rainfed arable areas. Grain yields ≤1.5 Mg ha−1 are not profitable; low organic matter content is the principal biophysical constraint. The average results showed a potential of 83.33 GJ ha−1 using triticale (x Triticosecale) and 174.85 GJ ha−1 using cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) in arable marginal lands. The production of biomass in this area would serve to cover between 3%–5% of primary energy needs in Spain for triticale or cardoon. In this respect, establishing energy crops in marginal lands could be an instrument to enhance rural development, boost the bio-economy, and reach environmental targets.

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“…The possibilities of producing biomass from AD in marginal lands of the Mediterranean have also been studied and evaluated [6,7]. To this effect, the impact of salinity and water stress on the production of biomass from AD [8] and also how manure and nitrogen contribute towards its production have been important issues [9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of the Production Factors of Boards Obtained from Arundo donax L. Fibers without Added Adhesives

et al. 2020

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The main objective of this work was to further analyze the optimization of the production factors of Arundo donax L. fiberboards obtained without adhesives. The production of boards derived from Arundo donax L. without added adhesives and with high mechanical performance has already been demonstrated. This present study explored a modification in the production process through a final curing thermal treatment (final heat treatment, FHT). Since pressing time is an influential factor in the production cost, it is expected that curing allows a reduction of this time. This study compared the results obtained by three panel-production alternatives: long pressing time (tp) without curing and long and short tp with FHT. Of the two factors analyzed, pressing pressure (Pp) was the most important production factor in both the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and modulus of rupture (MOR), while curing was the most important factor for the internal bond (IB). The study shows that a FHT facilitates the distribution of lignin and a possible improvement in the quantity and quality of bonds between lignin and cellulosic fibers. As a consequence, it improves the IB, produces boards with more homogeneous physical and mechanical properties and thereby makes them more hydrophobic. The curing thermal treatment allows high performance panels to be obtained in a manner which is more ecological, quicker, and cheaper.

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Perennial Grass Production Opportunities on Marginal Mediterranean Land

Cited by 48 publications

References 56 publications

Perennial Energy Grasses: Resilient Crops in a Changing European Agriculture

Perennial Energy Grasses: Resilient Crops in a Changing European Agriculture

Identification of Arable Marginal Lands under Rainfed Conditions for Bioenergy Purposes in Spain

Optimization of the Production Factors of Boards Obtained from Arundo donax L. Fibers without Added Adhesives

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