Abstract
The sustainability of purpose-grown biomass production on marginal lands in Canada is uncertain. In this study, an assessment of biomass yield and sustainability was performed for two poplar clones (Poplus deltoides × P. nigra, DN-34—PDN, and P. nigra × P. maximowiczii, NM-6—PNM) and two switchgrass cultivars (Panicum virgatum ‘Cave-in-Rock’—SGC, and P. virgatum ‘Nebraska’—SGN) on three marginal lands in Guelph (ON), Kemptville (ON), and Nappan (NS) in Canada. The differences in stem biomass across sites were not significant; however, differences in stem biomass among plants were statistically significant between poplar and switchgrass (p < 0.0001) and between poplar clones (p < 0.0001). The 2-yr stem biomass yield in PNM (15.27 ± 1.28 t ha−1) was significantly higher than those in PDN (7.02 ± 0.54 t ha−1), SGC (2.57 ± 0.28 t ha−1), and SGN (1.45 ± 0.22 t ha−1). Two sustainability indices based on macronutrients (MBSI) and nitrogen (NBSI), were developed to assess sustainability. Both indices show that th...
Highlights
The demand for biomass is increasing for renewable energy production
These results show that differences between overall leaf biomass and root biomass yields across sites are statistically significant, whereas stem biomass yields across sites are comparable (Table 2)
The Kemptville site shows a different trend, where macronutrient-based sustainability index (MBSI) is relatively higher than nitrogenbased sustainability index (NBSI) for poplar (PDN, 1.94 ± 0.40 and 1.30 ± 0.26; PNM, 0.82 ± 0.01 and 0.50 ± 0.002, respectively, for MBSI and NBSI), but lower for switchgrass (SGC, 0.64 ± 0.10 and 0.72 ± 0.10; SGN, 0.75 ± 0.18 and 0.96 ± 0.24, respectively, for MBSI and NBSI)
Summary
It is estimated that by 2030, biomass would be the single most important renewable energy resource, with 30% utilization in biofuel production and the contribution of biomass from purpose-grown crops, within the bioenergy mix, will increase up to 33%–39% (Nakada et al 2014). Achievement of this potential biomass from purpose-grown crops mainly depends on two highly uncertain factors: land availability and biomass yields derived from available lands (Bauen et al 2009). It is estimated that about 9.48 million hectares of marginal lands in Canada can be utilized for purpose-grown biomass (Liu et al 2012)
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