Abstract
The present pilot study examined the potential of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) as an energy source. The fresh matter of whole tobacco plants, the yield of dry matter of stems and leaves, as well as the higher heating value and methane production potential from tobacco biomass were determined. The yield of tobacco leaves was on average 4.69 Mg ha−1 (dry matter) and 76.90 GJ ha−1 yr−1 (biomass energy yield). Tobacco stems yielded on average 8.55 Mg ha−1 and 150.69 GJ ha−1 yr−1, while yields of whole tobacco crops were (on average) 13.24 Mg ha−1 and 227.59 GJ ha−1 yr−1. Methane potential of tobacco plants was (on average) 248 Nm3 Mg−1 VS (volatile solids). The tobacco plants tested in the study could be used as energy crops as their dry matter and energy yields are similar to those of the most popular energy crops being currently used in biomass production in Poland and the European Union. Nevertheless, further studies to choose the Nicotiana species and varieties most suitable for energy production and to assess the cost-effectiveness of tobacco biomass production are needed.
Highlights
Most agricultural land is used for food production purposes as food production is the most important role of agriculture
The tobacco leaves dry matter differed between locations from
This study showed that the energy yields of stems were approximately two times higher (150.7 GJ ha−1 yr−1 ) than the energy yields of leaves (76.9 GJ ha−1 yr−1 ) (Table 3)
Summary
Most agricultural land is used for food production purposes as food production is the most important role of agriculture. A portion of agricultural land has always been devoted to non-food products that are used as industrial biomaterials and bioenergy sources [1]. One of the plants that can be used for various non-food purposes is tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). The main yield of tobacco, contain about 1–4% fatty acids per dry weight, but that can be raised to almost 7%. By metabolic engineering (expression of other plant species genes), which makes tobacco a good production platform for biofuel [2]. Tobacco seeds contain about 40% oil, which can be used as a diesel fuel in turbocharged, indirect injection engines [4]. Stems are built of 60% polysaccharides, which could possibly make tobacco a significant source of bioethanol [5]
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