Biomass Potential of the Marginal Land of the Polish Sudetes Mountain Range

Marek Helis,Małgorzata Hawrot-Paw,Marek Hryniewicz,Aleksandra Steinhoff-Wrześniewska,Anna Paszkiewicz-Jasińska,Wojciech Golimowski,Maria Strzelczyk,Adam Koniuszy

doi:10.3390/en14217156

Abstract

Marginal land is the area remaining in agricultural use, which is not suitable for food production because of its unfavorable ecological, anthropological, and economic conditions. A certain amount of such land exists in mountainous areas. An analysis was undertaken on the example of the Polish Sudeten mountain range of energy use. The study aimed to estimate the biomass potential for the efficient use of agricultural land in mountain areas. The characteristics of the Polish Sudeten Mountains mountain range were characterized using Geographic Information System (GIS) methods. The Polish Sudeten Mountains covers an area of 370,392 ha, 95,341 ha of which is arable land, 35,726 ha of which is class 5 bonitation land with a northern exposure of 19,030 ha and southern exposure of 16,696 ha. Depending on the sowing structure, we can obtain 331,639 tons/year of dry biomass (Miscanthus sacchariflorus on the southern and Helianthus tuberoses on northern exposure). Fertilization levels will significantly affect low yielding plants, and water stress significantly reduced yields in all cases. Due to the steep slope of the 5th-grade halves and intensive rainfall in the mountain region, the establishment of perennial plantations is recommended. The research shows that after the first year of cultivation, yields of 9.27 tons/ha of dry matter can be obtained with a low yield of trees, shrubs and perennials.

Highlights

Marginal soils are defined as soils remaining in agricultural use or in the cultivated land register which, due to adverse natural, anthropogenic, and economic conditions [1], have low productivity or are unsuitable for healthy food production [2,3]
These plants can be divided into three main groups: trees and shrubs, grasses, and perennials. They are characterized by good tolerance to changing climatic conditions
Many of the perennial arable crops (PAC) species are characterized by low habitat and soil requirements, so the possibility of their cultivation on marginal lands is considered

Summary

Introduction

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Marginal soils are defined as soils remaining in agricultural use or in the cultivated land register which, due to adverse natural, anthropogenic, and economic conditions [1], have low productivity or are unsuitable for healthy food production [2,3]. Growing biomass for energy on agricultural land suitable for food production has been criticized [4]. It has been noted that, unlike fertile agricultural land, marginal land is underutilized due to lack of food production opportunities on it and political considerations [5,6]. Designing marginal areas for functions other than food production should lead to changes in their possible development, taking into account social, economic, and environmental aspects [7]

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Results

Conclusion