Comprehensive assessment of growing bioenergy crops as affected by various fertilization system

Abstract

Purpose. To found out the features of mineral nutrition of plants and application of microbial formulations for growing switchgrass and miscanthus under the soil and climatic conditions of Polissia.Methods. Field.Results. The effect of different fertilization systems on productivity, energy and economic efficiency in growing miscanthus and switchgrass is shown. The largest biomass of miscanthus (12.3 t/ha) and switchgrass (9.6 t/ha) was obtained in the treatment with alternative sources of organic fertilizers (green manure + straw) and with partial replacement of mineral fertilizer by complex liquid fertilizer Oasis. Analysis of the economic efficiency of growing bioenergy crops showed that the profitability of miscanthus biomass production for three years amounted to 53 % when introducing manure 40.0 t/ha + N40P15K60 and 95 % when replacing manure by green manure and straw N20P15K55 + Oasis (N20).Conclusions. For energy crops, it is appropriate to use alternative sources of organic fertilizers (straw, 10 t/ha + green manure Lupinus angustifolius) and reduce fertilizer rates by applying liquid multimineral fertilizer Oasis. The maximum estimated yield of solid fuel and energy was obtained from biomass of switchgrass (10.6 t/ha and (169.6 GJ), and miscanthus (13.4 t/ha and 214.4 GJ) in the treatment with green manure + straw, 10 t/ha + N20R15K55 + Oasis, which is 17–21 %, respectively, greater than against the background (manure 40.0 t/ha + N40R15K60).