Energy Aspects of Exploitation of Pruning Residues from Apple Production

Abstract

Large quantities of biomass result from fruit pruning, which is a re­quired pomotechnical operation. Long-standing practice of destroying and burning the pruning residues is hard to change, although energy and envi­ronmental indicators point to the importance of the proper biomass exploitation. The aim of this study is to show the quantity and energy value of pruning residues from apple production, as well as ways and means of their proper exploitation. In Republicof Serbia, apple is grown at 40,000 ha, with the usual biomass yield (3 t ha-1 pruning residues). Upper heating value of pruning residues for two apple varieties (Idared and Jonagold), with 42.36% moisture, was 18.14 MJ kg-1 average.