Energy Potential of the Black Locust Stands Within Ukraine's North Steppe

Abstract

Ensuring energy security and creating own energy supply using regional alternative energy sources is an important part of the strategy of sustainable development of Ukraine. Tree biomass energy as one of the few environmentally friendly types of fuel and renewable energy sources is used in Ukraine to contribute substantial savings of local fossil fuels. The research aims at assessing the energy potential of black locust plantations of the North Steppe of Ukraine on the basis of the determination of the components of aboveground phytomass of the tree stands and the deposited carbon. To investigate components of aboveground plant biomass we laid temporary plots in black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) stands within Northern Steppe of Ukraine. To evaluate the carbon content and the accumulated energy in the phytomass we used averaged scientific data, indicating that the average ratio of carbon to one ton of woody biomass (wood, bark) is 0.50, and for the fraction of the leaves – 0.45. Consequently, ste has revealed that energy potential of black locust stands of the North Steppe of Ukraine is 32188.14 GJ. Wood trunks are of the highest energy potential. We also etermined specific and general values of the components of aboveground phytomass in the context of the age structure of the plantations. The proportion of stored energy is the highest in black locust stands ranging from 41 to 60 years old, which is overmature age group. Furthermore, we made calculation of the deposited carbon components of biomass of wood and bark of trunks, branches, foliage mass of different age groups. Finally, we determined the content of the total energy of aboveground phytomass of the studied forest stands in relation to the component and age structures. To sum up we should note that Robinia pseudoacacia L. stands in the North Steppe of Ukraine perform soil conservation and protective functions, having significant resource potential today and in the near future. Their energy potential is 32,188.14 GJ. The results of the quantitative evaluation of the volume of aboveground biomass components of deposited carbon and accumulated energy reflect the current options of environmental and energy potential.