Evaluation of biomass quality of selected woody species depending
on the soil enrichment practice
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1
Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production, Faculty of Environmental Management and Agriculture,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Plac Łódzki 3, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
2
Department of Plant Breeding and Seed Production,
University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Plac Łódzki 3, 10-724 Olsztyn, Poland
Publication date: 2018-02-03
Int. Agrophys. 2018, 32(1): 111-121
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ABSTRACT
Perennial energy crops are a source of the biomass used to generate energy. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical and thermophysical parameters of short rotation woody crops (black locust, poplar and willow), depending on soil enrichment practice (mineral fertilisation, lignin and mycorrhiza), in three- and four-year harvest cycles. In the study, the thermophysical properties and elemental composition of the biomass were determined. All analyses were performed in triplicate according to the standards. The fresh black locust biomass had the lowest moisture content, which resulted in the best lower heating value (10.16 MJ kg-1, on average) in the four-year harvest cycle. The poplar biomass had the greatest higher heating value, fixed carbon, carbon and ash content, the highest concentrations of which were found in the biomass in which lignin was applied (2.00% d.m.). On the other hand, the willow biomass contained the lowest concentrations of ash and fixed carbon. Soil enrichment significantly differentiated the quality parameters of black locust, poplar and willow. This effect is of particular importance to those who grow and use biomass as a fuel.