Postharvest residues from grass seed crops for bioenergy

Abstract

During grass seed production, a large amount of low forage quality biomass has been produced. Tall growing perennial grasses such as tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L.) and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) can be used as an alternative source for bioenergy production as they can be grown in less cultivated areas, their residues in seed production could be valuable energy source and can be potentially used as a dual purpose crop (bioenergy and forage). In this research, potentials of yearly biomass production of two important forage grasses grown for seed (Italian ryegrass and tall fescue) varying modes of sowing and nitrogen fertilisation were shown. As a byproduct, postharvest residues of Italian ryegrass reached to 8.8 t/ha in the Mačva region in favourable weather conditions, during 4-year production, while tall fescue reached in southern Banat 10.6 t/ha in the first and 15.1 t/ha in the second year of production.

Keywords

• bioenergy
• biomass
• grass
• seed crop