Journal of Ecological Engineering (Dec 2023)
Evaluation of the Efficiency of Energy Populus (Poplar) Growing Technology as an Alternative Source of Energy
Abstract
After conducting research on energy Populus plants, it was discovered that biometric indicators and productivity were affected by both sowing density and nutritional background. The results showed that the tallest energy Populus shoots were observed in the group with a sowing density of 5600 pieces/ha, reaching heights of 11.1–11.6 m. The diameter of the central shoot in this variant was between 157 and 163 mm. The number of shoots was 1.8–2.5 pcs. on 1 plant and 21600–30000 pcs. on 1 hectare. The variant with a sowing density of 6700 units/ha yielded the most energy Populus biomass, specifically 178.3 tons of green mass and 100.9 tons of dry mass per hectare. Compared to the variant with a sowing density of 8300 units/ha, this represented an increase of 19.9 and 11.3 t/ha respectively, and an increase of 18.0 and 10.4 t/ha respectively, when compared to the variant with a sowing density of 5600 units/ha. The utilization of mineral fertilizers was shown to notably enhance productivity, as evidenced by an increase in green mass of 21.1–37.1 t/ha and an increase in dry mass of 11.2–20.6 t/ha across all trial variations. In the Precarpathian region, where sod podzolized soils are prevalent, the optimal sowing density of energy Populus biofuel was determined to be 6700 pcs./ha, with a yield of 110.990 kg/ha achieved through the application of mineral fertilizers. This approach generated an energy output of 1775.8 GJ/ha. In the case of a sowing density of 8300 units/ha and the use of mineral fertilizers, the energy output produced was 1576.9 GJ/ha, whereas sowing density of 5600 units/ha resulted in an energy output of 1591.0 GJ/ha. The introduction of mineral fertilizers led to an increase in energy output ranging from 12.3 to 22.6 GJ/ha for all experimental variants.
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