THE POTENTIAL OF SWITCHGRASS FOR BIOENERGY PRODUCTION IN COMPARISION TO REED CANARY GRASS UNDER COOL TEMPERATE CLIMATE CONDITIONS

摘要

The present research was aimed to compare the yield and chemical composition of alternative C4rnenergy plant switchgrass and native reed canary grass in the cool temperate climate of Europe. The results suggestrnthat the dry matter yield of grasses depended on plant age and significantly differed between species. When the firstrncut had been taken at seed filling stage once per season the dry matter yield of switchgrass amounted to 242 – 493 grnper plant from the 1st to the 3rd harvest year and when cut twice per season it decreased by 20% – 92% respectively.rnThe dry matter yield of reed canary grass remained more stable. Switchgrass biomass accumulated on average morernlignocellulose than reed canary grass at the respective stage. However, reed canary grass biomass had higher contentrnof non-structural carbohydrates than switchgrass, which made the latter inferior to reed canary grass as a feedstockrnfor biogas production. Comparison of ash concentration and mineral composition in switchgrass biomass cut at seedrnfilling stage with that of reed canary grass showed switchgrass to be a more valuable energy crop for combustion withrnlower ash, K, N, S and Cl concentration.