BIO-AGRONOMIC EVALUATION OF BRASSICA CARINATA A. BRAUN IN A SEMI-ARID AREA OF SICILY

摘要

The need to reduce fossil fuel consumption for environmental and economic reasons is placing thefarming sector in a whole new light with a new set of tasks to face. Concerns arising from climate change anddecisions resulting from the Kyòto Protocol have helped reinforce the idea that multifunctional farms can make a realcontribution to achieving the targets set for 2012. As a producer of dedicated energy crops – crops used to supplybiomass for energy – the farm becomes a supplier of raw materials for fuel production or of energy directly. Foreconomic, social and environmental reasons, agro-energy may be the way forward to encourage multi-functionalismin farming and, therefore, increase opportunities for farmers. To make this possible, research must address theeconomic sustainability of the system to ensure feasibility. The issue of energy sustainability proposed in this studywas addressed by evaluating the introduction of Brassica carinata A. Braun into crop farming systems in Sicily andmaking use of the lignocellulosic crop residue biomass in addition to the seeds (for which it is traditionallycultivated). Trials from 2007-09 showed a group of Ethiopian mustard accessions with both good performance andenergy production levels.