Plant biomass for energy and phytoremediation purposes: three-year analysis of Phalaris arundinacea production on contaminated lands in central Italy

Riccardo Alemanno, Leonardo Bianchini, Richard Lord, Benjamin Nunn, Andrea Colantoni

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Energy production is one of the main challenges that continues to unsettle nations. The cultivation of plant species as biomass for energy purposes is an option but raises the issue of taking land away from food production. A solution to this controversy has been identified by exploiting those soils that cannot be used for food production, namely contaminated soils. The present study focuses on the evaluation of the biomass productivity of Phalaris arundinacea (Reed Canary Grass) in three different fields in Central Italy, which present potentially toxic element (PTE) contamination. The experiment was conducted over three consecutive years. This study is part of the CERESiS (ContaminatEd land Remediation through Energy crops for Soil improvement to liquid biofuels Strategies) Project which has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 101006717, which started in November 2020 and is set to end in 2024. P. arundinacea is a species that lends itself to biomass production and to the phytoremediation and phytostabilisation of contaminated soils. The three cultivated areas with different textures (EA: sandy loam, B1: clay loam and B2: clay) were prepared with a minimum tillage system in late winter 2021 and sown in spring 2021. Annually, the crop received urea-based nitrogen fertilisation (100 kg ha-1) in late spring and sprinkler irrigation in dry periods. In the “EA” area, additional tests were conducted with different amounts of nitrogen fertiliser (0 - 50 - 100 kg ha-1) and seed treatment with biostimulant based on Trichoderma spp. Production was estimated by sampling the biomass at different annual times. In areas B1 and B2 through two annual mowings (August and November). In EA, on the other hand, the sampling method allowed for the estimation of a single and/or double mowing at different times (August, mid-September and November). This experimental design allowed assessment of biomass growth, regrowth, and bioaccumulation capacity. At harvest time, a chemical-physical characterisation of the biomass was carried out.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Mar 2024
Externally publishedYes
EventEGU24 General Assembly - Vienna, Austria
Duration: 14 Apr 202419 Apr 2024
https://www.egu24.eu/

Conference

ConferenceEGU24 General Assembly
Abbreviated titleEGU24
Country/TerritoryAustria
CityVienna
Period14/04/2419/04/24
Internet address

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Plant biomass for energy and phytoremediation purposes: three-year analysis of Phalaris arundinacea production on contaminated lands in central Italy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this