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Influence of Harvest Time on Fuel Characteristics of Five Potential

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Influence of Harvest Time on Fuel Characteristics of Five Potential 中国科技论文在线 http://www.paper.edu.cn Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 479–485 Influence of harvest time on fuel characteristics of five potential energy crops in northern China Shaojun Xiong a,b,*, Quan-Guo Zhang a, Da-Yong Zhang a, Rolf Olsson b a College of Life Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China b Unit of Biomass Technology and Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 4097, SE-904 03 Umea˚, Sweden Received 4 September 2006; received in revised form 17 January 2007; accepted 21 January 2007 Available online 26 March 2007 Abstract Five potential energy crops in northern China were examined for fuel characteristics over different harvest times to test whether or not a delayed harvest improves fuel quality in a semiarid area in China as is the case in northern Europe and North America. The five crops include indigo bush (Amorpha fruticosa), sand willow (Salix cheilophila), switch grass (Panicum virgatum), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), and sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia). These crops are considered as fuels for thermal conversion. From September 2002 to April 2003, biomass was sampled monthly, and the effects of harvest time on the fuel characteristics of the five crops were studied. With respect to ash and some undesired element contents in biomass, a delayed harvest in spring resulted in a better fuel quality than a traditional harvest in autumn. Of the five species, indigo bush and sand willow had the lowest ash contents when harvested in spring. Switch grass is a promising herbaceous energy crop in semiarid areas in terms of its yield, fuel characteristics, and low water use. Chlorine had the most significant correlation with harvest time and ash content in the biomass. In a comparison with the biofuel crops in Europe and North America, a much higher proportion of chlorine was found in all examined plants. The results from this study indicate that an energy crop with delayed harvest may extend fuel resources and conserve soil in semiarid regions in northern China, practices that will help maintain and improve economical and ecological sustainability. Ó 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Energy crop; Delayed harvest; Fuel characteristics; Semiarid; China 1. Introduction 2000). The most promising energy crops in these regions include willow (Salix ssp.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), In the last 20 years, interest in using biomass for energy and reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea). Studies production has been growing (IEA, 1998a,b; Agarwal and (Obernberger et al., 1997; Landstrom et al., 1996; Burvall, Agarwal, 1999b; Bain and Overend, 2002). This renewable 1997) indicate that the yield and fuel characteristics of energy resource may help mitigate greenhouse gas and energy crops may vary from place to place. Little is known, reduce acid rain. In addition, energy crop cultivation can however, whether or not these energy crops can be used for maintain and improve ecological and social sustainability. thermal conversion in the semiarid regions in north China. Researchers have identified quite a few species as cur- Although delayed harvest (winter or following spring rent/potential energy crops in Europe and North America harvest, Olsson et al., 1989) decreases yield (Hadders and (IEA, 1998b; Venendaal et al., 1997; Samson and Duxbury, Olsson, 1997; Lewandowski and Heinz, 2003), it is impor- tant in the biofuel production economy because it cuts off artificial drying cost while providing hygienically acceptable * Corresponding author. Address: Unit of Biomass Technology and biomass material (Olsson et al., 1989; Landstrom et al., Chemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 4097, SE-904 03 Umea˚, Sweden. Tel.: +46 90 786 8778; fax: +46 90 786 8799. 1996; Burvall, 1997). It has also been demonstrated that E-mail address: [email protected] (S. Xiong). the delayed harvest system could improve fuel quality and 0960-8524/$ - see front matter Ó 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2007.01.034 转载 中国科技论文在线 http://www.paper.edu.cn 480 S. Xiong et al. / Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 479–485 reduce fertilization costs. Delayed harvest reduces undesir- region with a typical inland climate. Yearly precipitation able components such as Cl, K, Ca, P, S, and N in biomass is about 360 mm (average of 30 years) and 50–60% of the (Burvall, 1997; Lewandowski and Heinz, 2003), which in yearly rain falls in July, August, and September. Winter turn likely contributes to a low emissions of environmentally is usually dry with a mean value of less than 5 mm rainfall harmful substances such as NOx (Agarwal and Agarwal, from December to February in last 10 years (Fig. 1). 1999a,b; Obernberger et al., 1997; Lewandowski and Heinz, Monthly mean temperature is À9.0 °C for January and 2003; Paulrud and Nilsson, 2001) and less sintering and cor- 23.5 °C for July. The frost-free period is about 135–138 rosion problems (Agarwal and Agarwal, 1999a; Miles et al., days from May to September. 1996). In addition, delayed harvest may decrease the amount The site is part of the energy crop plantation of Shanxi of nutrients removed from the soil (Hadders and Olsson, Laowan Bioenergy Technology Corp. This loess soil has 1997; Agarwal and Agarwal, 1999a). Current knowledge, been cultivated for a long time. In May 2002, available however, is obtained mostly from northern Europe and N, P, and K content were 52.4, 5.9, and 125 mg/kg, respec- North America where rain and snow may play an important tively. The total nitrogen and organic matter in the soil role in nutrient leaching from crops to soil during late were about 0.04% and 0.57%. We chose and studied the autumn, winter, and early spring. Little is known about species from the following six plots each named for the spe- whether delayed harvest is important for energy crop cies genus: (1) Amorpha (indigo bush); (2) Salix (sand wil- production for biofuels in dry areas. low); (3) Panicum 01 (switch grass); (4) Panicum 02 (switch The cultivation of energy crops is important in northern grass); (5) Phalaris (reed canary grass); and (6) Onobrychis China because of economical growth and environmental (sainfoin). These plots make it possible to compare the fuel degradation related to soil erosion and over-farming. An qualities among different species and between different integration of re-vegetation and energy cropping with a yearly leys of the same species switch grass. The informa- delayed harvest may be effectively applied in large areas tion about the five species and their establishment are sum- to protect soils from erosion. To address these goals, we marized in Table 1. In November 2002, all the plots were conducted a field study to examine the fuel characteristics almost equally divided by a path (3.5 m in width) into of three known species (sand willow, Salix cheilophila, two subplots. switchgrass, and reed canary grass) and two legumes (indigo Before and during the study period, two shrubs were bush Amorpha fruticosa and sainfoin Onobeychis viciaefolia) irrigated once re-growth started in the spring and once in a semiarid area in northern China between 2001 and after defoliation in late autumn 2002 (relevant to about 2003. The two legumes were included because they produce 15–20 mm precipitation each time). No water was added high biomass and control soil erosion especially in north- for herbaceous species except for natural precipitation dur- west China (Yang, 1996; Wei et al., 2001; Huang and ing the period. Neither fertilizers nor pesticides were sup- Sun, 2006); however, their feasibility as a biofuel is unclear. plied during the study period. In Europe, it is typical to harvest short rotation energy woods and energy grass the third year after planting (Vene- ndaal et al., 1997). However, in the semi-arid climates of 120 China, harvesting these crops in the second year may be 100 10-year average preferred. The production in the second year of Amorpha Study period and Salix was as high as 13–17 t/ha (room dry) and switch 80 grass was as high as 9 t/ha (room dry) (Xiong, personal 60 observations), but there is little knowledge about the fuel characteristics of these young shoots. Such knowledge is 40 needed to evaluate the feasibility of these biofuels. 20 In this paper, we present the results of fuel characteris- Monthly precipitation (mm) tics of the five crops that were cultivated in Shanxi Province 0 (northern China) and harvested at different times from Sep- 30 tember 2002 to April 2003. The purpose of this study was 25 10-year average to increase the understanding on how the delayed harvest 20 Study period system influences the fuel characteristics of the five poten- 15 tial energy crops in a semiarid region. 10 5 2. Methods 0 -5 2.1. Study site -10 -15 Monthly mean temperature (°C) The study site was located in Ying Xian (39° 330N, 113° May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 0 11 E), Shanxi Province (northern China), a region of the Fig. 1. Monthly precipitation and mean temperature during the study east Loess Plateau (1010 m in altitude). It is a semiarid period versus historical data (1994–2003). 中国科技论文在线 http://www.paper.edu.cn S. Xiong et al. / Bioresource Technology 99 (2008) 479–485 481 Table 1 Species used in the study English name Latin name Cultivar Life Biomass yield Examined Year of Distribution form (t/ha)a area (m2) establishment Indigo bush, Amorpha Laizhou Shrub 13.4 3600 2001 Native in USA, but now in many false indigo fruticosa areas of Asia and Europe Sand willow Salix Wuliu Shrub 16.9 2400 2001 Native in China chelophila Switch grass Panicum Cave in Grass 9.3 4500 2001 Native in North America, but virgatum rock 4.4 180 2002 cultivated in Asia since 1960s Reed canary Phalaris Bamse Grass 1.8 240 2002 Widespread species in Europe, Asia grass arundinacea and North America Sainfoin Onobrichis Gansu Forb 3.1 240 2002 Native in USA, now cultivated in viciifolia north China a Data are room-dry values and collected from field observations in the study area in October 2002.
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