Switchgrass and Giant Reed Energy Potential when Cultivated in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soils

Leandro Gomes, Jorge Costa, Joana Moreira, Berta Cumbane, Marcelo Abias, Fernando Santos, Federica Zanetti, Andrea Monti and Ana Luisa Fernando
Additional contact information
Leandro Gomes: MEtRICs, Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa, Departamento de Química, NOVA School of Science and Technology|FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Jorge Costa: MEtRICs, Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa, Departamento de Química, NOVA School of Science and Technology|FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Joana Moreira: MEtRICs, Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa, Departamento de Química, NOVA School of Science and Technology|FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Berta Cumbane: MEtRICs, Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa, Departamento de Química, NOVA School of Science and Technology|FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Marcelo Abias: MEtRICs, Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa, Departamento de Química, NOVA School of Science and Technology|FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
Fernando Santos: Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Sul/UERGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 8855, Porto Alegre 91540-000, Brazil
Federica Zanetti: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum–Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Andrea Monti: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum–Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Ana Luisa Fernando: MEtRICs, Departamento de Ciências e Tecnologia da Biomassa, Departamento de Química, NOVA School of Science and Technology|FCT NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campus Caparica, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 15, 1-28

Abstract: The cultivation of energy crops on degraded soils contributes to reduce the risks associated with land use change, and the biomass may represent an additional revenue as a feedstock for bioenergy. Switchgrass and giant reed were tested under 300 and 600 mg Cr kg −1 , 110 and 220 mg Ni kg −1 , and 4 and 8 mg Cd kg −1 contaminated soils, in a two year pot experiment. Switchgrass yields (average aerial 330 g.m −2 and below ground 430 g.m −2 ), after the second year harvest, were not affected by Cd contamination and 110 mg Ni kg −1 , but 220 mg Ni kg −1 significantly affected the yields (55–60% reduction). A total plant loss was observed in Cr-contaminated pots. Giant reed aboveground yields (control: 410 g.m −2 ), in the second year harvest, were significantly affected by all metals and levels of contamination (30–70% reduction), except in 110 mg Ni kg −1 pots. The belowground biomass yields (average 1600 g.m −2 ) were not affected by the tested metals. Contamination did not affect the high heating value (HHV) of switchgrass (average 18.4 MJ.kg −1 ) and giant reed aerial fractions (average 18.9 MJ.kg −1 , stems, and 18.1 MJ.kg −1 , leaves), harvested in the second year, indicating that the biomass can be exploited for bioenergy.

Keywords: Arundo donax; Panicum virgatum; heavy metals; phytoremediation; contaminated soils; low ILUC crops (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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