Biomass Resources of Phragmites australis in Kazakhstan: Historical Developments, Utilization, and Prospects

Azim Baibagyssov, Niels Thevs, Sabir Nurtazin, Rainer Waldhardt, Volker Beckmann and Ruslan Salmurzauly
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Azim Baibagyssov: Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
Niels Thevs: Faculty of Law and Economics & Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
Sabir Nurtazin: Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan
Rainer Waldhardt: Division of Landscape Ecology and Landscape Planning, Institute of Landscape Ecology and Resources Management, Center for International Development and Environmental Research (ZEU), Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35390 Giessen, Germany
Volker Beckmann: Faculty of Law and Economics & Institute of Botany and Landscape Ecology, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
Ruslan Salmurzauly: Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050010, Kazakhstan

Resources, 2020, vol. 9, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: Common reed ( Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steud.) is a highly productive wetland plant and a potentially valuable source of renewable biomass worldwide. There is more than 10 million ha of reed area globally, distributed mainly across Eurasia followed by America and Africa. The literature analysis in this paper revealed that Kazakhstan alone harbored ca. 1,600,000–3,000,000 ha of reed area, mostly distributed in the deltas and along the rivers of the country. Herein, we explored the total reed biomass stock of 17 million t year −1 which is potentially available for harvesting in the context of wise use of wetlands. The aim of this paper is to reveal the distribution of reed resource potential in wetland areas of 13 provinces of Kazakhstan and the prospects for its sustainable utilization. Reed can be used as feedstock as an energy source for the production of pellets and biofuels, as lignocellulosic biomass for the production of high strength fibers for novel construction and packaging materials, and innovative polymers for lightweight engineering plastics and adhesive coatings. Thereby, it is unlikely that reed competes for land that otherwise is used for food production.

Keywords: reed beds; wetlands; bioeconomy; feedstock; Central Asia; utilization; Soviet Socialist Republics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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