ENERGY CROPS: HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL IN PRODUCTION

WITH DIFFERENT FERTILIZERS IN THE CENTER OF SPAIN

Mauri, P. V.; Plaza, A.; Ruiz-Fernández J.; Amorós, M. C. & Iglesias S.
Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario
y Alimentario (IMIDRA). Alcalá de Henares (Spain).

In this work we have evaluated two plant species candidates for energy uses (non-food), switchgrass and Miscanthus sinensis on experimental plots in central
Spain. Control (C), composted sewage sludge (CS) and treated with sewage sludge thermal drying (TD): Three fertilization treatments were established. After
two growing seasons, plant biomass (kg / ha), amount of leaf chlorophyll (SPAD) and morphological characteristics of production was determined. Most
parameters, including biomass, increased for the two species in the plots with sewage sludge (CS and TD). There have been studies of biomass yield of
switchgrass in Spain and Mediterranean Europe. It has been the subject of much research in the US since the early 1990s when the Department of Energy
evaluated a wide variety of herbaceous species in a wide range of environments and identified switchgrass as a "model" of bioenergy feedstock reported
yields ranging from 1 Tn / ha to 39.1 t / ha. Biomass yields for switchgrass may be influenced by the weather, the location, the geography test and management
practices [5]. To date, there has been a lack of studies on production of biomass of M. sinensis in Spain (Curt, 2009). Annual yields across Europe, of studies
depending on the type of soil and climate, has been 10 to 40 Tn / Ha. ]. To do arise various issues to be addressed in this paper:
a) The type of organic manure affects the productivity of herbaceous species considered in the study, switchgrass and Miscanthus sinensis
b) The type of organic manure influences the growth and the number of stems of the species Miscanthus sinensis study and switchgrass
c) The chlorophyll content in the leaves is modified by the use of sewage sludge
d) There profitability of crops from the point of view of production.

The experiment was carried out in the property “El Encín” of IMIDRA (Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario at latitude 40º 31’ 12” N, longitude 3º 18’ 13” W, altitude 603 mm a.s.l. “El
Encín” is a experimental farm of the Autonomous Community of Madrid (Spain) sited in the municipality of Alcalá de Henares. Soils are generally Alfisols and Entisols (USDA soil taxonomy) with a wide range of textures (from
sandy to clay) and often with presence of limestone. The climate is Xeric Mediterranean, sub-type Mild Meso-Mediterranean following [8] although it is commonly described as Continental-Mediterranean. Based on historical
records (1957-2000), the average year at El Encín farm is as follows: 13.4ºC mean temperature, 60 % relative humidity, 1.8 m/s wind speed, 308.9 cal/cm 2/day global radiation, 429.7 mm annual rainfall and 744.9 mm y ETP
(Thorntwaite) . There were 3 treatments of organic fertilization: control (C), composted sewage sludge (CS) and sewage sludge treated with thermal drying (TD). P. virgatum and M. sinensis were planted in July 2013 using
commercial young individuals from Viveros Sánchez (Spain). The soil was analyzed before sowing and its characteristics are shown in table 1. Composting sewage sludge (CP) and sewage sludge treated by thermal drying (TD),
are applied at a rate of 50 t / ha, Before sowing. The composition of both sludge is shown in Table 1. The plants are irrigated with a drip irrigation system with a drip line per row (around 6000 m3 / ha year) distributed from May
to October according to the needs of water for mild meso-Mediterranean climate

Picture 1 Culture design. In green: Plots of P. virgatum (2, 9, 23). In

blue: Plots of M. sinensis (7, 16, 30). Plots 2 and 7 are treated with composted Picture 2 Panicum virgatum Picture 3 Miscanthus sinensis
sewage sludge (CS). Plots 9 and 16 have control treatment (no fertilizer, C). Plots 23 Picture 4 Miscanthus sinensis for testing
and 30 are treated with sewage sludge with thermal drying (TD)

This work, pioneer in the study region, is intended as a guide to

understanding the one hand, the biology of these species and crop
requirements and on the other the response to different organic
treatments for growth, morphology of plants , and dry matter
production for energy use.

AT
300

250

200
HEIGHT (cm)

150 2014 Table 1 Soil characteristics (average values).Figure 7. Comparison of production (kg / ha) of P.
2015 virgatum in two subsistence treatments for two years.
100
Pooled
50
Mean
pH 8.14
0 EC (dS/m) 0.26
CS C TD
CO3 % 1.1
O. M % 1.17
N% 0.08
Figure 6 Measures of chlorophyll (SPAD units) of P. virgatum
Figure 5 Total height of M. sinensis P (mg/kg)
K (mg/kg)
12.75
141
The main conclusions drawn from the work I have done are based Ca (mg/kg) 1897
Mg (mg/kg) 370
on: The two treatments (CS and TD) have had positive effects on Na (mg/kg) 61
morphology, growth and biomass production of M. sinensis. Sand % 36.09
Lime % 29.38
Switchgrass shows a wide adaptation to soil properties and nutrient Clay % 34.54 Figure 8. Comparison of the production (kg /
content in very different so that makes it a candidate for use as agro- ha) of M. sinensis in two treatments for two years.
energy crop.

This work was supported by the R+D+i Project FP16-ENERG Pedro V. Mauri (pedro.mauri@madrid.org) (1 DV.2.15)
(IMIDRA). Departamento de Investigación Agroambiental.
Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y
Alimentario (IMIDRA). 28800 Alcalá de Henares (Spain).