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LAPSE:2023.10971

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, Ana Luisa Fernando

February 27, 2023

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.

Record ID

LAPSE:2023.10971

Keywords

Arundo donax, contaminated soils, heavy metals, low ILUC crops, Panicum virgatum, phytoremediation

Subject

Environment

Suggested Citation

Gomes L, Costa J, Moreira J, Cumbane B, Abias M, Santos F, Zanetti F, Monti A, Fernando AL. Switchgrass and Giant Reed Energy Potential when Cultivated in Heavy Metals Contaminated Soils. (2023). LAPSE:2023.10971

Author Affiliations

Gomes L: 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 [ORCID]
Costa J: 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; Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências, [ORCID]
Moreira J: 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
Cumbane B: 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; Faculdade de Ciências de Saúde, Universidad
Abias M: 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; Faculdade de Gestão de Turismo e Informátic
Santos F: Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Sul/UERGS, Av. Bento Gonçalves 8855, Porto Alegre 91540-000, Brazil [ORCID]
Zanetti F: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum−Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy [ORCID]
Monti A: Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum−Università di Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy
Fernando AL: 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 [ORCID]

Journal Name

Energies

Volume

Issue

First Page

5538

Year

2022

Publication Date

2022-07-30

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3390/en15155538