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Possibilities of cultivation of red canary grass, industrial hemp cereals for energy

production

Jgeva Plant Breeding Institute

The goals:1) Characterisation and comparision of crops and varieties in their suitability for different

uses in bioenergy production;

2) Analyse of availability of cultivation mashinery and agrotechnology in differentbioenergy crops;

3) Analyse of impact of different bioenergy crops on maintenance of soil fertility;4) Analyse of accordance of production of bioenergy crops with EU cross-complience rules;5) Analyse of limiting and predisposing factors of production of bioenergy crops (incl

environmental aspects);

6) Environmental influences of energy crops from produstion until the waste management;7) Give the recommendations for cultivation

Subtopicses:

1. Initiation of breeding programme in red canary grass for energy production.

Cultivation of red canary grass for bioenergy production has several advantages: taking into the

use of currently sett o side and non-used lands, creatuion of new work positions in urban areas,

positive environmental impact, low demand for specific mashinery. The limiting factor is high

yield losses of currently used varieties what are developed for foder production. The use of stalk-

typed, lodging resistant varieties will substantially increase the productivity and efficiency of

cultivation. Initial breeding collection of seed samples collected from natural ecotypes in 36

locations was created.

2. Analyse of suitability of cereals (barley, oats, wheat, rye, triticale) and their varieties for use in

bioenergy production. Straw and grain production and suitability for energy production.

The yield and grain/straw ratio of most common cereal species (barley, oats, wheat, rye, triticale)

was analysed. The highest straw yields could by obtained in cultivation of winter wheat and

winter rye varieties. Winter rye is also characterisised by highest variation in straw yield between

the varieties. Oat and barley straw are not suitable for burning in bioenergy production becauseof the chemical composition. Too high content of K, Ca, Mg and C in the straw causes

technological problems with ash in burning and removal of too high amount of elements and

organic matter from the field. High starch content in the grain makes winter rye and winter wheatbeeing most suitable crops for bioethanol production. The guidelines for starting the breeding

program and selection of most suited wheat and rye varieties for bioethanol production were

established. For production of high-starch grain the agrotechnology of cereal cultivation has to be

revised.

3.Suitability of hemp varieties for bioenergy yield and energy production.

The biomass yield and energy production of hemp variety Santhica 27 was tested at different

fertilizer inputs and in different soils. The harvestable energy production of hemp was in same

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level with the best cereal varieties and with red ganary grass. Hight production cost of hemp

(high price of the seeds, demand for specific mashinery) makes the hemp less profitable for

energy production than cereals or red canary grass.