Search Results (8)

The long-term performance of perennial energy crops and their elimination is important for long-term planning and use of agricultural land. In this study, the elimination of a six-year-old Sida hermaphrodita (hereafter referred to as Sida) stock for agricultural reclamation was investigated over three years. Crop rotation using maize, winter wheat, and sugar beet, a catch crop, as well as mechanical–chemical treatments were employed according to agricultural practices. After soil grubbing at the beginning of the experiment and prior to further treatments, on half of the former Sida planting area, visible Sida roots were manually removed in addition to determining their potential effect on total resprouting. Prior to each crop harvest, resprouted Sida plants were counted. At harvest, by the end of the first year, 476 versus 390 resprouted Sida plants were found in the investigated areas of 315 m² each, where preceding manual root removal either took place or not, respectively. This accounted for 76% and 62% of the initial Sida planted. In the second year, the overall number of resprouted Sida declined significantly, accounting for 15 and 11 plants (i.e., 2.4% and 1.8% of initially planted), and in the third year, only two and four residual plants (i.e., 0.3% and 0.6%) were found, representing an almost 100% Sida elimination rate. We conclude that additional root removal did not result in a significant difference in Sida regrowth compared to the mechanical–chemical treatments only. No impediments to harvesting and no loss of yield in any crops were observed due to resprouted Sida in the existing field crops. No Sida plants were found outside the initial field, indicating a low dispersion potential and invasiveness. The results show that successful recultivation of an established Sida stock is possible through common agricultural practices and that resprouting Sida plants did not negatively affect the subsequent crops. Full article

Plant biomass is still the main raw material in the production of energy from renewable sources. Virginia fanpetals may be an alternative and complementary source of solid biomass to that obtained from forests and the wood industry. In this respect, it is important to assess the variability of the qualitative characteristics of Sida biomass as a solid biofuel over a long period of use of a plantation of this species. Three types of propagating material were used to establish the plantation: seeds, root cuttings (rhizomes), and seedlings, at two sowing/planting densities. The quality of the biomass, obtained during 14 consecutive years of harvest, was tested, including the moisture content, ash content, higher heating value (HHV), lower heating value (LHV), and the carbon, hydrogen, sulfur, and nitrogen content. It was found that both thermophysical properties and elemental composition were mostly determined by the years of vegetation. An important role in this respect was played by the juvenile period of the plants’ development. The biomass obtained after 1 year of vegetation contained a larger concentration of ash, nitrogen, and sulfur and less carbon and hydrogen, which reduced its energy value. The results confirm the possibility of obtaining biomass with low moisture, which favorably places it from an energy point of view. Full article

In 2016–2018, an experiment with Sida hermaphrodita L. Rusby (Virginia fanpetals) called Sida was conducted in the system of random blocks on sandy and sandy loam soil. Each year, the yields of dry aboveground mass and dried mass of roots were determined. Before sowing Sida and after the end of the research, the composition of earthy fractions in the soils was determined. In the stalks and roots of Sida, the percentage content was determined, and the mass of carbon was calculated. When Sida was grown in sandy soil, the average dry mass yield (stalks and roots) in the third year of cultivation (2018), was slightly above 13 t∙ha⁻¹, and in the sandy loam soil it was three times higher (36 t∙ha⁻¹). In the third year of cultivation, the carbon sequestration in the stems and roots exceeded 5 t∙ha⁻¹ (sandy soil), and 15 t∙ha⁻¹ (sandy loam). The carbon content in the stems was 46.25%, and in the roots–42.67%. The results were statistically processed using ANOVA. It was found that the cultivation of Sida caused a percent decrease in the sand fraction, an increase in the floatable (fine) fraction in sandy soil, and an increase in humus content; the opposite changes were noted in the sandy-loam soil. Full article

Background: Sida hermaphrodita (Virginia fanpetals) was introduced to Poland nearly 70 years ago as a potential fodder plant, and it is gaining importance as an energy crop. Alternaria alternata transmitted by seeds may exert a negative effect on the health of Virginia fanpetals plants. Methods: The virulence of the A. alternata pathogen, isolated from Virginia fanpetals seeds, was tested on detached leaves of Virginia fanpetals plants. The isolates were identified as A. alternata based on partial sequence analysis of Alta1, TEF1a and gdp genes and the ITS 1–5.8SrDNA–ITS 2 region. Pathogen transmission from seeds to seedlings and the influence of seed dressing with a suspension of Aureobasidium pullulans on seedling health were analyzed in a greenhouse experiment. Results: Three of the nine analyzed A. alternata isolates were highly pathogenic for S. hermaphrodita. The initial symptoms of leaf infection were small, round dark brown or black spots which grew into larger dark brown spots surrounded by a chlorotic halo. Alternaria alternata was re-isolated from inoculated plants and was identified as the causal agent of Alternaria leaf spot disease. In the greenhouse experiment, S. hermaphrodita seeds dressed with a suspension of A. pullulans and inoculated with A. alternata produced a higher number of seedlings with a higher health status than non-dressed seeds. Conclusions: The study demonstrated that A. alternata is transmitted from infected S. hermaphrodita seeds to developing plants and biological control limits this phenomenon. Full article

Different harvesting and preservation methods of Virginia fanpetals herbage were evaluated, based on the chemical composition and digestible organic matter (OM) content (D-value) of silage fed to adult sheep, the intake and digestibility of silage, and the performance of young cattle. The following harvesting methods were compared: direct-cut harvesting with a precision-cut forage harvester (DC), harvesting after field wilting with a precision-cut forage harvester (WC) or a round baler (WRB). The silage was fed for 81 days to 24 Polish Holstein Friesian (HF) bulls, as the sole forage supplemented with 3.0 kg of concentrate/head/day. Harvesting methods affected the density (p < 0.001) and water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (p = 0.047). Differences were found among the groups in the digestibility coefficients of OM (DC-73.7, WC-78.9, WRB-79.9%) (p = 0.007), and crude protein (CP) (69.8%, 77.1%, 78.5%, respectively) (p < 0.001). Dry matter intake (DMI) reached 8.38 kg (DC), 8.74 kg (WC) and 7.21 kg (WRB). Live weight gain (LWG) differed (p < 0.001) among groups (0.939, 1.033, 0.813 kg/day, respectively). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) tended to improve in WC (8.66 kg DMI/kg LWG) (p = 0.08). The highest-quality silage was produced in group WC, and it could be successfully fed to growing bulls as the sole forage. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of partial or complete substitution of alfalfa silage with Virginia fanpetals silage in rations based on maize silage on feed intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation and milk yield and physicochemical characteristics. Nine Polish Holstein Friesian cows in the second half of lactation were fed three experimental diets in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin square design as follows: maize silage + alfalfa silage, maize silage + alfalfa silage and Virginia fanpetals silage in a 50:50 ratio, maize silage + Virginia fanpetals silage. Complete substitution caused an increase in dry matter intake (DMI), total volatile fatty acids (VFA), acetic acid to propionic acid (A/P) ratio, N-NH₃ in the rumen contents and milk urea and a decrease in the feed conversion ratio. The partial and complete substitution changed the profile of milk fatty acids, resulting in a slight increase in saturated fatty acids (SFA) and a decrease in unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) as well as in all functional fatty acids except vaccenic acid. The most promising production effects were achieved through partial substitution of alfalfa silage with the Virginia fanpetals silage. Full article

Current global temperature increases resulting from human activity threaten many ecosystems and societies, and have led to international and national policy commitments that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Bioenergy crops provide one means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy production and two novel crops that could be used for this purpose are Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby and Silphium perfoliatum L. This research examined the existing scientific literature available on both crops through a systematic review. The data were collated according to the agronomy, uses, and environmental benefits of each crop. Possible challenges were associated with high initial planting costs, low yields in low rainfall areas, and for Sida hermaphrodita, vulnerability to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. However, under appropriate environmental conditions, both crops were found to provide large yields over sustained periods of time with relatively low levels of management and could be used to produce large energy surpluses, either through direct combustion or biogas production. Other potential uses included fodder, fibre, and pharmaceutical uses. Environmental benefits included the potential for phytoremediation, and improvements to soil health, biodiversity, and pollination. The review also demonstrated that environmental benefits, such as pollination, soil health, and water quality benefits could be obtained from the use of Sida hermaphrodita and Silphium perfoliatum relative to existing bioenergy crops such as maize, whilst at the same time reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy production. Future research should examine the long-term implications of using Sida hermaphrodita and Silphium perfoliatum as well as improve knowledge on how to integrate them successfully within existing farming systems and supply chains. Full article

Hydrodynamic cavitation was recently applied as a biomass pretreatment method. Most of the studies which used hydrodynamic cavitation were applied to pretreated sugarcane bagasse or reed. High biomass yield of Sida hermaphrodita points out the necessity of studies on its effective pretreatment before methane fermentation, especially because its “wood-like” characteristics could present different disintegration properties than other lignocellulose biomass. Thus, the aim of the study was to investigate the influence of duration of hydrodynamic cavitation on lignocellulose composition in Sida hermaphrodita silage, and the assessment of disintegrated biomass as a substrate for methane fermentation. The study showed a slight decrease in lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose content in biomass after hydrodynamic cavitation, which resulted in a higher content of carbohydrates in the liquid fraction of disintegrated substrates. Methane production was 439.1 ± 45.0 L CH₄/kg total solids (TS) from the substrate disintegrated for 20 min. However, the most effective time for methane production was hydrodynamic cavitation of the substrate for 5 min. At this pretreatment duration, the highest values for chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), and carbohydrate reduction were also noted. The study proved that hydrodynamic cavitation applied for 5 min allowed obtaining an energy profit of 0.17 Wh/g TS. The studies on a laboratory scale indicated that the technology of hydrodynamic cavitation of Sida hermaphrodita could be economically applied for methane fermentation on a large scale. Full article