Introduction. The increased dependence of energy and/or agriculture crop systems on external inputs (fertilizer, pesticides) constitutes a challenge to their long-term productivity because of environmental and logistics constrains. Alternatively, crop rotation systems offer the possibility to reduce the dependence on external inputs through internal nutrient recycling, maintenance of the long-term productivity of the land, control of diseases and pests, and increased crop yields. Among the large variety of annual, herbaceous perennial, and woody crops that could be included in energy production systems, annual crops are, in fact, the ones that are intensively managed in rotations. Material and methods. The most prominent annual energy crops selected for this review, based on their economic significance, geographical distribution and suitability to the climatic conditions, are: sweet and fiber sorghum, flax, rapeseed, sunflower, hemp and Ethiopian mustard. The analysis and literature review on the rotation possibilities for each of these species was based on their biological and environmental interactions. Results and discussion. The available information suggests that introducing energy crops alongside traditional agriculture crop rotation systems is possible, especially for well-known crops such as rapeseed, sorghum and sunflower. On the other hand, as the management of new energy crops such as flax, hemp and Ethiopian mustard is not well developed, research on rotations possibilities and crop sequences including these species should be given high priority. Possible rotation systems dedicated exclusively to produce feedstock for bioenergy purposes are also discussed. Conclusions. A rotation system that could optimize the utilization of soil resources and fit the environmental conditions of Mediterranean climates is wheat (legume) – maize – sunflower – sorghum – fallow. In temperate climates a rapeseed – cereal (e.g. wheat, barley, oat) – cereal – rapeseed rotation could be the best choice.
Zegada-Lizarazu W., Monti A (2009). Energy crop rotation possibilities. ROMA : SIBA.
Energy crop rotation possibilities
ZEGADA LIZARAZU, WALTER;MONTI, ANDREA
2009
Abstract
Introduction. The increased dependence of energy and/or agriculture crop systems on external inputs (fertilizer, pesticides) constitutes a challenge to their long-term productivity because of environmental and logistics constrains. Alternatively, crop rotation systems offer the possibility to reduce the dependence on external inputs through internal nutrient recycling, maintenance of the long-term productivity of the land, control of diseases and pests, and increased crop yields. Among the large variety of annual, herbaceous perennial, and woody crops that could be included in energy production systems, annual crops are, in fact, the ones that are intensively managed in rotations. Material and methods. The most prominent annual energy crops selected for this review, based on their economic significance, geographical distribution and suitability to the climatic conditions, are: sweet and fiber sorghum, flax, rapeseed, sunflower, hemp and Ethiopian mustard. The analysis and literature review on the rotation possibilities for each of these species was based on their biological and environmental interactions. Results and discussion. The available information suggests that introducing energy crops alongside traditional agriculture crop rotation systems is possible, especially for well-known crops such as rapeseed, sorghum and sunflower. On the other hand, as the management of new energy crops such as flax, hemp and Ethiopian mustard is not well developed, research on rotations possibilities and crop sequences including these species should be given high priority. Possible rotation systems dedicated exclusively to produce feedstock for bioenergy purposes are also discussed. Conclusions. A rotation system that could optimize the utilization of soil resources and fit the environmental conditions of Mediterranean climates is wheat (legume) – maize – sunflower – sorghum – fallow. In temperate climates a rapeseed – cereal (e.g. wheat, barley, oat) – cereal – rapeseed rotation could be the best choice.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
