BIOMASS POTENTIAL OF SUNN HEMP GROWN AS DOUBLE CROP FOLLOWING CONVENTIONAL WINTER CEREAL(S) IN A REDUCED SOIL TILLAGE SYSTEM

Double cropping is a promising cropping system where food/feed crops and dedicated lignocellulosic crops could be integrated to produce dedicated feedstock in the same land and growing season without land competition issues. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of reduced soil tillage on the performance of sunn hemp (a leguminous lignocellulosic crop) sown in a double cropping system after Italian rye grass, barley and wheat. The sunn hemp - barley double cropping systems was the most productive one under minimum tillage. These results confirm the attractive production potential of sunn hemp even when cultivated as a double crop; therefore, double cropping could be considered a sustainable and feasible cropping system to integrate food and dedicated biomass crops production.