{"title":"Effect of Harvesting Time on Biomass and Combustion Quality of Miscanthus lutarioriparius in Dongting Lake Area","authors":"Viswanathan Kinipalayam Eswaran, Senthilkumar Veerasamy, Pradeep Thirumoorthy, Sampathkumar Velusamy","doi":"10.3103/S0361521924700423","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>Biomass energy is increasingly recognized as a promising alternative to conventional energy sources, offering potential sustainability and environmental benefits. Miscanthus has emerged as a standout candidate within energy crops, with <i>M. lutarioriparius</i> particularly noteworthy. This research delves into the intricate relationship between the timing of harvest and the resulting biomass yield and combustion quality of <i>M. lutarioriparius</i> in the unique coastal wetlands surrounding China’s Dongting Lake. An extensive field experiment was meticulously executed to explore these dynamics, yielding valuable insights comprehensively. (1) First and foremost, the study unearthed a paradoxical trend: delaying the harvest of <i>M. lutarioriparius</i> led to an increase in the stem-to-leaf ratio. However, this apparent benefit was counterbalanced by a noticeable decrease in overall biomass yield, primarily driven by the shedding of leaves as harvest was delayed. Delving into the intricacies of biomass composition, delayed harvests had a significant impact. (2) Specifically, they resulted in marked reductions in water content, ash content, and hemicellulose levels within <i>M. lutarioriparius</i> biomass. The correlation analysis further underscored the importance of cellulose and lignin, with a strong positive relationship between their content and calorific value, while hemicellulose exhibited a highly significant negative correlation. (3) Additionally, the study ventured into the realm of mineral elements within the biomass. Delayed harvesting precipitated a substantial reduction in their content, with notable fluctuations observed in potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) levels. Furthermore, ash content exhibited positive correlations with potassium (K) and silicon (Si) contents, shedding light on the intricate interplay of mineral elements. A notable silver lining emerged despite the reduced biomass yield associated with delayed harvesting. In a holistic assessment, the optimal window for harvesting <i>M. lutarioriparius</i> to maximize fuel quality was pinpointed to span from late November to the conclusion of January in the subsequent year. This nuanced understanding of harvesting timing can play a pivotal role in optimizing the utilization of <i>M. lutarioriparius</i> as a valuable energy resource.</p>","PeriodicalId":779,"journal":{"name":"Solid Fuel Chemistry","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Solid Fuel Chemistry","FirstCategoryId":"5","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.3103/S0361521924700423","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Biomass energy is increasingly recognized as a promising alternative to conventional energy sources, offering potential sustainability and environmental benefits. Miscanthus has emerged as a standout candidate within energy crops, with M. lutarioriparius particularly noteworthy. This research delves into the intricate relationship between the timing of harvest and the resulting biomass yield and combustion quality of M. lutarioriparius in the unique coastal wetlands surrounding China’s Dongting Lake. An extensive field experiment was meticulously executed to explore these dynamics, yielding valuable insights comprehensively. (1) First and foremost, the study unearthed a paradoxical trend: delaying the harvest of M. lutarioriparius led to an increase in the stem-to-leaf ratio. However, this apparent benefit was counterbalanced by a noticeable decrease in overall biomass yield, primarily driven by the shedding of leaves as harvest was delayed. Delving into the intricacies of biomass composition, delayed harvests had a significant impact. (2) Specifically, they resulted in marked reductions in water content, ash content, and hemicellulose levels within M. lutarioriparius biomass. The correlation analysis further underscored the importance of cellulose and lignin, with a strong positive relationship between their content and calorific value, while hemicellulose exhibited a highly significant negative correlation. (3) Additionally, the study ventured into the realm of mineral elements within the biomass. Delayed harvesting precipitated a substantial reduction in their content, with notable fluctuations observed in potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) levels. Furthermore, ash content exhibited positive correlations with potassium (K) and silicon (Si) contents, shedding light on the intricate interplay of mineral elements. A notable silver lining emerged despite the reduced biomass yield associated with delayed harvesting. In a holistic assessment, the optimal window for harvesting M. lutarioriparius to maximize fuel quality was pinpointed to span from late November to the conclusion of January in the subsequent year. This nuanced understanding of harvesting timing can play a pivotal role in optimizing the utilization of M. lutarioriparius as a valuable energy resource.
期刊介绍:
The journal publishes theoretical and applied articles on the chemistry and physics of solid fuels and carbonaceous materials. It addresses the composition, structure, and properties of solid fuels. The aim of the published articles is to demonstrate how novel discoveries, developments, and theories may be used in improved analysis and design of new types of fuels, chemicals, and by-products. The journal is particularly concerned with technological aspects of various chemical conversion processes and includes papers related to geochemistry, petrology and systematization of fossil fuels, their beneficiation and preparation for processing, the processes themselves, and the ultimate recovery of the liquid or gaseous end products.