Changes in soil carbon, nitrogen and sulphur content as influenced by liming and nitrogen fertilization of three energy crops

The paper presents research findings, obtained through a long-term research programme “Productivity and sustainability of agricultural and forest soils” implemented by the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry.An experiment with three perennial energy crops – common mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris L.), cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) and virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita Rusby) has been carried out in Lithuania (55°43′N, 21°28′E) in order to evaluate the effect of liming and nitrogen fertilization on soil total carbon (Ctot), nitrogen (Ntot) and sulphur (Stot) contents. The soil of the experimental site is a naturally acid moraine loam Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol. Soil composition was analysed in two consequent years 2010 and 2011. The application of the highest rate (6 t ha-1) of the lime material increased Ctot, Ntot and Stot concentration in the top 0–30 cm soil layer. The soil under cup plant and virginia mallow accumulated a higher concentration of Ntot and Stot compared to that under common mugwort. N fertilization significantly increased Ctot content, but had no significant impact on soil Ntot and Stot changes.Tilraun með þrjár orkuplöntur; malurt (Artemisia vulgaris L.), bollafífil (Silphium perfoliatum L.) og moskusrós (Sida hermaphrodita Rusby) var gerð í Litháen (55°43′N, 21°28′E) til að meta áhrif kölkunar og köfnunarefnisáburðargjafar á heildar kolefni (Ctot), köfnunarefni (Ntot) og brennistein (Stot) í jarðvegi. Jarðvegur tilraunasvæðisins var á fínkorna jökulruðningi sem er súr að eðlisfari (Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol). Jarðvegur var greindur tvö ár í röð, 2010 og 2011. Hæsti skammtur af kalki (6 t ha-1) leiddi til þess að að Ctot , Ntot og Stot jukust í efstu 30 cm jarðvegsins. Ræktun á bollafífil og moskusrós leiddi til hækkunar á Ntot og Stot í efri lögum jarðvegs miðað við þar sem malurt var ræktuð. Köfnunarefnisáburður leiddi til marktækrar aukningar á Ctot í jarðvegi en hafði engin áhrif á Ntot og Stot í jarðveginum.Peer Reviewe

The effect of sewage sludge on and cup plant’s (Silphium perfoliatum L.) biomass productivity under Western Lithuania’s retisol

The long-term field experiment with new high yielding perennial energy crop - cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) was conducted in order to evaluate its biomass productivity in Vėžaičiai branch of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agricultural and Forestry. Experimental site – naturally acid Bathygleic Dystric Glossic Retisol, pH 4.2-4.4. Granulated sewage sludge was applied (at 45 and 90 t ha-1 rates) as an alternative organic fertilizer. The fertilization was done at the beginning of the experiment, prior to cup plant’s sprouts planting in 2013. Each experimental year, traditional N60P60K60 fertilization was performed in a separate treatment. Cup plant’s biomass was harvesting once per season at the end of vegetation. Cup plant’s dry mass (DM) yield substantially increased from 2.80 t ha-1 (in 2014) to 13.41 t ha-1 (in 2016). The use of sewage sludge fertilization was notably superior to that of mineral fertilization for cup plant’s biomass productivity. In all experimental years, the optimal was the application of 45 t ha-1 rate of sewage sludge - in compare with unfertilized treatment (control), DM yield increased by 66 %, on average. Increasing of sewage sludge rate up to 90 kg ha-1 did not give any DM yield supplement. Energy evaluation of growing technology revealed that the application of 45 t ha-1 sewage sludge rate caused the substantial increase of energy output from 1 ha; and on the contrarily, sharply decreased net energy ratio. In order to determine the long-term effects of fertilization on biomass yield, these studies will continue a few more years

Daugiamečių energinių augalų įtakos dirvožemiui ir jų panaudojimo biokurui kompleksiniai tyrimai

Lietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro filialas Žemdirbystės institutas, Vėžaičių filiala

Nuotekų dumblo įtaka energinių augalų produktyvumui ir rūgščių dirvožemių savybių kaitai

Lietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro filialas Žemdirbystės institutas, Vėžaičių filiala

Nuotekų dumblo vienkartinio panaudojimo įtaka geltonžiedžių legėstų biomasės derliui ir natūraliai rūgštaus dirvožemio savybių kaitai

Siekiant įvertinti granuliuoto nuotekų dumblo įtaką geltonžiedžio legėsto (Silphium perfoliatum L.) produktyvumui, dirvožemio fizikinėms ir mikrobiologinėms savybėms, lauko eksperimentas buvo atliktas Vakarų Lietuvoje natūraliai rūgščiame balkšvažemio moreniniame priemolyje (Jlj6-b), kurio pHKCl 4,3–4,9. Geltonžiedžių legėstų sausųjų medžiagų derlius nuosekliai didėjo nuo 2,96 (2013 m.) iki 13,0 (2016 m.) t ha-1. Kiekvienais metais geltonžiedžių legėstų sausųjų medžiagų derliui optimalu buvo tręšimas 45 t ha-1 nuotekų dumblo. Ir 45, ir 90tha-1 nuotekų dumblo turėjo panašų teigiamą poveikį dirvožemio cheminės sudėties kaitai, vandeniui atsparių trupinėlių susidarymui, dirvožemio tankiui bei kietumui ir drėgmės kiekiui. Kiekvienais tyrimo metais dirvožemio mikroorganizmų biomasės anglies padidėjimui 0–30 cm gylyje didžiausią įtaką turėjo tręšimas 90 t ha-1 nuotekų dumblo. Tyrimo rezultatai leidžia teigti, kad energinius augalus geltonžiedžius legėstus auginant balkšvažemio moreniniame priemolyje, juos tikslingiausia tręšti 45 t ha-1 granuliuoto nuotekų dumbloIn order to estimate the effect of granulated sewage sludge on the productivity of the cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.), soil physical and microbial properties, a field experiment was carried out in Western Lithuania, on a naturally acid moraine loam Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol with a pH of 4.3–4.9. The dry matter yield of the cup plant consistently increased over the experimental years from 2.83 t ha-1 (in 2013) to 12.86 t ha-1 (in 2016). Each year, the optimum sewage sludge rate for dry matter yield of cup plant was 45 t ha-1. The use of both sewage sludge rates 45 and 90 t ha-1 had a similar and positive impact on soil chemical composition, water-stable aggregate formation, topsoil bulk density, soil penetration resistance and moisture content. Each experimental year, the application of sewage sludge at a rate of 90 t ha-1 had the strongest impact on the increase in soil microbial biomass carbon at the 0–30 cm depthAgronomijos fakultetasLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro Vėžaičių filialasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Paprastojo kiečio (Artemisia vulgaris L.) bei geltonžiedžio legėsto (Silphium perfoliatum L.) biomasės ir energinis produktyvumas balkšvažemyje

Lietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro Vėžaičių filiale, Vakarų Lietuvoje, atlikti stambiastiebių žolinių energinių augalų - paprastojo kiečio (Artemisia vulgaris L.) ir geltonžiedžio legėsto (Silphium perfoliatum L.) - tyrimai. Tyrimų vieta - natūraliai rūgštus moreninis priemolis (JIj6-b). Lauko bandymai įrengti 2008 m. pagal dviejų veiksnių schemą: A veiksnys - kalkinimas (nekalkinta, kalkinta 3,0 ir 6,0 t ha"1 CaC03), B veiksnys - tręšimas azotu (0, 60 ir 120 kg ha"1). Kiečiai 2009 m. sukaupė 2,76-5,741 ha"1 sausųjų medžiagų, tačiau 2010 m. šis rodiklis sumažėjo ir siekė 2,38-3,83 t ha1. Legėstų sausosios masės produktyvumas 2009 m. buvo 4,42-8,51 t ha"1, o 2010 m. jis gerokai padidėjo ir siekė 11,37-21,94 t ha"1. Kalkinimas turėjo teigiamos įtakos legėstų sausosios masės produktyvumui, tačiau neturėjo esminės įtakos kiečių sausųjų medžiagų prieaugio pokyčiui. Abiejų rūšių augalų sausosios masės prieaugį padidino (nors ne visada esmingai esant 95 % tikimybės lygiui) 120 kg ha"1 azoto trąšų panaudojimas. 2010 m. auginimo technologijos energinė analizė parodė, kad mineralinių ir kalkinių trąšų kaip netiesioginių energijos sąnaudų dalis sudarė 32,75-76,07 % visų bendrųjų energijos sąnaudų (įskaitant tiesiogines bei netiesiogines išlaidas, mašinų energoimlumą ir žmogaus darbo sąnaudas). Didžiausia energijos išeiga (GJ ha"1), taip pat ir energinis efektyvumas (energijos išeigos bei energijos sąnaudų santykis) nustatytas auginant geltonžiedžius legėstus. Pastarųjų dviejų rodiklių sumažėjimą sąlygojo didelių normų kalkinių ir azoto trąšų panaudojimasResearch on perennial coarse-stemmed herbaceous energy plants, common mugwort {Artemisia vulgaris L.) and cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.), was carried out in Vezaiciai Branch of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in Western Lithuania. The soil of the experimental site is naturally acid moraine loam Eutri-Hypostagnic Albeluvisol (ABj-w-eu). Field experiments were established in 2008, according to a two-factor design including three levels of liming (not limed, limed with 3.0 and 6.0 t ha"1 of CaC03) and three levels of nitrogen fertilization (0, 60 and 120 kg ha"1). Common mugwort accumulated 2.76-5.74 t ha-1 of dry matter in 2009; the next year, however, the parameter decreased to 2.38-3.83 t ha"1. In 2009, the cup plant dry matter productivity was 4.42-8.51 t ha"1; while in 2010, it considerably increased and reached 11.37—21.94 t ha"1. Liming positively influenced the cup plant dry matter productivity; however, there was no significant effect on the change in the common mugwort dry matter increase. The application of 120 kg ha"1 nitrogen rate significantly enhanced dry matter increase of both species (although not always significantly at 95% probability level). The energy analysis of the growing technology in 2010 indicates that the mineral and lime fertilizers as indirect energy costs accounted from 32.75% to 76.07% of the total energy input (including direct and indirect costs, machinery energy consumption and human labour input). The highest energy output (187.6-361.9 GJ ha"1) as well as energy use efficiency (ratio of energy output to energy input) was determined for the cultivation of cup plant. However, the application of lime and nitrogen fertilizers caused a substantial decrease of energy output and energy use efficiencyVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Changes in the weed communities as affected by different primary soil tillage and deep loosening

Long-term soil cultivation at the same depth affects soil characteristics and crop productivity. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of a long-term different intensity soil tillage methods and deep loosening on weed number, weed agrobiological group and soil seed bank changes in till Bathygleyic Dystric Glossic Retisol soil under the climatic conditions of the Western Lithuania (geographical coordinates 55°43′38″N, 21°27′43″E). The study included different soil tillage methods (conventional ploughing, shallow ploughing and shallow ploughless tillage) and deep loosening. During investigational years, the greatest weed number in crops and the greatest weed seed number in the seed bank were determined in the soil reduced tillage (shallow ploughing and shallow ploughless tillage). The weed number in crops of conventional ploughing soil was 35.8% lover compared to reduced tillage soil. The weed seed number in the seed bank of conventional ploughing was 49.6% lover compared to reduced tillage Decreasing soil tillage intensity resulted in weed seeds concentration in the upper topsoil. A one-time deep loosening had a significant effect during the crop rotation: the weed number in crops and weed seed number in the seed bank were determined to have increased by 26.6% and 51.6% in conventional ploughing soil and by 11.9% and 23.2% shallow ploughless soil respectively. However, after deep loosening, the number of Poa annua in crops decreased 2.9 times in plots of conventional ploughing and 1.7 times – in plots of shallow ploughing soil

The effect of liming and nitrogen application on common osier and black poplar biomass productivity and determination of biofuel quality indicators

Experiments with two short rotation woody energy crops, common osier (Salix viminalis L.) and black poplar (Populus nigra L.) were carried out in Western Lithuania (55 430 N, 21 270 E) on a naturally acid moraine loamy Retisol. According to the results averaged over the two successive growing rotations (2008e2012 and 2013e2016), the dry matter (DM) yield of common osier amounted to 74.76 t ha 1 and 71.63 t ha 1, respectively and that of black poplar totalled 42.28 and 54.24 t ha 1. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased the number of stems and DM yield for both crops, while stem height was increased only for osier. High-quality chaff of common osier and black poplar was produced using a screw chopper. Our study evidenced that common osier and black poplar biomass feedstock meets the requirements for high quality solid biofuel. When chopped by a screw chopper, wet chaff (40e55% moisture content) may be burned in high and medium power boilers equipped with combustion devices suitable for the incineration of wet chopped woody plantsLietuvos agrarinių ir mi škų mokslų centro Vėžaičių filialasLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro Vėžaičių filialasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

Green energy from different feedstock processed under anaerobic conditions

The possible use of energy crops and aquaculture for bioenergy production has only recently become a research target, so there is little information on their properties and advantages. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible use of cup plant, as well as marine and freshwater algae (Scenedesmus sp. and Chlorella sp.) for biogas production. Research of a batch anaerobic digestion process at a mesophilic temperature were performed using wet wastewater sludge, cattle manure, fresh microalgae biomass and dry marine algae, cup plant biomass and mixtures of these materials. The highest biogas yield (541.28 ml g-1 VS) was obtained by using a new feedstock from the microalgae Scenedesmus sp. biomass. That yield was 1.4 times higher than the biogas yield from cattle manure and 15% lower than the biogas yield from wastewater sludge. It was found that adding microalgae biomass to a cattle manure substrate increases biogas production approx. 1.5 times. The highest methane concentration in biogas produced from microalgae ranges from 64.87% to 66.66% and exceeds the methane amount (64.26%) in biogas produced from wastewater sludge. The methane amount in biogas produced from cattle manure, cup plant and marine algae biomass is lower than 60%. In addition, it was found that it is possible to produce 5,092.3 m3 of biogas or 113 GJ of energy from 1 ha of harvested cup plant biomassLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro Vėžaičių filialasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij

The effect of mineral and organic fertilization on common osier (Salix viminalis L.) productivity and qualitative parameters of naturally acidic Retisola

One of the potential options for sewage sludge as an alternative organic material is the fertilization of energy crops. To evaluate the effect of granulated sewage sludge and mineral fertilization N60P60K60 on common osier’s (Salix viminalis L.) biomass productivity and soil parameters, field trials were held in Western Lithuania’s naturally acidic Retisol (WB 2014; pHKCl 4.35–4.58). After four years of cultivation and dependent on fertilization type, common osier dry matter (DM) yield varied from 49.60 to 77.92 t ha 1. Higher DM yield was related to an increased number of stems/plants. The application of a 90 t ha1 sewage sludge rate had a significant and positive impact on common osier productivity, as well as on the increment of soil organic carbon, total N, and mobile P2O5 content in the upper 0–30 cm soil layer. The use of both sewage sludge rates (45 and 90 t ha1) had a similar impact on soil bulk density, water-stable aggregates, and the active soil microbial biomass. Annual mineral fertilization had little effect on the parameters studied. When growing common osier in Retisol, 45 t ha1 of a single sewage sludge rate was enough to maintain both plant and soil productivityAgronomijos fakultetasLietuvos agrarinių ir mi škų mokslų centro Vėžaičių filialasLietuvos agrarinių ir miškų mokslų centro Vėžaičių filialasVytauto Didžiojo universiteta