The terms and frequency of atmospheric thaws near Olsztyn in the years 1952-2002

Materiał wyjściowy do opracowania przebiegu odwilży atmosferycznych w okolicach Olsztyna stanowiły wartości średniej dobowej temperatury powietrza mierzonej na poziomie standardowym w latach 1952/1953-2001/2002. Klasyfikację odwilży atmosferycznych oparto na podziale Czarneckiej [Atlas ..., 1990]. Obejmuje on odwilże atmosferyczne (dni ze średnią dobową temperaturą powietrza powyżej 0°C przez co najmniej trzy dni w ciągach 2-, 5-, 10- i 20-dniowych). W okresie zimowym analizowanego 50-lecia stwierdzono, że najmniejsza liczba dni z odwilżami atmosferycznymi wynosiła 2, największa - 88, a średnia - 40. Ponadto stwierdzono, że w ciągu zimy minimalnie wystąpiła 1 odwilż, maksymalnie - 11, średnio - 5,3. Wśród odwilży najwięcej było trwających 2 dni - 46%, najmniej trwających 20 dni - ponad 7%. Odwilże atmosferyczne najczęściej występowały w grudniu, rzadziej w styczniu i lutym.Material for the study of atmospheric thaws in the Olsztyn surroundings was based on mean daily air temperatures recorded at the standard level in the period from 1952/1953 to 2001/2002. Thaws were studied in 2, 5, 10, 20 days long series [Atlas ..., 1990] with an average winter daily temperature above 0°C for at least 3 days. The lowest number of days with thaws was 2 and the highest was 88 in the studied period of 50 years. Average number of days with thaws was 40. Additionally we found minimum - 1 thaw, maximum 11, while the average number was 5,3 thaws per winter. Forty six percent of thaws lasted 2 days, those lasting 20 days were only 7%. Atmospheric thaws were recorded mainly in December and occasionally in January or February

Legal Framework for the Sustainable Production of Short Rotation Coppice Biomass for Bioeconomy and Bioenergy

The production of lignocellulose biomass on dedicated plantations is an option that facilitates the implementation of sustainable development policy. The novelty of this type of research is that it involves the use of various types of methods—economic and legal analyses within a particular subject. This makes it possible to obtain a holistic view of the chosen case study. The purpose of this study was to determine whether setting up a Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) plantation of willow (Salix spp.) and poplar (Populus spp.) was economically profitable and if the legal regulations supported this type of production. The economic data are based on an experimental case study. The economic profitability of the plantations was assessed through an analysis of discounted cash flows, net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and profitability index (PI). The legal analysis of the relevant EU and Polish legal solutions was based on a dogmatic approach. The study demonstrated that SRC cultivation was mostly hindered by economic factors, including the low selling price of biomass as an energy resource and the high costs of harvest. Meanwhile, in the analysed period, i.e., from 2015 to 2020, there were no additional legal or economic forms of support for this type of production that was addressed directly to lignocellulose biomass producers, with the exception of the standard support under the Common Agricultural Policy framework. The results of this study provide information for decisionmakers about the opportunities and challenges experienced during the development of SRC plantations

Environmental External Production Costs of Extracts Derived from Poplar-Containing Bioactive Substances

The bioeconomy needs new, economically feasible products obtained from biological raw materials via sustainable processes having the smallest possible impact on the environment. The objectives of our study have been: (i) to make an evaluation of the external costs of the production of a poplar extract containing bioactive substances by supercritical extraction; (ii) to make a comparison of the internal and external costs of extract production; (iii) to determine the total life cycle costs (LCCs) of the extract and the break-even prices (BEPs) in two business models. In the first business model (BM I), the only commercial product was the extract, while pellets were used for their own energy purposes. In the second business model (BM II), both the extract and pellets were marketable products. Out of the two analyzed business models, lower external costs and, consequently, lower total costs were achieved in BM I (LCC €259 kg−1) than in BM II (LCC €267 kg−1). However, the profitability analysis showed that BM II was more profitable (BEP €313 kg−1) than BM I (BEP €359 kg−1). The inclusion of the external costs of poplar extract production by supercritical extraction has a significant impact on increasing the production profitability threshold. An analysis of a situation where electricity was replaced with the EU mix (the European Union mix) generated with a higher share of RES (renewable energy sources) showed that the externalities were lowered. A substantial decrease in the external costs at the supercritical extraction stage was reflected in the lower values of the total cost of extract production, LCC, and BEP, hence, attesting to less damage to the natural environment

Conceptual framework of bioethanol production from lignocellulose for agricultural profitability

Among currently developed biofuel and green-power technologies, technological development of lignocellulose biomass-based production of ethanol will be particularly important in a short time perspective as those specific activities constitute an intermediary stage in the process of developing integrated processes of biomass conversion in the route to the universal energy carrier - hydrogen or electricity. Agricultural biorefinery or agri-refinery which converts agricultural biomass to a wide spectrum of biofuels and bioproducts is considered as the key element of the future economy. The biorefinery which produces biofuels and generates bioenergy will constitute the so called agri-energy complex - a local power unit implemented in the system of dispersed energy generation. It is worth noticing that agri-refinery will integrate three fundamental drivers of sustainable development of rural areas - bioeconomics, environment and society. This paper aims at elaborating the conceptual framework of the agri-refinery in the aspect of conversion of agricultural lignocellulosic biomass into bioethanol and other bioproducts as well as the future economy and sustainable development

Description of the boundary system of camelina intercropping systems

All agricultural production, including organic, affects the environment. Therefore, within the SCOOP project we will answer, through multi-criterial analysis, to the question: how intercropping systems with camelina influence the sustainability in terms of energy, environmental and economic categories. The scope of the research will include analysis of energy efficiency, life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost (LCC) assessment, including external environmental cost. Biodiversity studies will be performed based on the results of weeds and pest analysis carried out in T2.4. In the final stage all the results will be used to carry out the integrated sustainability assessment of camelina intercropping systems. The main objective of this report is to describe boundary system and functional units of LCA and LCC assessment of selected camelina intercropping systems

Willow Biomass as Energy Feedstock: The Effect of Habitat, Genotype and Harvest Rotation on Thermophysical Properties and Elemental Composition

Willow biomass is used as a bioenergy source in various conversion technologies. It is noteworthy that apart from the beneficial environmental impact of a willow plantation, the biomass quality is also very important as it has an impact on the effectiveness of its use and emissions produced in various bioenergy technologies. Therefore, this study analysed the thermophysical properties and elemental composition of 15 genotypes of willow biomass from two plantations situated in the north of Poland, harvested in two consecutive three-year rotations. The differences in the moisture content, ash content and the lower heating value were mainly determined by the genotype, i.e., by genetic factors. In contrast, the content of carbon, nitrogen, sulphur and hydrogen was determined by the location (environmental factors), but also by the genotype, and by a combination of these factors. The following were the mean levels of the willow biomass characteristics, regardless of the location, genotype and harvest rotation: 48.9% moisture content, 1.26% d.m. ash content, 19.4% d.m. fixed carbon, 79.4% d.m. volatile matter, 19.53 MJ kg−1 d.m. higher heating value, 8.20 MJ kg−1 lower heating value, 52.90% d.m. carbon, 6.23% d.m. hydrogen, 0.032% d.m. sulphur, 0.42% d.m. nitrogen. The present research has shown that the selection of the willow genotype is important for the quality of biomass as energy feedstock. However, plantation location, as well as successive harvest rotations, can have a significant impact on the biomass elemental composition

INFLUENCE OF THE CHANGE OF USING SOIL TO THE WATER QUALITY ON THE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS IN OBJECT LIDZBARK WARMIŃSKI

The study included groundwater outflow drainage systems and collected in the pond located at the agricultural use area in the portion of the drainage facility Lidzbark Warminski located on the Sępopolska Plain. The study was performed in two periods: the first one was in 1998–2000 (just after was made drainage), in which the discussed area was used as pasture, and the second in 2008–2010, in which after plowed of the soil was cultivated winter wheat. The aim of the study was to determine changes in water quality after the change of the way of land use. Examinations showed that as a result of the change of the way of using the area and ceasing of mineral fertilizing in waters of the pond was a reduction in the concentrations of the most mineral components, but an increase of pH reaction and concentrations of potassium, magnesium of sulfates and bicarbonates. In groundwaters observed increased the content of concentrations of mineral forms of nitrogen, phosphatic phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, general iron and bicarbonates, and a reduction in the concentrations of calcium, sodium, sulfates and chlorides. However in the water which outflow from drainage pipelines system from the research area was an increase of concentrations most of the determined substances, apart from ammonia nitrogen and chlorides

Influence of the change of using soil to the water quality on the drainage systems in object Lidzbark Warmiński

Badaniami objęto wody gruntowe, odpływające siecią drenarską oraz zretencjonowane w oczku wodnym zlokalizowanym na obszarze użytkowanym rolniczo, w części działu drenarskiego obiektu Lidzbark Warmiński na Równinie Sępopolskiej. Badania wykonywano w latach 1998–2000 po zdrenowaniu użytków zielonych oraz w latach 2008–2010, po transformacji gruntu obsianego pszenicą ozimą. Celem badań było określenie zmian jakości wód po zmianie sposobu użytkowania terenu. Badania wykazały, że na skutek zmiany sposobu użytkowania ziemi i zaniechaniu nawożenia mineralnego w oczkach wodnych stwierdzono zmniejszenie stężeń większości składników mineralnych, oraz zwiększenie wartości pH, stężeń potasu, magnezu siarczanów i wodorowęglanów. W wodach gruntowych zanotowano wzrost stężeń mineralnych form azotu, fosforu fosforanowego, potasu, magnezu oraz żelaza ogólnego i wodorowęglanów, zaś zmniejszenie stężeń wapnia, sodu, siarczanów i chlorków. W wodzie drenażowej nastąpił wzrost stężeń większości oznaczanych składników, oprócz azotu amonowego i chlorkówThe study included groundwater outflow drainage systems and collected in the pond located at the agricultural use area in the portion of the drainage facility Lidzbark Warminski located on the Sępopolska Plain. The study was performed in two periods: the first one was in 1998–2000 (just after was made drainage), in which the discussed area was used as pasture, and the second in 2008–2010, in which after plowed of the soil was cultivated winter wheat. The aim of the study was to determine changes in water quality after the change of the way of land use. Examinations showed that as a result of the change of the way of using the area and ceasing of mineral fertilizing in waters of the pond was a reduction in the concentrations of the most mineral components, but an increase of pH reaction and concentrations of potassium, magnesium of sulfates and bicarbonates. In groundwaters observed increased the content of concentrations of mineral forms of nitrogen, phosphatic phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, general iron and bicarbonates, and a reduction in the concentrations of calcium, sodium, sulfates and chlorides. However in the water which outflow from drainage pipelines system from the research area was an increase of concentrations most of the determined substances, apart from ammonia nitrogen and chlorides

Quality and Delivery Costs of Wood Chips by Railway vs. Road Transport

Forests are the main sources of wood chips delivered to the end customers by road or railway. This research analysed the impact of the quarter of the year: Q1 (January–March), Q2 (April–June), Q3 (July–September), Q4 (October–December) when wood chips were obtained over two consecutive years (2019–2020) and the type of transport used (railway and road) on the thermophysical properties of wood chips and the cost of their delivery. The mean moisture content in the wood chips was 38.28% and it was the highest (45.55%) in Q1, while in Q2 and Q3, this parameter was 8 and 17 percentage points (p.p.) lower. The mean lower heating value (LHV) of the chips was 10.46 GJ Mg−1. The chips delivered by road transport had a 4% higher LHV compared to those shipped by railway transport. The wood chips contained 3.42% d.m. of ash. The road transport at a distance of 200 km was found to be approximately 10% cheaper compared to the transport by rail for most of the study period, both with respect to 1 Mg of fresh or dry mass and 1 GJ of energy in the chips. The railway transport was cheaper in the winter (Q1)