Hybrid sorrel: cultivation potential and use as a novel non‐food multipurpose crop

Abstract

Hybrid sorrel is a perennial crop whose benefits include good wintering, early ripening, and relatively high biomass and energy yields. The average yields are usually in the range from 4 to 10 t ha−1 dry matter (DM) per year. Based on a long‐term study, a significant fertilization effect on hybrid sorrel yield was found. The crop establishment in spring is preceded by plowing in autumn. Hybrid sorrel can be harvested in the year following the establishment. As a perennial crop, hybrid sorrel provides ecosystem services to a greater extent than first‐generation annual crops. They are, for example, habitat functioning, air regulation, biodiversity conservation, anti‐erosion effect, and groundwater protection. After cultivation, it can leave up to 60 t ha−1 of slightly mineralizable organic matter in the soil. Hybrid sorrel's drawbacks include low resistance against weeds and sensitivity to drought damage. According to the available data, this hybrid sorrel is one of the most promising energy crops in the temperate zone. It is suitable for both combustion and biogas production. In biogas production, sorrel produces a total methane yield of about 2500 to 3500 mN3 ha−1, and as a biofuel for combustion it shows a relatively high DM calorific value, of about 18 MJ kg−1. Alongside its use for energy and fodder purposes, it can be cultivated to produce medicines and unique building materials. It can also be used for the phytoremediation of contaminated soils. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd