Reed Canary Grass for Energy in Sweden: Yields, Land-Use Patterns, and Climatic Profile

Abstract

Research Highlights: (1) Reed canary grass (RCG) is analysed in Sweden compared to willow and poplar for 2001–2020. (2) Each crop presents a different land-use and climatic profile. (3) Average yield records of RCG are similar to willow and poplar. (4) There are divergences between trial-based and commercial yields. (5) Existing land-use change patterns suggest meadow > RCG and RCG > cereal. (6) RCG land area is very sensitive to policy incentives. Background and objectives: RCG is an alternative crop for biomass-to-energy due to high yield and frost tolerance. We assess the cultivation in Sweden by using an extensive compilation of data, with emphasis on the extent of the cultivation, climatic profile, land-use patterns, and productivity. Material and methods: RCG plantations are analysed for 2001–2020. A geostatistical analysis is performed to characterize where it is cultivated and the land uses associated. Climatic, productivity, and yield profiles are compared to willow and poplar plantations from experiments and from commercial plantations. Results: The results show that the cultivation of RCG expanded after 2005, with a maximum of 800 ha in 2009, to then decrease to the current levels of about 550 ha. It is mainly grown in colder climatic areas, with lower agricultural productivity than willow and poplar. Mean yields from trials are 6 oven dry tonnes (odt) ha−1 year−1; commercial yields are 3.5 odt ha−1 year−1. RCG replaces meadow land and then is replaced by cereals when abandoned. Conclusions: RCG is an interesting alternative with similar yields (commercial and trials) as other energy crops, but its success is more sensitive to policy incentives.

Combining continuous data on soil properties and land use to explore soil carbon changes and soil structure indicators

“…Several studies have used the IACS database in recent years, e.g., to classify and assess land use 56,57 and facilitate methodology development for the identification of crop types from satellite data 58,59 . For the purposes of this study, we collected and synthesized parcel-level data on crop cultivation for each reported field in Sweden for 18 years (2003 to 2020).…”

Growth and Development of Short-Rotation Woody Crops for Rural and Urban Applications

“…Mola-Yudego et al [18] compared the volume production, land-use patterns, and climatic profiles of reed canary grass versus traditional energy crops (i.e., poplars and willows) in Sweden. Reed canary grass is grown in colder climates in areas that have lower agricultural productivity than poplars and willows, yet they found its mean yields of 6 Mg ha −1 year −1 (experimental) and 3.5 Mg ha −1 year −1 (commercial) to be similar.…”

“…There are a total of 20 papers in the Special Issue representing 13 countries and four genera (Phalaris L., Populus L., Robinia L., Salix L.) (Figure 1; Table 1). In addition to the development and management of a Salix cultivar database [1], rural and urban applications represented in the Special Issue include: (a) forest buffers [2], (b) forest health screening [3,4], (c) phytoremediation [5][6][7], (d) short rotation coppice [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15], (e) volume production [16][17][18], and (f) wastewater reuse [19,20] (Table 1). There were >130 genotypes from 27 genomic groups tested across all studies (Table 2), representing the importance of phyto-recurrent selection and other methods to choose clones for local and regional biomass production systems whose methodologies and approaches are relevant worldwide.…”

Effect of Phosphogypsum Addition on Methane Yield in Biogas and Digestate Properties During Anaerobic Digestion

“…Perennial grasses are considered promising energy crops due to a number of characteristics that make them particularly interesting for intensive biomass production compared to annual crops: high yield potential, high lignin and cellulose content in their biomass, high calorific value, low water content, and low complexity of field treatment. In addition, energy herbaceous crops can improve biodiversity conditions, provide opportunities for simultaneous phytoremediation and erosion control, increase soil organic carbon, and mediate water flow and nutrient content [1].…”