Large‐scale identification of hot spots for soil carbon demand under climate change and bioenergy production

Global change scenarios predict an increased risk for declining amounts of soil organic matter (SOM) for Central Germany. Within this region the production of bioenergy is one important strategy to counteract the rising anthropogenic CO₂‐emissions. Both issues have a close connection: SOM is an important basis for soil productivity and requires a steady reproduction flux. Bioenergy production requires productive soils and partly consumes plant biomass C. Therefore, the available amount for SOM reproduction is reduced. This study provides a methodology for the large‐scale identification of areas with possible conflicts between bioenergy production and SOM reproduction based on (1) the prediction of climate change impact on SOM reproduction and (2) an analysis of the regional distribution of biogas plants. With the C demand index (CDI) and the capacity index (CAP), two indicators were developed which enable the identification of hot spots of high carbon demand for SOM reproduction due to climate change and the usage of bioenergy. As a result of low data requirements, the indicators are widely applicable and transferable to other large‐scale studies. The proposed methodology was applied to Central Germany as a pilot region. Results indicate a growing demand (10–40%) of fresh organic C from biomass for SOM production in comparison to the current level. The analysis reveals that the bioenergy C demand is not evenly distributed within the study region. It also shows some regional clustering. Furthermore, the analysis identifies certain hot spots of a high C demand, where a high capacity of biogas production may conflict with rising demands for biomass to mitigate climate change effects on SOM storage. The hot spot areas—identified and selected on a large scale—can subsequently be analyzed in more detail on a local to farm scale by using high‐resolution data and models which enable the quantification of soil C dynamics.     

Water availability affects nectar sugar production and insect visitation of the cup plant Silphium perfoliatum L. (Asteraceae)

The perennial cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) is considered as an alternative feedstock to maize for biogas plants. Due to its ecological advantages of an extensive management and function as food resource for pollinators, it can be grown in Ecological Focus Areas (EFAs) since 2018. However, studies at the Julius Kühn-Institute in Braunschweig (Germany) showed that the assumed advantage of the cup plant of a high drought tolerance could not be confirmed regarding aspects of crop production and yield. We complemented this experiment by assessing how different soil moisture conditions affect the production of floral resources and insect visitation. In 2014, we sampled three irrigated and three rainfed plots of the cup plant. We quantified the nectar volume and sugar mass per inflorescence, the number of inflorescences per plant and calculated the total nectar sugar production. We further counted insect visitation on the inflorescences. Due to reduced numbers of inflorescences per plant and an earlier harvest, the estimated nectar sugar production was 58 kg/ha regarding irrigated and 20 kg/ha regarding rainfed plots. Honeybee visitation per inflorescence was about twice as high in the irrigated plots. Furthermore, the early harvest is a disadvantage for wild pollinators with a late activity period.     

梅州地区主要能源草分布及生长情况调查

调查了梅州地区高大能源草五节芒和类芦的分布、生长及生物量等情况,结果表明,这2种草在梅州地区普遍分布,低山地的五节芒地上部干物量达到33.4 t/hm2,类芦干物量达29.0 t/hm2,具有作为能源草开发的价值;此外,五节芒的干物量与土壤水分含量呈显著正相关,但与土壤有机质及速效氮磷钾含量相关关系不显著,而类芦的干物量与土壤水分含量、土壤有机质及速效氮磷钾含量也没有显著相关关系,说明五节芒相对喜水,类芦相对耐旱。指出在山地开发种植芒草类能源草、建立能源农场、生产清洁能源是山区经济发展的新思路。     

木材科学与技术研究新进展

木材作为世界四大基础材料中(钢铁、水泥、塑料、木材)唯一的可再生资源,广泛应用于家具、建筑、能源、新材料等领域,与人们的生活息息相关,已成为国民经济重要支柱产业.从木材微观分子生物学到宏观木结构,再到新型木质纳米材料进行全面阐释,对于木材科学与技术领域的基础理论研究和重大核心技术突破具有重要指导意义.木材科学与技术已发...     

Greenhouse gas emissions from Silphium perfoliatum and silage maize cropping on Stagnosols

Background

The sustainability of bioenergy is strongly affected by direct field-derived greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and indirect emissions form land-use change. Marginal land in low mountain ranges is suitable for feedstock production due to small impact on indirect land-use change. However, these sites are vulnerable to high N₂O emissions because of their fine soil texture and hydrology.

Aims

The perennial cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum L.) might outperform silage maize (Zea mays L.) on cold, wet low mountain ranges sites regarding yield and ecosystem services. The aim of this study was to assess whether the cultivation of cup plant also provides GHG mitigation potential compared to the cultivation of maize.

Methods

A t-year field experiment was conducted in a low mountain range region in western Germany to compare area and yield-scaled GHG emissions from cup plant and maize fields. GHG emissions were quantified using the closed chamber method.

Results

Cup plant fields emitted an average of 3.6 ± 4.3 kg N₂O-N ha^–1 year^–1 (–85%) less than maize fields. This corresponded to 74.0 ± 94.1 g CO_2-eq kWh^–1 (–78%) less emissions per produced electrical power. However, cup plant had a significantly lower productivity per hectare (–34%) and per unit of applied nitrogen (–32%) than maize.

Conclusion

Cup plant as a feedstock reduces direct field-derived GHG emissions compared to maize but, due to lower yields cup plant, likely increases emissions associated with land-use changes. Therefore, the increased sustainability of bioenergy from biogas by replacing maize with cup plant is heavily dependent on the performance of maize at these sites and on the ecosystem services of cup plant in addition to GHG savings.     

能源草研究进展

能源植物作为未来生物能源的主要原料,开发利用前景广阔,他将成为21世纪新型能源的研究热点。其中,能源草,因其具生长快、适应性强、抗逆性好、易栽培管理、可多年利用等优点,将是人们关注的重点。通过对发展能源草的背景、意义、国内外能源草研究利用概况进行了综合评述,并分析了具有发展潜力的能源草及其在发展中存在的问题和对策,为进一步深入开展能源草研究提供参考。     

运用生物能量学模型预测草鱼生长、饲料需求和污染排放

为预测不同生长阶段草鱼生长性能、饲料需求量和污染排放量,提高草鱼投喂管理水平,本研究运用特定增长率(SGR)、日增长率(DGC)、日均增重(ADG)和热积温系数(TGC)等生长模型计算草鱼在不同生长阶段的生长速率,并通过计算定期采样中实际观测值和预测值最小残差平方和法选出最优生长模型。饲料需求模型通过估算鱼类消化能需求量决定,根据能量收支原理,通过计算鱼体储积能(RE)、基础代谢能(He E)、摄食热增能(Hi E)以及尿液和鳃的代谢能(UE+ZE),来估算草鱼的消化能,再根据所用饲料的消化能含量来确定草鱼对饲料的需求量。草鱼污染物排放主要采用营养物质平衡法计算。在模型验证时,以粗蛋白分别为33%、28%、23%的饲料投喂不同生长阶段的草鱼,将草鱼体质量和饲料系数(FCR)的模型预测值与实际观测值进行比较。结果显示,与其他生长模型(SGR、ADG、DGC)相比,调整后的TGC模型能更精确预测草鱼的生长情况;草鱼体质量和FCR预测值与观测值之间显著相关;每生产1 t鱼(体质量为0.5~2 500 g),其消化能需求量约为1.55×107 k J,消耗1 t饲料或生产1 t鱼所排放的总固态污染物分别为440和623 kg。研究表明,该复合性营养模型可以有效地估计实际养殖中草鱼生长、饲料需求量和污染物排放量,有望为草鱼差异化上市、节省饲料成本、减少饲料浪费以及养殖场的污染评价提供有效的预判工具。     

国内外生物质能发展综述

生物质能源是仅次于石油、煤炭和天然气的世界第4大能源,具有可再生和环境友好的双重属性,其发展对社会经济可持续发展具有重要意义.为此,通过对目前生物质能主要研究领域以及国内外生物质能实践发展的分析,提出了我国发展生物质能战略意义及对策,为我国生物质能的发展提供参考依据.     

Population Dynamics of Aphthona whitfieldi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), Pest of Jatropha curcas,and Environmental Factors Favoring Its Abundance in Burkina Faso

The flea beetle Aphthona whitfieldi Bryant (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is the main pest of the bioenergy crop Jatropha curcas L. (Euphorbiaceae) in Burkina Faso and several other West African countries. Adults severely defoliate plants, resulting in seedling mortality, poor growth, and low yields. To study the population dynamics of the pest in the Sissili Province of Burkina Faso, 12 sites were monitored weekly during a year and 31 sites were inspected for damage at the peak period of insect abundance. The effect of cropping systems (hedge, intercropping, and monoculture) and surrounding vegetation on population densities of A. whitfieldi was assessed. Beetles were rarely found in the dry season and peaked in the second half of the rainy season. The cropping system did not significantly influence the abundance and attack level. In contrast, the close vicinity of fallow lands seems to increase damage levels. Many aspects of the biology and ecology of A. whitfieldi remain to be investigated before sustainable control methods can be developed. However, this study already allows us to propose recommendations for further research on management.     

Potential Impact of Forest Bioenergy on Environment in China

Forest bioenergy is an alternative to fossil energy.Although forest bioenergy is of great value to ease energy supply,there is still a strong call for the research of what impact forest bioenergy plantation will exert on environment if under large scale development.By discussing the resource potential and development status of forest bioenergy,the paper attempts to explore the potential impact of forest bioenergy on environment and give some recommendations to mitigate and even avoid negative impact.