Does Nitrogen Application Improve Elephant Grass Yield and Energetic Characteristics of Biofuels?
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Does Nitrogen Application Improve Elephant Grass Yield and Energetic Characteristics of Biofuels? Amanda Magalhães Bueno 1 & Aline Franciel de Andrade 1 & Karen Andreon Viçosi 2 & Rilner Alves Flores 1 & Carlos Roberto Sette Jr 1 & Thammi Queuri Gomes da Cunha 1 & Glenio Guimarães Santos 1 Received: 26 June 2020 / Accepted: 23 September 2020 # Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the effect of nitrogen (N) application in the biomass yield and energetic characteristics of biofuels (fresh and briquettes) of elephant grass grown in tropical conditions. The experiment was carried out during two consecutive harvests, and the following nitrogen fertilizer doses were evaluated: 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 kg of N ha−1 year−1. Biometric variables, biomass yield, total accumulated nitrogen, and C:N ratio and biomass energetic characterization were carried out. Briquettes were produced for the evaluation of the energetic, physical, and mechanical characteristics. Nitrogen application influenced the elephant grass yield growing in tropical conditions. The biomass yield reached 43 Mg ha−1 in the second harvest. The application of 100 kg ha−1 N promoted greater efficiency in the use of N and biomass yield. Thus, this is the recommended dose for cultivation of elephant grass for energy purposes in the edaphoclimatic conditions of the Cerrado biome (Brazilian Savannah). Elephant grass presented high heating value (17,196 kJ kg−1), ash content (4.77%), and bulk and energy density (206.00 kg m−3 and 0.84 Gcal m−3) that make it suitable for use as an energy resource in the fresh form. However, the production of briquettes improved its energetic characteristics. The application of N did not change the high heating value of biomass and the characteristics of briquettes. Keywords Cenchrus purpureus . Briquettes . Bioenergy . Nitrogen use efficiency . Nitrogen accumulation
Introduction The use of plant biomass appears as an alternative energy source, with the advantage of being renewable and clean, when compared to fossil fuels. Also, it has low production costs with minimal use of fossil sources and has high potential for carbon sequestration, since the emitted CO2 is absorbed again during photosynthesis [1, 2]. Diversification of biomass sources for energy use as well as their viability [3] has currently been targeted in studies worldwide [4–6], and biomass densification has been widely used, with the increase in the production of pellets and briquettes in recent years [7, 8]. In this case, lignocellulosic biomass represents a promising alternative energy source, which uses wood and forest residues [9–11], as well as crops and agro-industrial residues [12, 13].
* Rilner Alves Flores [email protected] 1
Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
2
Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Brazil
The most common biomass energy sources in Brazil are sugarcane (Saccharum spp. L.) bagasse and reforested eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp. L'Héritier), the former being the on
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