INFLUENCE OF PLANT BIOMETRICS ON BIOMASS YIELD OF INTRODUCED RARE ENERGY CROPS

Abstract

The involvement of rare energy crops into cultivation is highly important in the context of obtaining
an additional energy resource – the biomass of these plants. Solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels are
produced from plant raw materials of energy crops, and their use will reduce the energy dependence of
local communities. The study of their morphological and biological traits is another important issue that
will enable to identify the peculiarities of yield formation and find effective ways to manage energy crop
areas. Therefore, the aim of our research was to provide morphological and biological characteristics of
plants and to reveal the peculiarities of biomass formation of rare energy crops. Observations and
analyses based on the monographic method, data from dictionaries and reference books as well as the
authors’ own work and scientific publications of both Ukrainian and foreign scientists were used for this
purpose. Authorized scientific methods, DSTU and methods of research in agronomy were used in the
laboratory and field experiments. The results of multi-year research made it possible to establish the
variability of biometric indicators of energy crops: Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash), Big
Bluestem (Andropogon Gerardii Vitman) and Columbus grass (Sorghum Almum Parodi). The highest
height and plant stem density are formed by Indian grass and Columbus grass. The interdependence
between the quantitative indicators of plants of rare energy crops has been determined: as the height of
plants increases, their number and biomass yield increases. The highest yield of dry biomass is formed
by Columbus grass and Indian grass, 8.0 and 5.0 t/ha, respectively. This indicator is significantly lower
in Big Bluestem – at a level of 2.3 t/ha. It has been established that the biometric indices of plants in
height and plant stem density have a significant impact on the level of biomass yield of the studied
energy crops. This is confirmed by a strong rectilinear correlation (r>0.71) and multidimensional
relationship, and is described by the following equation: z = – 2.7247 + 0.0664 × x - 0.0103 × y.
Prospects for further research will be to study the seed productivity of rare energy crops depending on
growing conditions.