Dynamics of biometric indicators of energy willow plants depending on planting density and feeding background

Abstract

Development of world civilization is closely linked to energy resources, which significantly affect the country's independency policy.

In the structure of renewable energy sources in the world more than 50% is energy received from biomass of vegetable origin and 15% of the total energy used.

Ukraine belongs to energydeficient countries, which is unable to provide the energy sector with fossil fuels, therefore task of alternative energy development for our country is urgent.

In Ukraine, in the last decade, much attention has been paid to improving the efficiency of biofuels and bioenergy, which reduces the dependence of national economy on energy imports, reduce its energy intensity and ensure economic development.

A promising renewable fuel source is the biomass of grass and tree crops. Among wood energy crops, the largest plantations are of willow.

To date, the impact of basic environmental conditions and cultivation technologies on crop productivity has been disclosed in many scientific publications and literary sources. However, currently the issue of the impact of cultivation technology, soil and climatic factors on the growth and development of energy willow plants in the Pre-Carpathians is little studied and insufficiently covered in scientific publications, which causes the relevance of this issue.

The research results showed that the highest shoots (6.8−7.0 m on the fifth year of energy willow vegetation) was recorded in the variant with a planting density of 18 thousand pieces/ha. The diameter of the central shoot in this variant was in the range 36-42 mm. Number of shoots 2.1−2.9 pcs. per 1 plant and 37.8−52.2 thousand pieces per 1 hectare. The largest diameter of the central shoot was recorded in the variant with a planting density of 12 thousand pcs/ha, where it was in the range 41-44 mm. Number of shoots 4.2−4.8 pcs. per 1 plant and 50.4−57.6 thousand pieces per 1 hectare.

After analyzing the dynamics of vegetative mass growth of energy willow, it should be noted that the average increase in one growing year of the five−year cycle ranged

from 1.32 to 1.40 m. The annual increase in the diameter of the central shoot was 7.2−9.2 mm.