Economic and energy efficiency of growing bioenergy crops in the western region

Abstract

Global climate changes and its impact on the environment provide the basis for listing energy strategies and finding new renewable energy solutions (RES).

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

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

A promising renewable fuel source is biomass of grass and wood crops. Among the energy crops, the largest plantations are poplars and willows. According to the literary data, poplar is more productive than willow, since willow sprouts are susceptible to summer drought.

To date, the influence of the basic conditions of the environment and the technologies of cultivation on the yield and quality of crops is disclosed in many scientific publications and literary sources. However, at present, the question of the impact of cultivating technology and soil-climatic factors on the growth and development of energetic willow and poplar plants in the conditions of the Western region has been studied and insufficiently covered in scientific publications, which highlights the relevance of this issue.

The research results showed that the highest yield of energetic willow biofuel was obtained with a variant with a planting density of 15 thousand units/ha and the application of mineral fertilizers, which amounted 61490 kg/ha. The energy yield for this was 983.8 GJ/ha. Application of mineral fertilizers provides an increase in the yield of solid biofuels in the range from 11550 to 18040 kg/ha in all variants of the experiment.The highest yield of energetic poplar biofuel was obtained with a planting density of 6.7 thousand units/ha and the application of mineral fertilizers and amounted 76,450 kg/ha. The energy yield for this is 122.3 GJ/ha. Application of mineral fertilizers provides an increase in energy yield in the range from 227040 to 285120 MJ/ha for all variants of the experiment.The economic assessment of energetic willow cultivation depending on planting density and feeding background showed that the most intensive economic effect grew with planting density of 15 and 12 thousand units/ha and application of mineral fertilizers, where a profit of 17.3 - 17.4 thousand UAH/ha was reached.The most energy efficient among those used in the research was the option with a planting density of 12 thousand units/ha and the application of mineral fertilizers, at which the energy efficiency ratio reaches 7.4.The economic assessment of energetic poplar cultivation depending on planting density and feeding background showed that the most intensive economic effect grew with planting density of 6.7 and 5.6 thousand units/ha and the application of mineral fertilizers, where a profit of 27.1 - 27.8 thousand UAH/ha was reached.The most energy efficient among those used in the research was the option with a planting density of 5.6 thousand units/ha and the application of mineral fertilizers, at which the energy efficiency ratio reaches 9.2.