This work reports preliminary results on the growth and biomass production of two perennial herbs, Sida hermaphrodita (Virginia mallow) and Silphium perfoliatum (cup plant), tested in the frame of SidaTim project (FACCE-SURPLUS) in German, Italy, Poland and UK. Sida can be used for energetic consumption or as a basic compound for various material products, such as fibre products or particle boards. Silphium can be used as an alternative to maize for biogas production. The flowers of both species provide abundant pollen and nectar for pollinating insects. In late spring - early summer of 2016, experimental trials were established in Lower Saxony, Northern Italy and Pomerania, and in 2017 in England as well as in Southern Italy. In each site, two provenances of Sida and one of Silphium were compared using seeds and seedlings; in Italy and Poland they were also compared with SRC of poplar and willow. The experimental design is a randomized block or a Latin square with 4 replications; the experimental units have a surface of about 100 m2. Planting density was about 40.000 plants per hectare for Sida and Silphium and 10.000 trees per ha for SRC. The soil was prepared with a plough (30 cm deep). After establishment and in spring of the 2nd year, chemical weeding was applied only in Low Saxony, in other sites manual hoeing was done. During the summer of the first year, three or four harrowing operations were performed between the rows in most of the sites. Fertilization was carried out only in northern Europe with 100 kg N ha-1, 35 kg P ha-1 and 80 kg K ha-1. In Italy only, the plots were irrigated during summer by sprinkler or drip irrigation. The evaluation of the plant growth of two Sida provenances and Silphium was conducted during growing season using a BBCH-code. In July (2017) and October (2016, 2017) a sample per plot of Sida and Silphium plot was harvested and data on fresh and oven dry weight were collected. Harvesting on the Sida plots was performed during the dormant season when the shoots had a moisture content of ca 20%. Silphium was harvested only in the second year; because during the first year, it forms only a rosette of leaves. In the first year, the height of Sida plants varies from 100 to 230 cm. In the second year in Northern Italy the highest plants of Sida and Silphium reach 460 and 360 cm, respectively. Biomass (dry matter) produced during the first year by Sida ranged from 0.83 Mg·ha-1 in Pomerania, 1.4 Mg·ha-1 in Lower Saxony to 6.6 Mg·ha-1 in Northern Italy; during the second year from 7 Mg·ha-1 in Italy, to 14.0 Mg·ha-1 in Pomerania. The yield of Silphium during second year ranged from 14.5 Mg·ha-1 by harvest on the end of vegetation to 25.65 Mg·ha-1 by harvesting twice in year (in June and October) in Pomerania.
Performance of Sida Hermaphrodita and Silphium perfoliatum in Europe: preliminary results
Francesca Chiocchini;Pierluigi Paris;
2018
Abstract
This work reports preliminary results on the growth and biomass production of two perennial herbs, Sida hermaphrodita (Virginia mallow) and Silphium perfoliatum (cup plant), tested in the frame of SidaTim project (FACCE-SURPLUS) in German, Italy, Poland and UK. Sida can be used for energetic consumption or as a basic compound for various material products, such as fibre products or particle boards. Silphium can be used as an alternative to maize for biogas production. The flowers of both species provide abundant pollen and nectar for pollinating insects. In late spring - early summer of 2016, experimental trials were established in Lower Saxony, Northern Italy and Pomerania, and in 2017 in England as well as in Southern Italy. In each site, two provenances of Sida and one of Silphium were compared using seeds and seedlings; in Italy and Poland they were also compared with SRC of poplar and willow. The experimental design is a randomized block or a Latin square with 4 replications; the experimental units have a surface of about 100 m2. Planting density was about 40.000 plants per hectare for Sida and Silphium and 10.000 trees per ha for SRC. The soil was prepared with a plough (30 cm deep). After establishment and in spring of the 2nd year, chemical weeding was applied only in Low Saxony, in other sites manual hoeing was done. During the summer of the first year, three or four harrowing operations were performed between the rows in most of the sites. Fertilization was carried out only in northern Europe with 100 kg N ha-1, 35 kg P ha-1 and 80 kg K ha-1. In Italy only, the plots were irrigated during summer by sprinkler or drip irrigation. The evaluation of the plant growth of two Sida provenances and Silphium was conducted during growing season using a BBCH-code. In July (2017) and October (2016, 2017) a sample per plot of Sida and Silphium plot was harvested and data on fresh and oven dry weight were collected. Harvesting on the Sida plots was performed during the dormant season when the shoots had a moisture content of ca 20%. Silphium was harvested only in the second year; because during the first year, it forms only a rosette of leaves. In the first year, the height of Sida plants varies from 100 to 230 cm. In the second year in Northern Italy the highest plants of Sida and Silphium reach 460 and 360 cm, respectively. Biomass (dry matter) produced during the first year by Sida ranged from 0.83 Mg·ha-1 in Pomerania, 1.4 Mg·ha-1 in Lower Saxony to 6.6 Mg·ha-1 in Northern Italy; during the second year from 7 Mg·ha-1 in Italy, to 14.0 Mg·ha-1 in Pomerania. The yield of Silphium during second year ranged from 14.5 Mg·ha-1 by harvest on the end of vegetation to 25.65 Mg·ha-1 by harvesting twice in year (in June and October) in Pomerania.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
