Exploitability of cultivated and wild cardoon as long-term, low-input energy crops

• Published in: Italian journal of agronomy Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 44 - 46
• Main Authors: Mauro, Rosario Paolo, Sortino, Orazio, Pesce, Gaetano Roberto, Agnello, Michele, Lombardo, Sara, Pandino, Gaetano, Mauromicale, Giovanni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pavia PAGEPress Publications 01.01.2015; Elsevier
• Subjects: achenes; Agricultural land; bioenergy; Biomass; Biomass energy production; Calorific value; cardoon; Crop yield; Cropping systems; Cultivation; Cynara cardunculus; Dry matter; Energy; Energy crops; Genotypes; Soil fertility
• ISSN: 1125-4718; 2039-6805
• DOI: 10.4081/ija.2015.638

The potential ability in terms of biomass, achenes, oil and energy yield of two Cynara cardunculus L. genotypes (one cultivated cardoon and one wild cardoon) was evaluated along a 7-year experiment. It was carried out in a marginal farmland of Southern Italy, with low soil fertility and minimal external inputs. Under these conditions, they reached an annual harvestable biomass ranging from 0.74 (wild cardoon) to 1.46 kg m−2 (cultivated cardoon) and an energy yield ranging from 13.8 to 27.5 kJ m−2. The lower heating value of biomass (including achenes) was on average 18.2 kJ kg−1, while the oil yield from achenes varied between 25.1 and 25.7 g 100 g−1 of dry matter. The cultivated cardoon was able to produce high yields until the fifth season and therefore is prone for medium long-time cropping systems. Conversely, wild cardoon showed a most stable yield pattern and plant survival over seasons, suggesting its particular suitability for perennial cropping systems in Mediterranean marginal areas.