6533b884fe1ef96bd12dfd75

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Production and energetic performance of Carthamus tinctorius L. in the Mediterranean environment

subject

description

One of the most important aspects when managing an agro-energy crop is the energy gain factor, that is, the surplus in energy which remains following an appraisal of the relevant inputs and outputs. This aspect is of fundamental importance when choosing a species in a particular growth environment as it gives crucial information on the economic and energetic feasibility of a species and allows us to evaluate potential costs in order to obtain a given production and energy performance. In the agro-energy sector, this indicator is not always included in the evaluation process, making the agronomic and energy results obtained often incomplete. In the Mediterranean area, one potential crop for bioenergy is safflower, given its ability to adapt to various environmental conditions and due to the chemical and physical characteristics of its oil and crop residues, which are comparable to other Brassicaceae, such as rapeseed. This species was the focus of attention in the past in Sicily as an energy crop, and important information was obtained on its yield and on the quality of safflower oil. However, a comprehensive study of the energy balance of the crop has never been made. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phenological, production and energetic properties of various genotypes of safflower in a representative area of Sicily. An estimate was made of the main energy inputs and outputs in order to determine the net energy yield and the crop’s energy efficiency. The tests were carried out in climate conditions typical of the Mediterranean area for the duration of two years.