Introduction of miscanthus in agricultural production in Serbia and the potential for using biomass for obtaining alternative fuels.

Abstract

According to research results to date on uncultivated agricultural surfaces, as well as on soils under recultivation, best production results were obtained by cultivating the perennial grass species miscanthus. From the ecological point of view, miscanthus is very important, because it can be cultivated in areas with high levels of environmental pollution for the purposes of remediation. The produced plant mass, fresh or dry, represents stored energy that can be used to obtain gas, liquid or solid biofuels, that can replace fossil fuels. The advantage of these fuels results from the fact that they have lower carbon dioxide emissions, and thus a more beneficial effect on reducing global warming caused by the greenhouse effect. In addition to reduced CO2 emission, less dependence on import of fossil fuels, primarily oil, has in many countries in the world created much interest in cultivating miscanthus as an energy crop, which is reflected also in the fact that this contributes to the economic development of rural areas. Direct material costs of forming plantations in the first year amount to 262,100 dinars, and full biomass production begins already in the third year.