Igniscum
Igniscum is a breed of Sakhalin knotweed ( Fallopia sachalinensis ) and belongs to the genus winged knotweed ( Fallopia ) in the knotweed family (Polygonaceae). It differs from the wild type due to the loyalty to the location and the mass growth . Igniscum is a permanent culture that can be used as an energy crop due to its large biomass production and its properties .
The variety name Igniscum is protected by US patent (US PP21304 P3), the patent holder and marketer of the variety is the company Conpower GmbH.
Agriculture
Igniscum is a hardy , perennial herbaceous plant. In autumn, the above-ground organs such as stems and leaves die off. The plant sprouts again in spring and achieves the same biomass growth as in the previous year. Igniscum can grow up to 10 cm in height per day. After 3 years the stock has reached its maximum yield, which remains steady in the following years. According to the marketer, Igniscum can be used as a permanent culture for 20 years in a row, after which the plant must be killed with a total herbicide . Common agricultural machines ( forage harvesters ) can be used for planting and harvesting . Igniscum is a light-requiring plant that grows in dry as well as in damp locations, on both light and heavy soils . In principle, all locations that can be used for arable farming are suitable, only waterlogged soils cannot be tolerated by Igniscum. 400 mm annual precipitation is sufficient. Igniscum thrives at altitudes up to 750 meters. The young plants are mostly planted as bales with conventional forest or vegetable planting machines . The culture requires little fertilization and hardly any pest control. But there are also concerns as to whether the plant actually does not have any harmful environmental effects. A round table has been created for this purpose.
Use as an energy crop
Research is currently being carried out in Germany on Igniscum as an energy plant. Conpower offers two Igniscum varieties, which differ in their use, but are very similar in appearance.
fuel
The aboveground biomass of the plant dies in winter ( senescence ). The above-ground stems can then be harvested as dry matter and used for incineration before they sprout again in the following spring . It has a calorific value that is comparable to wood, there is less ash than when burning straw.
Biogas
During the growing season in the summer may alternatively, the above-ground fresh weight, up to three times a year harvested. After the harvest, the plant sprouts again from the roots. The harvested biomass can be stored as silage and is later used for fermentation in biogas plants. At the moment (as of 2012) only cultivation trials are underway; large-scale commercial cultivation has not yet started. A cultivation trial is in progress in Duisburg, for example. In the establishment phase, the plant is sensitive to competition and has to be supported mechanically or through the use of herbicides; weed control is no longer necessary from the second year onwards.
Possible environmental damage from the cultivation
Fallopia sachalinensis "Igniscum" is listed as a possible invasive neophyte on the "warning list" for the black list of invasive species of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation . Similar damage to the wild forms of the knotweed species is feared for cultivation. The alleged lack of invasive properties "is incomprehensible in detail". The North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture has similar fears.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Fallopia plans named 'Igniscum' on Google Patents
- ↑ Michael Pankratius: Igniscum Renewable Raw Materials - The future of the field.
- ↑ Round table "Riesenknöterich, Igniscum & Co." [1] ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Conpower raw materials: Igniscum as an energy source ( Memento of the original from June 25, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link has been inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ J. Rumpler, I. Reinhardt: New cultures for bioenergy (lecture script; PDF; 1.0 MB).
- ↑ Biertümpfel, A .; Dr. von Buttlar, C .; Conrad, M .; Dudziak, D .; Formowitz, B .; Gram, M .; Grunewald, J .; Dr. Heiermann, M .; Dr. Herrmann, C .; Dr. Idler, C .; Dr. Jäkel, K .; Kornatz, P .; Dr. Vollrath, B .; Willms, M .; Zander, D .: Energy crops for biogas plants. Brochure, published by the Agency for Renewable Raw Materials eV (FNR). PDF ( Memento of the original from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Stadtwerke Duisburg AG: Biomasse ( page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Wolfgang Rabitsch, Stephan Gollasch, Maike Isermann, Uwe Starfinger and Stefan Nehring (2013): Creation of a warning list of invasive animals and plants not yet occurring in Germany. Results from the R&D project (FKZ 3510 86 0500). BfN scripts 331. PDF
- ↑ Knotweed - the underestimated problem plants
