Screening Prosopis (mesquite) species for biofuel production on semi-arid lands. Final report, April 1, 1978-March 30, 1981
Arid adapted nitrogen fixing trees and shrubs of the genus Prosopis (mesquite) have been examined for woody biomass production on semi-arid lands of southwestern United States. A germ-plasm collection of 900 accessions from North and South America and Africa was assembled. Field studies screening for biomass production, frost tolerance, response to irrigation, pod production and heat/drought tolerance involved a total of 80 accessions. Selections made from survivors of coal/frost screening trial had more frost tolerance and biomass productivity than prostrate selections from the ranges of Arizona, New Mexico and west Texas. Thirteen Prosopis species were found to nodulate, reduce acetylene to ethylene, and grow on a nitrogen free media in greenhouse experiments. The salinity tolerance of six Prosopis species was examined on a nitrogen free media in greenhouse experiments. No reduction in growth occurred for any species tested at a salinity of 6000 mg NaC1/L which is considered too saline for normal agricultural crops. Individual trees have grown 5 to 7 cm in basal diameter, and 2.0 to 3.7 meters in height per year and have achieved 50 kg oven dry weight per tree in 2 years with 600 mm water application per year. Vegetative propagation techniques have been developed and clones of these highly productive trees have been made. Small pilots on 1.5 x 1.5 m spacing in the California Imperial Valley had a first and second season dry matter production of 11.7 and 16.9 T/ha for P. chilensis (0009), 7.1 and 6.9 T/ha for P. glandulosa var. torreyana (0001), 9.8 and 19.2 T/ha for P. alba (0039) and 7.9 and 14.5 T/ha for progency of a California ornamental (0163). The projected harvested costs of $25.00 per oven dry ton or $1.50 per million Btu's compare favorable with coal and other alternative fuel sources in South Texas.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Riverside (USA). Dept. of Soil and Environmental Sciences
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG01-78ET20023
- OSTI ID:
- 6008971
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ET/20023-T1; ON: DE85010048
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Biomass production of Prosopis species (mesquite), leucaena, and other leguminous trees grown under heat/drought stress
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Related Subjects
ARID LANDS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
MESQUITE
CULTIVATION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
PRODUCTIVITY
BIOCONVERSION
CALIFORNIA
COST
FIELD TESTS
HARVESTING
IRRIGATION
NITROGEN FIXATION
PLANT GROWTH
SALINITY
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TEXAS
TOLERANCE
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION
WOOD FUELS
CLONING
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FEDERAL REGION VI
FUELS
GROWTH
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
TESTING
TREES
USA
140504* - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)