Environmental aspects of the cultivation of selected energy crops

This dissertation aims primarily at determining the energy yield that can be produced, if certain species of energy crops are grown (under various regimes of fertilizing and sowing) by the Faculty of Agriculture, the University of South Bohemia, on a university's trial parcel. Zea mays L. is one of the energy crops chosen for the experiment; it is grown on a large area in the Czech Republic nowadays. Perennial crops of Phalaris arundinacea L., Elymus elongatus subsp. ponticus cv. Szarvasi-1 andMiscanthus × giganteus were also chosen for this experiment. Based on the collected data, a risk of erosion provoked by the above-mentioned crops has been determined by using USLE method. The crop stands and the soil have been analysed too. This analysis has focused on the organic matter evaluation, by using a brand new method. Last but not least, occurrence of Carabidae beetles has been studied and evaluated within the research; they are considered bio indicators of the environmental conditions. Our experiment has shown that Zea mays L. is the most high-yielding species. On the other hand, Phalaris arundinacea L. has not produced positive results; the most high-yielding variation of it only made a half yield of Zea mays L. In contrast to Zea mays L., grass species of Phalaris arundinacea L. andElymus elongatus have had an extraordinary anti-erosion capacity. Studying the amount of primary organic matter in the soil, we have found almost double amount of it in Miscanthus × giganteus andZea mays L. crop stands, compared to another two species. Monitoring oxidation reaction kinetics of the primary organic matter, we could count the oxidation speed constant of k. There have been dramatic differences between the individual soil samples. However, the data file is too complicated to draw the general conclusion from. On the other hand, evaluating the data gathered by studying Carabidae beetles and the environmental values of the crops stands, we have found out the crop stands are not too valuable from the environmental point of view. We have found out the perennial species have got an extraordinary anti-erosion capacity. We recommend Miscanthus × giganteus and Elymus elongatus, in particular, as an alternative to corn, especially to regions highly endangered by erosion