Перспективная энергетическая культура Miscanthus giganteus на загрязненных радионуклидами землях

Abstract

Possibilities of utilization of radioactively contaminated lands is one of the urgent and most complicated post-Chernobyl problems at present in the Republic of Belarus. Reduction of local fuel use will allow to reduce dose loads on the population living on the lands contaminated with radionuclides. The variant of replacement of local fuel resources by Miscanthus gigantheus culture is proposed. The article describes a promising crop M. gigantheus, considers the possibilities of its growth in conditions of radioactive contamination, as well as agrobiological features of its influence on ecology. The data on parameters of transition of 137Cs and 90Sr in plants of M. gigantheus cultivar «Druzhba-Avtyuki» are given. One of the advantages of M. gigantheus is the provision of positive energy balance and humus surplus balance by its plantings. Several ways of utilization of plant raw material of M. gigantheus grown on radioactively contaminated lands have been proposed for agricultural use. In compliance with the republican permissible standards for radionuclide content, it can be used for technological purposes (to produce cellulose, biodiesel, biogas), corresponding to the main priorities of the state program on overcoming the consequences of the Chernobyl NPP catastrophe for 2021–2025. If the radionuclide content in plants does not exceed the republican permissible levels, it will allow to involve into economic turnover significant areas of unused radioactively contaminated reserve lands, as well as contribute to the development of bioenergy and production of high-quality fodder.