里山バイオマスのエネルギー有効利用と残渣に含まれる栄養成分のリサイクル

2017 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16F16755
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: 武内 和彦 東京大学, サステイナビリティ学連携研究機構, 特任教授 (90112474)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MELTS INDREK 東京大学, 学内共同利用施設等, 外国人特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2016-11-07 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: Bio-based products / biodiversity / natural vegetation / nutrient-rich residues / sustainable management / semi-natural grassland / traditional landscape

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Semi-natural communities as a part of traditional agroecosytems inhabited by native species have been formed and shaped by extensive human activities for a long time and are characterised by high biodiversity. This biodiversity can be supported by small forest patches in mosaic agroecosystems. Under a suitable set of conditions, that include both favourable patch configuration and environmental conditions that support forest communities with higher integrity. In addition to offering habitat for forest communities, small forest patches can also act as refugia for grassland specialists and thus promote the overall biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.
For biodiversity and traditional landscape maintenance, it is important that semi-natural communities (e.g. Miscanthus spp. semi-natural grasslands etc.) are managed continuously with extensive methods. Some short-term experiments have demonstrated that nutrient-rich residues applications in semi-natural grasslands can maintain productivity and will not result in decrease of plant species richness. These short-term experiments are good indicators about the need for a long-term experiments and meta-analysis for detailed understanding of ecosystem functions in different types and areas.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

During FY2017 the Fellow have developed very good different relations and cooperation for collaborative research. The Fellow successfully carried out fieldworks in Japan and also in Estonia. Although collected biomass samples from Miscanthus spp. semi-natural grasslands in Japan are under preparation for transportation to Estonia, there are some delay with chemical analyses and additional experiments with this specific biomass and similar methods used previous studies. The Fellow already published a paper in peer-reviewed journal (I. Melts, K. Lanno, M. Sammul, K. Uchida, K. Heinsoo, T. Kull and L. Laanisto (2018) Fertilising semi‐natural grasslands may cause long‐term negative effects on both biodiversity and ecosystem stability. Journal of Applied Ecology, doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.13129). Another peer-reviewed topic-related paper are under referee (K. Takkis, T. Kull, T. Hallikma, P. Jaksi, K. Kaljund, K. Kauer, T. Kull, O. Kurina, M. Külvik, K. Lanno, M. Leht, J. Liira, I. Melts, H. Pehlak, J. Raet, K. Sammet, K. Sepp, Ü Väli and L. Laanisto (2018) Drivers of species richness and community integrity of small forest patches in an agricultural landscape. Journal of Vegetation Science). The full conference paper accepted for presentation in SEEP2018 and for publication in the conference proceedings (I. Melts, M. Ivask, K. Takeuchi and K. Heinsoo (2018) Reed, reed canary grass and biomass from wetland as potential resource enhance local bioeconomy.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Bunch up and compare long-term data from unfertilised SNCs in worldwide. Preparation of biomass and some soil samples collected from semi-natural communities in Japan for transportation to Estonia for chemical analyses and additional bio-based experiments. Additional to these biomass samples additional fieldworks will be carried out in Estonia during July. Analysis of chemical content of crucial elements of this specific phytomass. Laboratory analyses of structural carbohydrates, protein and chemical elements in herbaceous biomass will be carried out according to standardised methods used during my previous research. Similar methods is suitable and adequate for scientific comparison of different data collected from Estonia and Japan. Collected biomass will be processed via different conversion methods for bio-based products. Attention will be paid both on product and co-products characteristics. Gross calorific value or higher heating value of biomass will be measured with calorimeter. For biogas/biomethane yield estimations and for the yields of pyrolysis products different experiments will be carry out in lab-scale reactor. Data analyses and publication at least additional two papers in peer-reviewed journal.