Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison of calorific values and physico-chemical properties among three age groups and height positions of Acacia decurrens (Willd)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Energy is a vital societal resource regardless of socio-economic status. A continuous increase in energy demand coupled with environmental degradation exerts pressure on the forests of developing countries. Hence, introducing fast-growing trees such as Acacia decurrens Willd as an alternative bioenergy plant is of paramount importance. One of the criteria that favors the species being used as a potential candidate as fuel wood is its relative performance in releasing high energy. The study compares the energy content of A. decurrens at three consecutive ages: 3, 4 and 5 years. Pellets were prepared from sampled discs of the three ages taken from the bottom, middle, and top positions of the sampled trees. To determine the difference in calorific value between groups, a 2 × 2 factorial ANOVA was used. The energy content was determined using an oxygen bomb calorimeter (Model 6200 isoperibol calorimeter). Apart from energy content, proximate analysis was also analyzed with moisture content ranging from 7.3 to 8.3 percent, volatile matter from 15.0 to 26.3 percent, and ash content from 0.33 to 0.66 percent, and basic wood density from 0.321 to 0.842 g/cm3. The mean calorific value of the three ages ranged between 19.99 and 21.35 MJ/Kg. The moisture and ash content were insignificant in terms of the species’ calorific value. The results of the analysis of variance revealed that the there is marginal difference in the interaction effect and disc position with p values equaled 0.065 and 0.207, respectively. This study indicated that tree age did not have much influence on caloric values and physico-chemical properties of the studied species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

Not applicable.

Code availability

Not applicable.

References

  1. Ellabban O, Abu-Rub H, Blaabjerg F (2014) Renewable energy resources: current status, future prospects and their enabling technology. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 39:748–764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Dobie P, Sharma N (2015) Trees as a Global Source of Energy : from fuelwood and charcoal to pyrolysis-driven electricity generation and biofuels, World Agrofor Cent 21

  3. FAO (2017) Sustainable woodfuel for food security, Roam, https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/sustainable-woodfuel-for-food-security-a-smart-choice-green-renew

  4. Scheid A, Hafner JM, Hoffmann H, Kächele H, Uckert G, Sieber S, Rybak C (2019) Adapting to fuelwood scarcity: the farmers’ perspective. Front Sustain Food Syst 3:1–13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2019.00028

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Abebe G, Tsunekawa A, Haregeweyn N, Takeshi T, Wondie M, Adgo E, Masunaga T, Tsubo M, Ebabu K, Berihun ML, Tassew A (2020) Effects of land use and topographic position on soil organic carbon and total nitrogen stocks in different agro-ecosystems of the upper blue Nile Basin. Sustain 12:1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062425

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. FAO (2016) Global Forest Resources Assessment 2015, Second, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, https://doi.org/10.1002/2014GB005021.

  7. Pankhurst R (1995) The History of Deforestation and Afforestation in Ethiopia Prior to World War I, Northeast. Afr Stud 2:119–133. https://doi.org/10.1353/nas.1995.0024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Demel T (2001) Deforestation , Wood Famine , and Environmental Degradation in Ethiopia ’ s Highland Ecosystems : Urgent Need for Action, Northeast Afr Stud 8, 53–76. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41931355

  9. Bishaw B (2003) Deforestation and land degradation, 45–62. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315733784-5.

  10. Ministry of EFCC (2018) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change National REED+ Secretariat, Ethiopia

  11. Duriaux-Chavarría JY, Baudron F, Gergel SE, Yang KF, Eddy IMS, Sunderland T (2021) More people, more trees: a reversal of deforestation trends in Southern Ethiopia. L Degrad Dev 32:1440–1451. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3806

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Berhanu NF, Debela HF, Dereje BJ (2017) Fuel wood utilization impacts on forest resources of Gechi District, South Western Ethiopia. J Ecol Nat Environ 9:140–150. https://doi.org/10.5897/jene2017.0642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Dresen E, De Vries B, Herold M, Verchot L, Müller R (2014) Fuelwood savings and carbon emission reductions by the use of improved cooking stoves in an afromontane forest, Ethiopia, Land. 3, 1137–1157. https://doi.org/10.3390/land3031137

  14. Evans A, Strezov V, Evans TJ (2010) Sustainability considerations for electricity generation from biomass. Renew Sustain Energy Rev 14:1419–1427. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2010.01.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Carmona A, Javier J, Rivas C, Serna RR (2018) Basic density of wood and heating value of shoots of three dendro-energy crops, 9. https://doi.org/10.29298/rmcf.v9i47.157

  16. Roedl A (2010) Production and energetic utilization of wood from short rotation coppice-a life cycle assessment. Int J Life Cycle Assess 15:567–578. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-010-0195-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Álvarez-Álvarez P, Pizarro C, Barrio-Anta M, Cámara-Obregón A, María Bueno JL, Álvarez A, Gutiérrez I, Burslem DFRP (2018) Evaluation of tree species for biomass energy production in Northwest Spain, Forests. 9, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/f9040160

  18. Eufrade Junior HJ, de Melo RX, Sartori MMP, Guerra SPS, Ballarin AW (2016) Sustainable use of eucalypt biomass grown on short rotation coppice for bioenergy, Biomass and Bioenergy. 90, 15–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2016.03.037.

  19. Arnold M, Persson R (2003) Reassessing the fuelwood situation in developing countries. Int For Rev 5:379–383. https://doi.org/10.1505/IFOR.5.4.379.22660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Wattle EB (2003) Acacia decurrens Willd . Common names, Distribution, 68–75

  21. Afrianto WF, Hikmat A, Idyatmoko D (2017) Growth and habitat preference of Acacia decurrens Willd. (Fabaceae) after the 2010 Eruption of Mount Merapi, Indonesia, Asian J Appl Sci 5, 65–72

  22. Stein P, Tonietto L (1997) Black wattle silviculture in Brazil, Black Wattle Its Util. https://rirdc.infoservices.com.au/downloads/97-077.pdf#page=94

  23. Uddin MN, Techato K, Taweekun J, Rahman MM, Rasul MG, Mahlia TMI, Ashrafur SM (2018) An overview of recent developments in biomass pyrolysis technologies, Energies. 11, https://doi.org/10.3390/en11113115

  24. Moya R, Tenorio C (2013) Fuelwood characteristics and its relation with extractives and chemical properties of ten fast-growth species in Costa Rica. Biomass Bioenerg 56:14–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2013.04.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ahmed A, Abu Bakar MS, Razzaq A, Hidayat S, Jamil F, Amin MN, Sukri RS, Shah NS, Park YK (2021) Characterization and thermal behavior study of biomass from invasive acacia mangium species in brunei preceding thermochemical conversion, Sustain. 13, https://doi.org/10.3390/su13095249.

  26. Munalula F, Meincken M (2009) An evaluation of South African fuelwood with regards to calorific value and environmental impact. Biomass Bioenerg 33:415–420. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2008.08.011

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Ngangyo-Heya M, Foroughbahchk-Pournavab R, Carrillo-Parra A, Rutiaga-Quiñones JG, Zelinski V, Pintor-Ibarra LF (2016) Calorific value and chemical composition of five semi-arid Mexican tree species. Forests 7:1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/f7030058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Ahmed A, Hidayat S, Abu Bakar MS, Azad AK, Sukri RS, Phusunti N (2021) Thermochemical characterisation of Acacia auriculiformis tree parts via proximate, ultimate, TGA, DTG, calorific value and FTIR spectroscopy analyses to evaluate their potential as a biofuel resource, Biofuels 12, 9–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2018.1442663.

  29. Tonini H, Schwengber DR, Morales MM, CA de S. Magalhães, de Oliveira JMF (2018) Growth, biomass, and energy quality of Acacia mangium timber grown at different spacings, Pesqui Agropecu Bras 53, 791–799. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0100-204X2018000700002

  30. Kamperidou V, Lykidis C, Barmpoutis P (2018) Utilization of wood and bark of fast-growing hardwood species in energy production, J For Sci 64, 164–170. https://doi.org/10.17221/141/2017-JFS

  31. Harwood C (2016) Strengthening the tropical acacia plantation value chain : the role of research research, J. Trop For Sci 23, 1–3. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23616873

  32. Ahmed A, Abu Bakar MS, Azad AK, Sukri RS, Phusunti N (2018) Intermediate pyrolysis of Acacia cincinnata and Acacia holosericea species for bio-oil and biochar production, Energy Convers Manag 176, 393–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2018.09.041

  33. Oduor NM, Githiomi JK (2013) Fuel-wood energy properties of Prosopis juliflora and Prosopis pallida grown in Baringo District, Kenya. African J Agric Res 8:2476–2481. https://doi.org/10.5897/AJAR08.221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. El-Juhany et al. (2003) Properties of charcoal produced from some endemic and exotic acacia species grown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.pdf, J Adv Agric Res 8(4)695–704, http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/Aref/Documents/charcoal paper1.pdf

  35. Kumar R, Pandey KK, Chandrashekar N, Mohan S (2010) Effect of tree-age on calorific value and other fuel properties of Eucalyptus hybrid. J For Res 21:514–516. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-010-0108-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Santana WMS et al. (2012) Effect of age diameter class on the properties of wood from clonal Eucalyptus, Cern Lavras 18, 1935–1941

  37. Kumar R, Pandey KK, Chandrashekar N, Mohan S (2011) Study of age and height wise variability on calorific value and other fuel properties of Eucalyptus hybrid, Acacia auriculaeformis and Casuarina equisetifolia. Biomass Bioenerg 35:1339–1344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.12.031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Ferede T, Alemu A, Mariam YG (2019) Growth, productivity and charcoal conversion efficiency of Acacia decurrens Woodlot. J Acad Ind Res 8:113–120

    Google Scholar 

  39. Tamirat T, Wondimu A (2019) Best practices on development and utilization of Acacia decurrens in Fagta Lekoma District, Awi Zone, Amhara Region, Addis Ababa, https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiv_ObJzvrvAhXCilwKHREdB9YQFjADegQIERAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.efccc.gov.et%2Fimages%2FPDF%2FForestManuals%2FBEST%2520PRACTICES%2520ON%2520DEVELOPMENT%2520AND%2520UTILI

  40. Wondie M, Mekuria W (2018) Planting of Acacia decurrens and dynamics of land cover change in Fagita Lekoma District in the Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia. Mt Res Dev 38:230–239. https://doi.org/10.1659/mrd-journal-d-16-00082.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Tenorio C, Moya R, Arias-Aguilar D, Briceño-Elizondo E (2016) Biomass yield and energy potential of short-rotation energy plantations of Gmelina arborea one year old in Costa Rica. Ind Crops Prod 82:63–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2015.12.005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Zhu XQ, Wang CY, Chen H, Tang M (2014) Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on photosynthesis, carbon content, and calorific value of black locust seedlings. Photosynthetica 52:247–252. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11099-014-0031-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Sotannde OA, Dadile AM, Umar M, Idoghor SM, Zira BD (2020) Effect of fuel material compositions on combustion properties of wood chips from smallhold farm plots in a Sudano-Sahelian environment of Nigeria. Curr J Appl Sci Technol 39:93–104. https://doi.org/10.9734/cjast/2020/v39i230502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Toscano G, Foppa Pedretti E (2009) Calorific value determination of solid biomass fuel by simplified method, J. Agric Eng 40, 1. https://doi.org/10.4081/jae.2009.3.1.

  45. de Andrade TCGR, de B NF, Dias LE, Azevedo MIR (2013) Biomass yield and calorific value of six clonal stands of Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake cultivated in Northern Brazil, Rev For Française 19, 467–472. https://doi.org/10.4267/2042/25720.

  46. Chakradhari S, Patel KS (2016) Combustion characteristics of tree woods. J Sustain Bioenergy Syst 06:31–43. https://doi.org/10.4236/jsbs.2016.62004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Bazie Z, Feyssa S, Amare T (2020) Effects of Acacia decurrens Willd. tree-based farming system on soil quality in Guder watershed, North Western highlands of Ethiopia, Cogent Food Agric. 6. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2020.1743622

  48. Yazie C, Anteneh A (2018) Expansion of Acacia decurrens plantation on the acidic highlands of Awi zone, Ethiopia and its socio-economic benefit for the society, in: Proc. 9th Annu. Reg. Conf. Complet. Res. Act. Socio-Economics Agric. Ext. Res. 9–20 March 2015, 1–25. http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6935e.pdf

  49. Nigussie Z, Tsunekawa A, Haregeweyn N, Adgo E, Nohmi M, Tsubo M, Aklog D, Meshesha DT, Abele S (2017) Factors influencing small-scale farmers’ adoption of sustainable land management technologies in north-western Ethiopia. Land Use Policy 67:57–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.05.024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Negash M, Starr M, Kanninen M, Berhe L (2013) Allometric equations for estimating aboveground biomass of Coffea arabica L. grown in the Rift Valley escarpment of Ethiopia. Agrofor Syst 87:953–966. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-013-9611-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Hossain N, Jalil R, Mahlia TMI, Zaini J (2017) Calorific value analysis of Azadirachta excelsa and endospermum malaccense as potential solid fuels feedstock, Int J Technol 8, 634–643. https://doi.org/10.14716/ijtech.v8i4.9482.

  52. Lemenih M, Bekele T (2004) Effect of age on calorific value and some mechanical properties of three Eucalyptus species grown in Ethiopia. Biomass Bioenerg 27:223–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2004.01.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Dibdiakova J, Wang L, Li H (2017) Heating value and ash content of downy birch forest biomass. Energy Procedia 105:1302–1308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.466

    Article  Google Scholar 

  54. Lunguleasa A, Spirchez C, Zeleniuc O (2020) Evaluation of the calorific values of wastes from some tropical wood species. Maderas Cienc y Tecnol 22:269–280. https://doi.org/10.4067/S0718-221X2020005000302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. So CL, Eberhardt TL (2010) Chemical and calorific characterisation of longleaf pine using near infrared spectroscopy. J Near Infrared Spectrosc 18:417–423. https://doi.org/10.1255/jnirs.889

    Article  Google Scholar 

  56. Gushit JS, Shimuan JT, Ajana MO (2019) Energy properties and fuel potentials of selected indigenously processed bio-resources used as sources of sustainable fuel in north central Nigeria. J Res For Wildl Environ 11:7

    Google Scholar 

  57. Acda MN (2015) Physico-chemical properties of wood pellets from coppice of short rotation tropical hardwoods. Fuel 160:531–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.08.018

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Deenik JL, McClellan T, Uehara G, Antal MJ, Campbell S (2010) Charcoal volatile matter content influences plant growth and soil nitrogen transformations. Soil Sci Soc Am J 74:1259–1270. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2009.0115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Demirbas A (2005) Potential applications of renewable energy sources, biomass combustion problems in boiler power systems and combustion related environmental issues. Prog Energy Combust Sci 31:171–192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecs.2005.02.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Bisen KS, Sharma P, Gupta B, Baredar P (2020) Development and experimental characterization of energy efficient poultry litter & plant weeds based briquettes (PLPWBB) by comparing with rice husk briquettes. Mater Today Proc 46:5428–5432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.09.130

    Article  Google Scholar 

  61. Cardoso MB, Ladio AH, Dutrus SM, Lozada M (2015) Preference and calorific value of fuelwood species in rural populations in northwestern Patagonia. Biomass Bioenerg 81:514–520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2015.08.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Shanavas A, Kumar BM (2003) Fuelwood characteristics of tree species in homegardens of Kerala, India. Agrofor Syst 58:11–24. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025450407545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Marsoem SN, Irawati D (2016) Basic properties of Acacia mangium and Acacia auriculiformis as a heating fuel, AIP Conf Proc 1755. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4958551.

  64. Mahmood K, Awan AR, Chughtai MI (2016) Anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of salt tolerant tree species grown in Punjab, Pakistan. Pakistan J Bot 48:1813–1818

    Google Scholar 

  65. Lachowicz H, Sajdak M, Paschalis-Jakubowicz P, Cichy W, Wojtan R, Witczak M (2018) The influence of location, tree age and forest habitat type on basic fuel properties of the wood of the silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) in Poland, Bioenergy Res 11, 638–651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12155-018-9926-z.

  66. Zachar M, Lieskovský M, Majlingová A, Mitterová I (2018) Comparison of thermal properties of the fast-growing tree species and energy crop species to be used as a renewable and energy-efficient resource. J Therm Anal Calorim 134:543–548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7194-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  67. Gominho J, Lourenço A, Miranda I, Pereira H (2012) Chemical and fuel properties of stumps biomass from Eucalyptus globulus plantations. Ind Crops Prod 39:12–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.01.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  68. Islam MN, Ratul SB, Sharmin A, Rahman KS, Ashaduzzaman M, Uddin GMN (2019) Comparison of calorific values and ash content for different woody biomass components of six mangrove species of Bangladesh Sundarbans. J Indian Acad Wood Sci 16:110–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13196-019-00246-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  69. Zeng WS, Tang SZ, Xiao QH (2014) Calorific values and ash contents of different parts of Masson pine trees in southern China, J For Res 25, 779–786. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-014-0525-3.

  70. Goel VL, Behl HM (1996) Fuelwood quality of promising tree species for alkaline soil sites in relation to tree age. Biomass Bioenerg 10:57–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/0961-9534(95)00053-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  71. Senelwa K, Sims REH (1999) Fuel characteristics of short rotation forest biomass. Biomass Bioenerg 17:127–140. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0961-9534(99)00035-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Eimil-Fraga C, Proupín-Castiñeiras X, Rodríguez-Añón JA, Rodríguez-Soalleiro R (2019) Effects of shoot size and genotype on energy properties of poplar biomass in short rotation crops. Energies 12:15. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12112051

    Article  Google Scholar 

  73. Duruaku JI, Ajiwe VIE, Okoye NH, Arinze RU (2016) An evaluation of the calorific values of the branches and stems of 11 tropical trees. J Sustain Bioenergy Syst 06:44–54. https://doi.org/10.4236/jsbs.2016.62005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  74. Ryemshak SA, Jauro A (2013) Proximate analysis, rheological properties and technological applications of some Nigerian coals. Int J Ind Chem 4:7. https://doi.org/10.1186/2228-5547-4-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Hawassa University, Wndo Genet College of Forestry anππd Natural Resources and DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship for their financial support.

Funding

This research is supported by Hawassa University and DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wondo Genet College of Forestry & Natural Resources, Hawassa University, P.O. Box: 128, Shashemene, Ethiopia

    Bezashwork Melaku Asmare, Mesele Negash Tesemma, Shimelis Nigatu Gebremariam & Tefera Belay Endalamaw

Authors
  1. Bezashwork Melaku Asmare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mesele Negash Tesemma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Shimelis Nigatu Gebremariam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tefera Belay Endalamaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bezashwork Melaku Asmare.

Ethics declarations

Ethics approval

Not applicable.

Consent to participate

Not applicable.

Consent for publication

We give our consent for the publication of all details within the text to be published in the above journal.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Disclaimer

The authors do not have responsibility for a decision made based on the results of this study. For specific applications of the result of this study, please contact the authors to get information about the limitations and scope of the overall study.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Asmare, B.M., Tesemma, M.N., Gebremariam, S.N. et al. Comparison of calorific values and physico-chemical properties among three age groups and height positions of Acacia decurrens (Willd). Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-02242-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-021-02242-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation