Production and quality of leaf biomass from Acrocomia aculeata for bioenergy

Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd.) is a sustainable source of raw material for energy generation. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the potential for using senescent leaves as a source of bioenergy, as well as about the environmental factors that determine the accumulation of senescent leaf biomass and the influence of the environment on its characteristics. Environmental factors and genetics were evaluated regarding to the yield, chemical composition and energy potential production of senesced macauba leaves, in addition to the fruit yield. Macauba accessions and supplementation of water and fertilizer were the evaluated factors. High water availability increased the yield of senescent leaves biomass and fruits, by 64% and 164%, respectively. However, Cu and Mn contents were depleted in the senesced leaf biomass of macauba plants grown in the high water availability environment. On the other hand, the contents of N, P, Ca, Mg, S, B, Fe, C, H, were similar among the treatments. The high and low heating values of the macauba senesced leaves biomass also did not differ among the treatments. In the best environmental conditions, the potential energy provided by the senesced leaves could reach 122 GJ ha−1 year−1. [Display omitted] •The senescent foliar biomass production from macauba equals that of sugarcane.•Soil moisture has a strong effect on the intensity of foliar senescence in macauba.•The heating value of senescent macauba leaves exceeds that of sugarcane bagasse.•The recoverable energy from senescent macauba leaf biomass is 122 GJ ha−1 year−1.