[H-CG31] [EJ] Battles of soil scientists for recapturing Fukushima land from Nuclear Power Plant accident.

[HCG31-P09] Potential of Bioenergy Crop Production in Decontaminated Farmlands in Fukushima

*Toru Nakajima¹, Kosuke Noborio¹ (1.Meiji University)

Keywords:Decontaminated farmlands, Miscanthus × giganteus, Bioenergy

The devastating accident of Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant occurred due to Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11^th, 2011. The projects of remediation lands and removal of radiocesium-contaminated soil from farmlands are still ongoing. Essentially, it is an important aspect to utilize those decontaminated farmlands for local farmers and communities. In Japan, the researchers have now been seeking how to start agricultural production from decontaminated farmlands, restructuring local communities, and economic activity in Fukushima. Globally, the research regarding the renewable energy resources, for example, Miscanthus × giganteus, have increased significantly. Miscanthus × giganteus has the high potential for a biomass energy crop, because of high biomass yield with low annual energy requirements and financial inputs, including tillage and planting practices and fertilizer, herbicide, and pesticide application. In addition, Miscanthus × giganteus can growth under severe soil condition such as dilapidated land or reclaimed mine land. Under Miscanthus × giganteus cultivation, their nitrogen recycles system is sufficient, because the nitrogen is recycled as it moves from the rhizosphere into the developing shoots during spring and summer, and is transferred to the rhizosphere in fall and winter. If shoots are harvested, the nutrients remain in the rhizosphere. It can be utilized for Miscanthus × giganteus shoot growth in the coming season. The previous research showed that the average biomass yield of Miscanthus × giganteus over 6 years was 25.6 Mg ha^-1 year^-1 in Northern Japan. In addition, our previous research revealed that carbon sequestration rates of Miscanthus × giganteus were 1.96 Mg-C ha^-1 year^-1 over the 6 years of this research trial. Miscanthus × giganteus generally increase SOC stocks due to the greater carbon inputs of above- and belowground biomass and no tillage. Therefore, the objective of this research was to estimate the potential of bioenergy production thought Miscanthus × giganteus cultivation in decontaminated farmlands in Fukushima, Japan. The key findings are outlined below: (1) Miscanthus × giganteus can be the new insight for agricultural production from decontaminated farmlands, (2) due to the high carbon sequestration under Miscanthus × giganteus cultivation, the fertility of decontaminated farmlands can be improved, (3) more field experiments need to be done in order to develop the bioenergy crop production.