*Article* **Biomass Characteristics and Energy Yields of Tobacco (***Nicotiana tabacum* **L.) Cultivated in Eastern Poland**

### **Adam Kleofas Berbe´c \*and Mariusz Matyka**

Department of Systems and Economics of Crop Production, Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation-State Research Institute, Czartoryskich 8, 24-100 Puławy, Poland; mmatyka@iung.pulawy.pl

**\*** Correspondence: aberbec@iung.pulawy.pl; Tel.: +48-81-4786-824

Received: 14 October 2020; Accepted: 15 November 2020; Published: 17 November 2020

**Abstract:** The present pilot study examined the potential of tobacco (*Nicotiana tabacum* L.) as an energy source. The fresh matter of whole tobacco plants, the yield of dry matter of stems and leaves, as well as the higher heating value and methane production potential from tobacco biomass were determined. The yield of tobacco leaves was on average 4.69 Mg ha−<sup>1</sup> (dry matter) and 76.90 GJ ha−<sup>1</sup> yr−<sup>1</sup> (biomass energy yield). Tobacco stems yielded on average 8.55 Mg ha−<sup>1</sup> and 150.69 GJ ha−<sup>1</sup> yr<sup>−</sup>1, while yields of whole tobacco crops were (on average) 13.24 Mg ha−<sup>1</sup> and 227.59 GJ ha−<sup>1</sup> yr<sup>−</sup>1. Methane potential of tobacco plants was (on average) 248 Nm<sup>3</sup> Mg−<sup>1</sup> VS (volatile solids). The tobacco plants tested in the study could be used as energy crops as their dry matter and energy yields are similar to those of the most popular energy crops being currently used in biomass production in Poland and the European Union. Nevertheless, further studies to choose the *Nicotiana* species and varieties most suitable for energy production and to assess the cost-effectiveness of tobacco biomass production are needed.

**Keywords:** tobacco biomass; energy yield; higher heating value; biogas potential; *Nicotiana tabacum*
