This work has shown that the flower stalks of the plant
F. communis could be used for ethanol production, although
the yield of 55.8 cm3 kg1 dry flower stalks is low, compared
to other materials like that of A. aestivus, 83.72 cm3 kg1
tubers, [8] or the theoretical yield of potatoes that ranges
100e120 cm3 kg1 tubers according to the starch content of the
variety [5]. For commercial applications, a method should be
found to increase the efficiency of juice extraction from the
stalks as happens by sugar canes. The case of F. communis is
more difficult due to the fibrous and solid construction of the
stalks. F. communis should be further studied so as to determine
its agronomic characteristics, like water requirements,
yield, cultivation and harvesting techniques, etc under Mediterranean
conditions [2]. The content of starch and fermentable
sugars in the flower stalks, as mentioned above, varies
considerably during the year depending on the life phase of
the plant. The optimum harvesting time should therefore be
estimated so as to maximize the ethanol yield. F. communis
could grow in degraded lands as a rain fed crop. A rough
estimation of the production would be 300e400 L of Ethanol
per hectare of land, based on a density of 2.8 plants per square
meter and 2 kg of stalks per plant. The study of the agronomic
performance of the plant was not within the scope of this
study. F. communis could be processed together with other
plants, like A. aestivus and Chrysanthemum coronarium, so as to
increase the efficiency of land use. The distillate wastes from
the process could be used, together with other biomass
material, as feedstock to a biogas reactor for the production of
biogas for electricity and heat generation. In addition, it has to
be examined to what extend the end byproduct could be used
in combination to other materials, for the production of
compost that would be a good source of organic matter to
degraded soils.