Energy crops in recent projects in the Caribbean have been implemented with our design of biomass hedgerows combining 2 species. Ecological services and renewable energies working together.
Many years have passed since 2007 discussion confronting the fact some biofuels where made with corn and annual food crops bringing danger to expansion of bioenergy. Today we know well the possible impacts of different solutions and yes, we try perennials and reforestation to produce a combination of benefits. Read here about this project in St.Croix, US Virgin Islands.
Organic matter in the soil using grasses is estimated to increase carbon sequestration between 0.5 and 1.5 Mg/acre each year. Topsoil building is critical for farmers working on sustainable bioenergy crops in marginal lands and fragile areas.
Energy crops have the potential to generate the following advantages:
* Erosion control
* Biodiversity and fauna benefits (birds, mites, etc.) typical in perennial grasses and reforestation programs
* Organic matter increment in soils (we build topsoil)
* Recovery and sustainable conservation of degraded, deforested, abandoned, marginal and extremely low competitive lands. Readan article (July 2014) about land availability today for this purposes.
* Producing social benefit (employment)
How a perennial energy crops with TWO species could help to improve sustainability?
Hedgerows can act as windbreakers and reduce evapotranspiration in a second crop between lines. If irrigated, a windbreaker can help to increase farming operation efficiency and produce lower feedstock costs in biomass projects in marginal and semiarid lands. In this case a reduction in costs was estimated to be 50%.
In this case as you can see in pictures above we obtain many befeits from our project in St.Croix (US Virgin Islands). This tropical island requires special attention to produce best results. A coral reef must be protected at the time erosion and big storms need to be studied carefully to avoid a huge impact today.
Hedgerows and windbreakers are possible in this environment. So we define a similar system tried in other countries. Two species (Giant King grass and Guinea grass) working together. One stops the wind and grow with irrigation support. The other is drilled and protects the soil. We cut both and produce methane and power.
You can read in our blog much more on ecological services of sustainable bioenergy crops.
Agroforestry in tropical areas allow grazing and woody crops to avoid deforestation and produce energy and food from same lands. Photo: Leucaena trees and guinea grass in tropical lands. Photo: tropicalforages.info
Some literature reviewed on bioenergy and biodiversity
* Potential Biodiversity Response to Intercropping Herbaceous Biomass Crops on Forest Lands
* Landscape composition influences pollinators and pollination services in perennial biofuel plantings
* Grasslands biofuel ecosystem services
* Biofuels and Biodiversity, Wildlife Habitat Restoration
* Caatinga BRAZIL and bioenergy
Don’t forget to read our previous posts on bioenergy and ecological services:
Energy crops: study shows increased biodiversity
Perennial energy crops stimulate belowground fauna, new study says
Energy crops for biogas in the Caribbean, a great sustainable alternative
Biofuels sustainability: Not all alternatives are the same.
European Environmental Agency (EEA): More bioenergy crops needed for more efficiency
Bioenergy crops in marginal lands: Lower yields can have lower costs
Interesting. I am working on ecological services provided by perennial aromatic crops which yield essential oils used in perfume and flavour industries. If interested, we can work together.
in india how to get biogas based job?if u knw help me..mauil me
We are trying to do some similar!