Title:
Important Issues Related to Sugarcane Straw Availabilty, Quality and Use
Author(s):
Leal, M.R.L.V., Galdos, M., Scarpare, F.V., Seabra, J.E.A., Walter, A., Oliveira, C.O.F.
Document(s):
Paper
Abstract:
Sugarcane straw represents, under Brazilian conditions, approximately one third of the total primary energy of sugarcane in the field. Today, its use for energy is incipient and it is mostly wasted by either burning in the pre-harvest or left on the ground to decay. Besides its potential use as feedstock for energy production, there are several possible agronomic benefits of the straw blanket left on the ground such as soil protection against erosion, increase of soil organic carbon content, inhibition of weed growth, nutrient recycling and reduction of soil water losses, to name a few. The balance of the impacts with the economic and energetic value of the straw indicates that there must be a range of values of the straw left on the ground that could be considered optimal, which is dependent on the local conditions, agricultural practices, characteristics of the straw and intended final use. This work is intended to shed some light into this subject to help the understanding of the importance of the various impacts of the straw blanket on the ground, the availability and quality of the straw, the economics of straw recovery and use and the main issues to be considered in defining the amount of straw to be recovered.
Keywords:
agricultural residues, bioenergy, ethanol, sustainability, litter
Topic:
Biomass Resources
Subtopic:
Biomass feedstock, residues and by-products
Event:
20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
1BO.11.3
Pages:
153 - 161
ISBN:
978-88-89407-54-7
Paper DOI:
10.5071/20thEUBCE2012-1BO.11.3
Price:
FREE
