Title:
Sustainability of Cereal Straw Production for Energy Feedstock: An On-Farm Environmental Assessment
Author(s):
Palmieri, N., Giannoccaro, G., Forleo, M.B.
Document(s):
Paper
Slide presentation
Abstract:
Recently, interest in straws as biomass feedstock has been growing. In this research the environmental sustainability of cereal straw as biomass feedstock is carried out with the aim of underlining the best disposal practice in environmental terms. We compare the current straw uses and disposals (i.e. chopped and left on the field then incorporated into soil or burnt) with a potential straw market for bioenergy purposes (i.e. baled and transported). Through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method, the environmental sustainability of the alternative disposal of straw is assessed. The system boundary of analysis is constrained to farm gate. The activities undertaken by the farmers in order to provide onfarm straws (e.g. harvesting, baling) are analyzed. At the same time, changes in the disposal activities of straws and farmingrelated adaptations (e.g. tillage, fertilization) are accounted. A case study in Italy (Apulia region) is analyzed. Data are collected by a survey to cereals growers. According to the first results, a market of biomass feedstock would lead to improve the environmental impact of straw disposal, provided that the current straw burnt is devoted to biomass market. To this regard, farmer’s decision on straws disposal results to be relevant considering both the agricultural and the environmental point of view.
Keywords:
bio-energy, life cycle analysis, farmer's behavior, straw disposal
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Sustainability assessment and criteria
Event:
22nd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4BO.15.3
Pages:
1392 - 1397
ISBN:
978-88-89407-52-3
Paper DOI:
10.5071/22ndEUBCE2014-4BO.15.3
Price:
FREE