Title:
Influence of Improved Agricultural Management Pratices (No Till and Minimum Tillage) as Mitigation Strategy over GHG Emissions from Energy Crops in Spain
Author(s):
Lago, C., Lechón, Y., Herrera, I., Sánchez, J.
Document(s):
Paper
Poster
Abstract:
The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) [1] and Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) [2] set the sustainability criteria for biofuels to be consumed in Europe. Following these criteria, biofuels have to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 35% (and 50% from 2017 and 60% from 2018) in comparison with the estimated fossil fuels reference emissions by the European Directive (83.8 gCO2equiv/MJ). LCA calculations on GHG emissions from energy crops have been usually carried out considering common agricultural practices. This paper explores the amount of GHG emissions which could be saved by introducing conservation agriculture. No till and reduced tillage emission savings have been calculated in comparison with full tillage crop management. These improvements in agricultural management, are still a minority in the country, but gradually increase year by year, by environmental awareness to prevent soil erosion, increase biodiversity, provide higher water storage capacity, rise organic matter on topsoil, etc.
Keywords:
greenhouse gases (GHG), life cycle assessment (LCA), sustainability criteria, agricultural management practices
Topic:
Biomass Policies, Markets and Sustainability
Subtopic:
Environmental impacts of bioenergy
Event:
23rd European Biomass Conference and Exhibition
Session:
4AV.2.19
Pages:
1536 - 1542
ISBN:
978-88-89407-516
Paper DOI:
10.5071/23rdEUBCE2015-4AV.2.19
Price:
FREE
