BIO-ENERGY CROPS IN MITIGATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

Bioenergy crop is defined as any plant used to produce energy in the form of biofuel or combusted for its energy content to generate electricity or heat. The bio-energy crops, which include several species of perennial herbaceous crops and short-rotation woody crops (SRWC) are capable of alleviating energy constraints and reducing CO2 levels. The herbaceous crops with less woody tissue comprise mostly bunch-type grasses, which are commonly harvested at the end of the cropping season when important nutrients (especially nitrogen) have been translocated to roots. Different grasses and millets, such as kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.), buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides Nutt.), tall fescue (Fetusca arundinacea), napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundeneacea L.), miscanthus (Miscanthus spp.), eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), have been identified as promising species for biofuel production which can be grown through rationing up to 15 years, where asSRWC includes fast growing tree species with wide adaptability like willow (Salix spp.), cottonwood (Populus fremontii L.), poplar (Populus ssp.), sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and Eucalyptus. The lignocellulosics biomass of these woody crops is utilized in fermentation systems for production biofuels. Bioenergy can contribute to reducing the overall consumption of fossil fuels. Both biomass and biofuels can be derived from bioenergy crops, agricultural co‐products or waste materials. Bioenergy crops have the potential to sequester approximately 1631 Tg C yr−1 worldwide and contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and helps in mitigating climate change and its negative impacts. The integration of bioenergy with geological carbon capture and storage is also considered to be very effective in mitigation of green house gases. This paper reviews the literature supporting evidence for utilities and potentials of bioenergy crops in mitigation of climate change through carbon biosequestration and their role in offsetting emissions due to fossil fuel as an alternative source of energy.