Zeitschrift für Geographie und Naturkatastrophen
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Bio-Energy Potential from Crop Residues: A Study from Southern Rural Part of Rajasthan, India

Rashmi Soni, Satish Saini, B.R. Bamniya

Traditional biomass continues to provide important source energy throughout the world especially the developing countries. Commercial bio-energy is assuming greater importance and concern as it has the potential to lower the impacts of global warming. Bio-fuels are known to emit less carbon as compared to other conventional fuels. In the present study, energy generation potential of a few predominant agricultural crop residues, such as Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Shell, Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) Husk, Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) Stalk, Soybean (Glycine max L.) Husk and Taramira (Garden Rocket) (Eruca sativa L.) Husk were estimated and compared for their future prospects. The crop production figures were taken for the year 2009-2010 to 2013-2014 during the present study. Based on the high biomass availability records six districts of Udaipur region, namely Banswara (23.55°N to 75.45°E), Chittorgarh (24.88°N to 74.63°E), Dungarpur (23.84°N to 73.72°E), Pratapgarh (24.03°N to 74.78°E), Rajsamand (25.07°N to 73.88°E) and Udaipur (24.58°N to 73.68°E) in Southern Rajasthan India, were chosen for the bio-energy assessment. The total area under crop cultivation in the study area was 15.60 lakh hectares. Correspondingly, the gross crop residues and surplus crop residues estimated were around 2.474 and 0.841 Million Metric Tonnes respectively during the study period (2009-2010 to 2013-2014). The gross bio-energy potential from crop residues calculated was around 35.617 thousand Giga Joule which is sufficiently high and can serve the energy deficiency or shortage problem of the region. About 0.387 lakh Tonnes of CO2 can be saved annually from going in to environment. The study suggests that the bio-energy potential of different agricultural crop residues in the region is promising and need concern for an integrated energy management. It can serve the energy needs of the industries and local inhabitants of the region in a ‘Clean and Green’ way.