Agroforestry by Jagdish Chander Dagar & Vindhya Prasad Tewari

Author:Jagdish Chander Dagar & Vindhya Prasad Tewari
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Springer Singapore, Singapore

7.8 Energy Plantation

There is a tremendous scope of biofuels (energy plantations) in the prevailing scenario of climate change. The production of woody biomass based on carbon neutral technology from areas not suitable for any traditional agriculture production would therefore be a unique opportunity. Biomass is an organic material which has stored solar energy from sunlight in plants through the process of photosynthesis . Unlike fossil fuels, biomass does not add carbon to the atmosphere as it absorbs the same amount of carbon dioxide while growing. Therefore, it is the cheapest, eco-friendly, and renewable source of energy. India, being a fast-growing economy with large import of crude oil, makes it more relevant in the present context. Fuel wood accounts for 20–30% of all energy needs in India and more than 90% of this is in the domestic sector. Therefore, fuel wood is more than just a commodity being consumed, supplied, processed, and traded. India needs 6–7% energy growth per year. Wood energy can be technically efficient, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable fuel option during the current energy deficit scenario. It is equally important to feed the fuel wood for domestic consumption with environmental and social benefits (Banyal 2013). In saline areas, salt-tolerant trees can be a potential alternative to conventional agriculture . Trees on saline wastelands produce timber for construction or for energy, i.e., charcoal for cooking or electricity production through gasifier techniques. Such landscape fashion also functions as windscreens, protects the soil against erosion, adds organic matter and nitrogen to soil, and above all sequesters carbon helping in mitigating climate change adversities.

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