The Role of Biomass in Mitigation of Global Warming

Abstract

There is dramatic evidence that various Greenhouse Gases are responsible for global warming and climate change. Agriculture can play a role both for reducing GHG emission and to sequester carbon. Agricultures primary aim is food and feed supply, but energy crops implementation needs changes in land use. There are many questions, 'pro and contra' uncertainties in this topic. Converting secondary biomass, plant residues to valuable energy products might be a solution. Energy potential of Hungary is approximately half-half of products and by-products. In this paper, along the predicted yield we were interested in the available secondary biomass quantities and the proportion of the parts of the plant in biomass, as well. In our research we used the method of simulation modeling. Climate scenarios - pictures of how the climate may look in the future - we used were downscaled to Debrecen, an important centre of agricultural production in Hungary. We have used five different scenarios which give predictions for the middle of the century as weather inputs in the crop model 4M. 4M has been developed by the Hungarian Agricultural Model Designer Group. It contains several sub-models to describe the physiological interactions of soil - plant systems. The simulations were also run using the historical data of the scenarios reference period. We have analyzed the simulated secondary biomass quantities and the proportion of the parts in biomass of corn plant, which is one of the most cultivated crop. Analyzing and comparing the simulated values, the results are very promising. Bioenergy gives Europe an opportunity to reduce GHG emission and secure its energy supply. With this paper we would like to call the attention to the importance of creating well-designed descriptive-forecasting systems, as well as defining the optimal preparing and response strategies to the conditions in change.