Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus, Vol 74, No 1 (2009)

Biomass and Energy Assessment of Different Natural and Agricultural Systems in Brazil

Juan Carlos TORRICO, Marc JANSSENS

Pages: 7-12

Summary


Biomass and energy evaluation was carried out in the Municipality of Teresópolis - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The following agricultural and natural systems were considered: (i) vegetables systems (leaf, fruit and mixed vegetables); (ii) citrus; (iii) ecological agro-forestry; (iv) cattle ranching, (v) silvopastoril systems, (vi) forest fragments and, (vii) forest in regeneration stage (1, 2 and 3 years old). The main primary agricultural production systems have in general low energy conversion ratio (6:1), and store only small quantities of biomass in the system (2.1 Mg C ha–1). The ecological system has the most efficient use of energy (2:1), and saves great biomass quantity in the system (1.80E11 J ha–1 yr–1). The cattle system presents the lowest values for all energy and biomass parameters causing largest environmental damage (aboveground biomass (AGB) = 0.49 ton DM ha–1; Energy Ratio 461:1).

Keywords


energy; renewable energy; farming systems; biomass; Teresópolis

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