Life Cycle Assessment of biogas production under the environmental conditions of northern Germany: Greenhouse gas balance
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In: The Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol. 152, No. S 1, 12.12.2014, p. 172-181.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Life Cycle Assessment of biogas production under the environmental conditions of northern Germany: Greenhouse gas balance
AU - Claus, Sandra
AU - Taube, Friedhelm
AU - Wienforth, Babette
AU - Svoboda, Nicolai
AU - Sieling, Klaus
AU - Kage, Henning
AU - Senbayram, M.
AU - Dittert, Klaus
AU - Gericke, Dirk O.
AU - Pacholski, Andreas Siegfried
AU - Herrmann, Antje
PY - 2014/12/12
Y1 - 2014/12/12
N2 - A considerable expansion of biogas production in Germany, paralleled by a strong increase in maize acreage, has caused growing concern that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during crop substrate production might counteract the GHG emission saving potential. Based on a 2-year field trial, a GHG balance was conducted to evaluate the mitigation potential of regionally adapted cropping systems (continuous maize, maize-wheat-Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass ley), depending on nitrogen (N) level and N type. Considering the whole production chain, all cropping systems investigated contributed to the mitigation of GHG emissions (6·7–13·3 t CO2 eq/ha), with continuous maize revealing a carbon dioxide (CO2) saving potential of 55–61% compared with a fossil energy mix reference system. The current sustainability thresholds in terms of CO2 savings set by the EU Renewable Energy Directive could be met by all cropping systems (48–76%). Emissions from crop production had the largest impact on the mitigation effect (⩾50%) unless the biogas residue storage was not covered. The comparison of N fertilizer types showed less pronounced differences in GHG mitigation potential, whereas considerable site effects were observed.
AB - A considerable expansion of biogas production in Germany, paralleled by a strong increase in maize acreage, has caused growing concern that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during crop substrate production might counteract the GHG emission saving potential. Based on a 2-year field trial, a GHG balance was conducted to evaluate the mitigation potential of regionally adapted cropping systems (continuous maize, maize-wheat-Italian ryegrass, perennial ryegrass ley), depending on nitrogen (N) level and N type. Considering the whole production chain, all cropping systems investigated contributed to the mitigation of GHG emissions (6·7–13·3 t CO2 eq/ha), with continuous maize revealing a carbon dioxide (CO2) saving potential of 55–61% compared with a fossil energy mix reference system. The current sustainability thresholds in terms of CO2 savings set by the EU Renewable Energy Directive could be met by all cropping systems (48–76%). Emissions from crop production had the largest impact on the mitigation effect (⩾50%) unless the biogas residue storage was not covered. The comparison of N fertilizer types showed less pronounced differences in GHG mitigation potential, whereas considerable site effects were observed.
KW - Ecosystems Research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84916229622&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0021859613000683
DO - 10.1017/S0021859613000683
M3 - Journal articles
VL - 152
SP - 172
EP - 181
JO - The Journal of Agricultural Science
JF - The Journal of Agricultural Science
SN - 0021-8596
IS - S 1
ER -