A detailed greenhouse gas budget for palm oil production
Chase, LDC; Henson, IanE
| HERO ID | 1531278 |
|---|---|
| In Press | No |
| Year | 2010 |
| Title | A detailed greenhouse gas budget for palm oil production |
| Authors | Chase, LDC; Henson, IanE |
| Journal | International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Page Numbers | 199-214 |
| Abstract | We have evaluated the global warming impact of palm oil production in a model that simulates the operations of a typical palm oil mill that processes fruit from a nucleus estate and outgrowers. It estimates carbon sequestration in the crop and in mill products and by-products, and balances this against the major sources of greenhouse gases (GHGs), all converted to carbon dioxide equivalents (CO(2)-e) over the 25-year lifespan of the crop. The model shows that most carbon sequestration occurs in the standing crop, with smaller amounts in mill products and by-products. Land-use conversion plays a dominant role in the GHG budget, with planting of oil palm after logged forest or rubber leading to a net loss of carbon, and to a net gain following grassland. In the default oil-palm-to-oil-palm case the carbon lost from cleared palms is balanced by sequestration in the current crop. Methane from mill effluent and nitrous oxide from N fertilizers are the next most important emission sources. The default replant case gives net emissions of 0.86t CO(2)-e per t crude palm oil, but these can be reduced to very low values, mainly through conversion of methane and surplus fuel in the mill to energy. |
| Doi | 10.3763/ijas.2010.0461 |
| Wosid | WOS:000281787700006 |
| Is Certified Translation | No |
| Dupe Override | No |
| Comments | Source: Web of Science WOS:000281787700006 |
| Is Public | Yes |
| Keyword | carbon sequestration; greenhouse gas emissions; land-use conversion; methane; nitrous oxide; palm oil |