Assessing the sweet sorghum-based ethanol potential on saline\u2013alkali land with DSSAT model and LCA approach

Jingying Fu,Xiaoxi Yan,Dong Jiang

doi:10.1186/s13068-021-01896-z

Abstract

BackgroundThe key problem of non-grain energy plants’ scale development is how to estimate the potential of GHG emission reduction accurately and scientifically. This study presents a method coupled DSSAT (the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer) and the life cycle assessment (LCA) method to simulate the spatial distribution of sweet sorghum-based ethanol production potential on saline–alkali land. The GHG (greenhouse gas) emission mitigation and net energy gains of the whole life of sweet sorghum-based ethanol production were then analyzed.ResultsThe results of the case study in Dongying, Shandong Province, China showed that developing sweet sorghum-based ethanol on saline–alkali land had GHG emission mitigation and energy potentials. The LC-GHG emission mitigation potential of saline–alkali land in Dongying was estimated at 63.9 thousand t CO2 eq, equivalent to the carbon emission of 43.4 Kt gasoline. The LC-NEG potential was predicted at 5.02 PJ, equivalent to the caloric value of 109 Kt gasoline. On average, LC-GHG emission mitigation and LC-NEG were predicted at 55.09 kg CO2 eq/t ethanol and 4.33 MJ/kg ethanol, respectively.ConclusionsThe question of how to evaluate the potential of sweet sorghum-based ethanol development scientifically was solved primarily in this paper. The results will provide an important theoretical support for planning the bioenergy crops on saline–alkali land and develop the fuel ethanol industry.

Highlights

The key problem of non-grain energy plants’ scale development is how to estimate the potential of GHG emission reduction accurately and scientifically
Studies showed that planting sweet sorghum on saline–alkali land could be helpful to maintain the sustainable development of the land [11]
Estimation of sweet sorghum biomass and ethanol yield An estimation of sweet sorghum biomass was conducted on saline–alkali land in Dongying using the GIS-based DSSAT model

Summary

Introduction

The key problem of non-grain energy plants’ scale development is how to estimate the potential of GHG emission reduction accurately and scientifically. The GHG (greenhouse gas) emission mitigation and net energy gains of the whole life of sweet sorghum-based ethanol production were analyzed. Studies showed that planting sweet sorghum on saline–alkali land could be helpful to maintain the sustainable development of the land [11]. Sweet sorghum has high stress resistance to severe environments such as soil salinization and poor soil properties. It has lower environment requirements than other crops like cotton and maize [17]. Sweet sorghum stalks hold high levels of sugar content which is very important for bio-ethanol production [18, 19]. The energy output of sweet sorghum is possible to increase with the further technical development [17]

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Conclusion