Identifying the regional straw potential for energetic use on the basis of statistical information

Abstract

The amount of cereal straw that can be recovered from arable land and its potential usage for energy production in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg (Germany) was assessed using statistical data from the general agricultural surveys in 2003 and 2007. Based on these surveys, the occurrence of straw, the demand by animal husbandry and the restrictions regarding humus balances were evaluated. The results indicated that the resources of straw for energetic use are not equally distributed within the state, they are rather primarily concentrated in the eastern municipalities. Altogether, an amount of 2,022,995 Mg DM straw is produced in Baden-Wurttemberg annually. A proportion of nearly one third of the total straw occurrence in the state could theoretically be available without endangering the supply of litter for animal husbandry and the long-term humus soil contents. The amount of these 584,564 Mg DM straw could be used as a biomass feedstock with an energy content of 10113 TJ. After transportation and conversion, 3200.6 TJ of electric energy could be generated, representing the mean consumption of 230.551 persons. Three scenarios with a higher straw availability were evaluated. The effect of a higher share of intermediate crops on arable land, the effect of a higher share of cereal crops on arable land and the combination of both modifications was calculated. The evaluation of these potential scenarios showed that the augmentation of intercropping and cereal production on arable land leads to an increased straw availability within the state.