Abstract
As the world’s largest grain producer, China’s straw yield was 700 million tonnes in 2014. With a national utilization rate of 80% in 2015, there is still a large amount of straw burned in open-field, resulting in air pollution and a reduction in the quantity available as a source of bioenergy. This paper conducts a literature review of success stories and major challenges in comprehensive straw utilization in and out of China. It is noted that nationwide long-term feasible and sustainable straw utilization at a high rate is a highly complex operation, involving most societal sectors, many people and facilities often at different regions. Scenarios were analyzed to estimate the energy potential and air emission reductions China would accomplish in 2020 by converting an additional 5 or 10% of straw-yield to biofuel. Currently, the approach to control straw burning in China is primarily administrative, relying heavily on prohibition and penalties, inconsistent across policy areas and geography, and lacking in long-term planning. Consequently, the effectiveness of the current approach is limited. The main cause of burning is a lack of infrastructure, effective preventive measures, and viable alternatives. Recommendations aimed at promoting a circular bio-economy around using crop straw as resources were provided, including improving straw utilization rates and reducing open-field burning.
Highlights
China ranked first in the world in 2014 [1] in grain production
Using a life-cycle energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions approach, it was demonstrated that greenhouse gasses (GHG) emissions from this corn straw-based bio-natural gas (BNG) plant were up to 99% lower in comparison with its fossil-fueled pathway
Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) reported a 16% increase in straw burning incidence in early October of 2015 compared with the same period in 2014, and satellite detected a total of 376 suspected straw burning spots [46]
Summary
China ranked first in the world in 2014 [1] in grain production. The annual grain yield was approximately 607 million tonnes in 2014 [2], while the straw ( known as agriculture residues or crop straw) production was 700 million tonnes [3]. The national straw utilization rate in China was approximately 80% in 2015 [4]. One of the challenges is different consciousness levels of farmers toward straw utilization in different regions. Another is the practicality of straw utilization in situ or removal from the field within a very short window between harvesting and planting a subsequent crop, especially in southern China, where two or three crops per year are common. Some farmers reluctantly resort to straw burning in the field as an easy option, leading to air pollution
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