[New post] Energy Crops: an overview (current themed library display
raulibrary posted: " Did you know that certain plant species can be grown as an agricultural crop, producing high yields of biomass with minimal effort? These crops are popularly known as biofuel crops. The production of Biofuels is essential in the present " Latest News @ the RAU Library
Did you know that certain plant species can be grown as an agricultural crop, producing high yields of biomass with minimal effort?
These crops are popularly known as biofuel crops. The production of Biofuels is essential in the present era, and there is need to scale up production globally not only in UK.
What are energy crops?
Energy crops are those grown and harvested to produce biofuels or to be combusted to produce energy. Corn, an annual crop, is one of the most widely grown and used energy crops, although perennial crops such as grasses and trees are also used.
Energy Crops can be grouped into two main categories: Trees/Shrubs and Grasses. Perhaps the best known is SRC Willow, but there are other options for example: Poplar or Eucalyptus for trees, and Miscanthus for grasses.
Why are Energy Crops important?
energy crops can improve the soil quality of land that has been overused for annual row crops
energy crops need considerably less fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides than annual row crops require
deep-rooted energy crops can serve as filters to protect waterways from chemical runoff from other fields and prevent sedimentation caused by erosion
energy crops can create more diverse habitat than annual row crops, attracting a wider variety of species, such as birds, pollinators, and other beneficial insects, and supporting larger populations
Furthermore, the long harvest window for energy crops enables farmers to avoid nesting or breeding seasons
The list of benefits is long, and we cover only a few here. The RAU Library's current library themed display provides an overview of the sustainability issues surrounding energy crops, why energy crops are low-cost and how they can enhance ecosystem functions.
Please see below a fast fact from National Geographic Society World's Top Biofuel Crops
1. switchgrass
2. wheat
3. sunflower
4. cottonseed oil
5. soy
6. jatropha
7. palm oil
8. sugar cane
9. canola
10. corn
Below is a selection of some of the titles of books/ebooks, journal titles and articles, reports that we have highlighted:
Energy Plant Species
Plant Resources for Food Fuel and Conservations
Miscanthus
Bioenergy Crops for Ecosystem Health and Sustainability
Biomass and Energy Crops
Woodfuel
The Library is continually adding new material on this topic and others so please do keep an eye out for new content. There is an online book purchase request form on our Gateway site for you if you want to put forward any suggestions.
We also recommend that you use one-stop search Find it @ RAU available on Gateway or the Library catalogue (Heritage) http://catalogue.rau.ac.uk/heritage/ as your starting point for further research.
Here's the Resource list recommended by the library staff:
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