BACKGROUND: Since sugarcane areas have increased rapidly in Brazil, the contribution of the sugarcane production, and, especially, of the sugarcane harvest system to the greenhouse gas emissions of the country is an issue of national concern. Here we analyze some data characterizing various activities of two sugarcane mills during the harvest period of 2006-2007 and quantify the carbon footprint of sugar production. RESULTS: According to our calculations, 241 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent were released to the atmosphere per a ton of sugar produced (2406 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per a hectare of the cropped area, and 26.5 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per a ton of sugarcane processed). The major part of the total emission (44%) resulted from residues burning; about 20% resulted from the use of synthetic fertilizers, and about 18% from fossil fuel combustion. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the most important reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane areas could be achieved by switching to a green harvest system, that is, to harvesting without burning.
BACKGROUND: Since n class="Species">sugarcane areas have increased rapidly in Brazil, the contribution of the sugarcane production, and, especially, of the sugarcaneharvest system to the greenhouse gas emissions of the country is an issue of national concern. Here we analyze some data characterizing various activities of two sugarcane mills during the harvest period of 2006-2007 and quantify the carbon footprint of sugar production. RESULTS: According to our calculations, 241 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent were released to the atmosphere per a ton of sugar produced (2406 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per a hectare of the cropped area, and 26.5 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent per a ton of sugarcane processed). The major part of the total emission (44%) resulted from residues burning; about 20% resulted from the use of synthetic fertilizers, and about 18% from fossil fuel combustion. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the most important reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from sugarcane areas could be achieved by switching to a green harvest system, that is, to harvesting without burning.
Authors: José E D Cançado; Paulo H N Saldiva; Luiz A A Pereira; Luciene B L S Lara; Paulo Artaxo; Luiz A Martinelli; Marcos A Arbex; Antonella Zanobetti; Alfesio L F Braga Journal: Environ Health Perspect Date: 2006-05 Impact factor: 9.031
Authors: César Vázquez-González; Patricia Moreno-Casasola; María Elizabeth Hernández; Adolfo Campos; Ileana Espejel; José Luis Fermán-Almada Journal: Environ Manage Date: 2016-11-15 Impact factor: 3.266
Authors: Marcelo S Sthel; Georgia A Mothé; Marcenilda A Lima; Maria P P de Castro; Israel Esquef; Marcelo G da Silva Journal: Environ Sci Pollut Res Int Date: 2019-11-01 Impact factor: 4.223