Investigation of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Bifuel Production from Corn Farming and Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

Extensive consumption of fossil energy resources including coal, oil, gas has risen as a result of the growing world population, so the mass of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, water vapor, methane, ozone, etc.) has been significantly increased. People want to produce renewable fuel because of the increasing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. However, increasing feedstock production and fertilizer production, which are required for producing renewable fuel, GHG emission increase. Even though we use fossil fuels as the main energy source, there is great potential for it to be produced using biomass. Corn is one of the annual crops, which is one of the most important feedstock for biofuel production because of its availability and production rate. However, especially the corn farming stage in the system boundary has caused great concern because of the potential yields, nutrients and effect on land, which directly effect GHG emissions. The main purpose of this study is to demonstrate the importance of GHG emissions, GHG emissions mitigation technologies in agriculture, several human health, and environmental effects. In this study, we used Argonne National Laboratory’s Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model to obtain emission data for cron production. Basically, the GREET model will calculate the consumption of total energy, GHG emission, and air criteria pollutants. The results show that the highest part of GHG emissions came from nitrogen fertilizer, urea, and lime productions. Especially, 93% of N2O emissions came from nitrogen fertilizer in corn farming stage. Also, 36% of CO2 emissions came from corn farming fertilizer usage. In addition, decision-makers need to develop the potential of mitigation strategies to quantify and address the uncertainty of GHG emissions. Therefore, the correct strategies to mitigate GHG emissions from agricultural systems can be found and this can help to productivity, crop quality, economic returns, and reduce negative environmental risks.