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Oil bearing seasonal crops in India: energy and phytoremediation potential

Mamta Tandon (Center for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India)
Padma Vasudevan (Center for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India)
S.N. Naik (Center for Rural Development and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India)
Philip Davies (Sustainable Environment Research Group, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University, Birmingham, UK)

International Journal of Energy Sector Management

ISSN: 1750-6220

Article publication date: 9 September 2013

495

Abstract

Purpose

A variety of biomass plantations are being raised for energy production. This case study is on energy production potential of seasonal oil bearing crops in India. These crops have the advantage of producing oil (liquid fuel) as well as biomass as agro residue (solid fuel). The purpose of the study is to estimate total energy yields of oil bearing crops and compare with other types of energy plantations. Also oil bearing crops bioaccumulate metals and thus phytoremediate soil. This provides scope for waste water irrigation.

Design/methodology/approach

Relevant published papers on energy production by raising oil bearing crops have been analyzed. The effect of waste water irrigation and agronomic practices on increasing productivity is given special attention.

Findings

It is shown that the seasonal oil bearing crops such as castor have a high potential to generate energy and this is comparable to energy produced by many perennial grasses. The energy yields of castor under irrigated condition was 196×103 MJ/ha and this is comparable to the reed canary grass which yields 195×103 MJ/ha. Some of the oil bearing crops are also super accumulators of certain toxic metals.

Research limitations/implications

In this study, only all the accessible papers on the topic could be analyzed.

Practical implications

This case study indicates that raising oil bearing crops such as castor using waste water has many advantages which include high energy yields, utilization of waste water for productive purpose and phytoremediation of soil.

Originality/value

The comparison made between various types of energy crops for their energy generation is an original contribution. Findings of economic and environmental benefits by waste water irrigation are also of value.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support for the work through EPSRC, UK (grant reference EP/E044360/1) and an RC-UK DST (EP/G039992/1) Science Bridge funded project. Mamta Tandon would like to thank the University Grant Commission (UGC), India, for the award of Post Doctorate Fellowship.

Citation

Tandon, M., Vasudevan, P., Naik, S.N. and Davies, P. (2013), "Oil bearing seasonal crops in India: energy and phytoremediation potential", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 7 No. 3, pp. 338-354. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-02-2013-0005

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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