Importance of Agave and Cacti for Efficient Water Use – Desertification

A noteworthy scientific report

Photo WVC – 2000-06-Brazil-Cactus01

Huge cactus plantation

Development and Utilization of Bioenergy Raw Materials in Semi-arid and Arid Areas

go through John C. Cushman, Sarah C. Davis, Xiaohan Yang and Anne M. Boland

Abstract

Global climate change is predicted to intensify heat, drought and soil dryness, which in turn increases crop sensitivity to water vapor pressure deficits, leading to reduced productivity. Increasing competition between agricultural and municipal or industrial freshwater use means that crops with greater heat and drought tolerance and improved water use efficiency are essential for future sustainable biomass production systems.

Agave (Agavaceae) cactus (Cactaceae) Representative Highly water-efficient bioenergy crops This could diversify bioenergy feedstock supplies while retaining or expanding feedstock production to semi-arid, abandoned or degraded agricultural lands, and reclaiming drylands.

Agave and cactus It is a Crassulaceae acid metabolizing species It can achieve high water use efficiency and grow in areas with limited water resources and insufficient precipitation that cannot support traditional carbon₃ or C₄Bioenergy crops.

Both Agave and cactus have The potential for producing aboveground biomass is comparable to that of C₃ and C₄ Crops under optimal growing conditions. Low lignin and high amorphous cellulose content Agave and cactus Lignocellulosic biomass is less resistant to decomposition than traditional feedstocks, as demonstrated by pretreatment to improve saccharification. Agave.

The refined EPI and GIS models provide estimates of: Agave and cactus Biomass productivity and terrestrial atmospheric CO2 sequestration₂; however, the accuracy of such modeling efforts could be improved by expanding field experiments in different geographic settings. Agave Its productivity, life cycle energy and greenhouse gas balance will be comparable to or better than traditional bioenergy feedstocks. But water use will be more efficient.

See the text: Journal of Experimental Botany

author: William Van Cottum

Professor Emeritus of Botany, Ghent University (Belgium). Scientific advisor on desertification and sustainable development.
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