Although the potential of Alternative Jet Fuels (AJF) to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions has been widely reported upon in the literature, there are still discrepancies among the results. These may be due to the different GHG accounting methods, including those used by different Low-Carbon Policies (LCPs). To have a clearer understanding of the life cycle performance of AJF, the carbon footprint of ten pathways was estimated, comprising promising feedstocks – such as soybean, palm, sugarcane, sugarcane residues, forestry residues, used cooking oil, beef tallow, and steel off-gases – and ASTM-approved technologies: Hydroprocessed Fatty Acids, Alcohol-to-Jet, and Fischer-Tropsch. Six methodological approaches were used: the attributional and the consequential life cycle assessment, as well as guidelines for the four LCPs: Renovabio (Brazil), CORSIA (aviation sector), RFS (United States), and RED II (Europe). Soybean-based pathway (24 to 98.7 gCO2e/MJ) had the low to no potential for reducing GHG when compared to their fossil counterparts, mainly due to land use change. Of all food-based pathways, AJF produced from sugarcane performed the best (-10.4 to 43.7 gCO2e/MJ), especially when power surplus was credited. AJF from palm oil could present significant GHG reduction for palm expansion in degraded pasturelands. By contrast, Fischer-Tropsch of lignocellulosic residues showed the highest potential for reducing GHG (-95% to -130%). Different from food-based pathways, the potential GHG reduction of residues-based pathways converged within a narrower range (-130% to -50%), except when residual feedstocks have to be redirected from their current economic use. It could lead to GHG emissions higher than fossil fuel.

The carbon footprint of alternative jet fuels produced in Brazil: exploring different approaches

Intercropping improves land-use efficiency under conditions of limited land and resources, but no information is currently available pertaining to land-use efficiency and silage quality based on whole-plant utilization. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was conducted with the following conditions: three maize–soybean strip intercropping patterns, comprising two maize rows along with two, three, or four soybean rows (2M2S, 2M3S, and 2M4S, respectively); and two sole cropping patterns of maize (SM) and soybean (SS). The aim was to evaluate the biomass yield and silage quality under each condition. Our results showed that all SIPs had a land equivalent ratio (LER) of over 1.6 based on both fresh and dry matter yield, and a higher whole plant yield, compared to sole cropping. Specifically, 2M3S exhibited the highest whole crop dry matter LER (1.8–1.9) and yield (24.6–27.2 t ha−1) compared to SM and SS (20.88–21.49 and 3.48–4.79 t ha−1, respectively). Maize–soybean mixed silages also showed better fermentation quality with higher lactic acid content (1–3%) and lower ammonia-N content (2–8%) compared to SS silages, and higher crude protein content (1–1.5%) with lower ammonia-N content (1–2%) compared to SM silage. Among the intercropping patterns, 2M3S had the highest fermentation quality index V-score (92–95). Consequently, maize–soybean strip intercropping improved silage quality and biomass yield, with 2M3S being recommended, due to its highest LER and biomass yield, and most optimal silage quality.

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Silage Quality and Output of Different Maize–Soybean Strip Intercropping Patterns

The incorporation of both food and forage crops in an intercropping system is receiving increasing attention, especially in developing countries with increasing populations and limited resources. In a two-year (2019–2020) field trial, conducted in Northern Egypt, productivity of soybean and fodder maize, as well as the quality of maize herbage, were investigated under three sowing schedules; soybean and maize sown together, and maize sown 15 and 30 days after soybean, in addition to soybean and fodder maize sown in pure stands, with maize harvested at green fodder maturity (GFM), and silage maturity (SM). Harvesting fodder maize at SM resulted in higher herbage yield than harvesting it at GFM, yet it negatively affected the soybean productivity. However, this negative impact was offset when fodder maize sowing was delayed 30 days after soybean sowing. Maize harvested at GFM was characterized by a higher leaf component, which was reflected in its higher crude protein content, yet the decline in quality with advanced maturity was to a great extent, counterbalanced by the presence of high-quality ears in maize harvested at SM. This was clear in its lower fiber and higher non-fiber carbohydrate contents. Land equivalent ratio (LER) demonstrated yield advantage with the delayed sowing of fodder maize (LER > 1), while the dry matter equivalent ratio (DMER) associated the yield advantage with the late harvesting of fodder maize at SM (DMER > 1), across all sowing schedules, which was more realistic for an additive intercropping model where the dry matter is the economic component. In a soybean-fodder maize intercropping system, whether fodder maize will be cultivated for green feeding or for silage production, it is recommended that sowing is delayed until 30 days after the soybean, in order to maximize yield advantage and land use efficiency.

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/11/5/863/pdf

Maximizing Land Use Efficiency and Productivity of Soybean and Fodder Maize Intercrops through Manipulating Sowing Schedule and Maize Harvest Regime

Intercropped maize-soybean silage: Effects on forage yield, fermentation pattern and nutritional composition

The corn and soybean intercropping can increase the quality of the silage and result in higher animal productivity. This research aimed to evaluate the agronomic aspects of intercropped corn + soybean, fermentative and bromatological profile of the intercropping silage, in function of the plant spatial arrangement, and types of fertilization. Two tests were performed; test 1: being in simple arrangement (a corn line alternated with a soybean line); test (2) in double arrangement (two corn lines alternated with a soybean line). The experimental design was a randomized block design in a 2x2 + 1 factorial scheme, with four replications. The first factor was constituted of two sowing fertilization modalities in the line: only in corn, and in total area; the second factor, were the seeding fertilization types: 100 and 70 kg ha-1 P2O5 and K2O, respectively (Dose 1) and 150 and 95 kg ha-1 of P2O5 and K2O, respectively (Dose 2). The additional treatment corresponded to corn monoculture. After harvesting, the material was ensiled for 60 days. There was no statistical difference in the yield of silage between treatments, only increases in the production of soybean pods and in the quality of the silage in the higher doses of fertilization. The results show that the soybean addition in corn silage causes greater losses during the fermentation process, but in contrast increases the protein and ether extract contents and digestibility. Pointing out that a roughage with these characteristics may supply protein supplementation in ruminant diets.

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Perfil agronômico, fermentativo e bromatológico da silagem obtida do consórcio entre milho e soja

The success of maize + soybean intercrop depends on the plant arrangement. An experiment was carried out to evaluate different row arrangements on intercrop forage yield, silage quality and maize grain yield in relation to maize as a sole crop. The experiment was set up with a randomized complete block design with eight row arrangements between maize and Soybean. Maize biomass yield among crop arrangements were similar, although, lower than the maize sole crop. On the other hand, these treatments showed higher soybean biomass yield, which in turn increased silage crude protein and crude protein yield per unit area. Maize thousand grain weight, grain yield per plant and per area was affected by the intercrop arrangements. The use of two corn rows + two soybean rows (2M+2S-30 cm) and four corn rows + four soybean rows (4M+4S-30 cm) showed higher crude protein yield per area associated with similar maize grain yield in relation to the sole maize crop. In conclusion, alternating four maize rows with four soybean rows was the optimum row ratio in maize + soybean intercrop, though this needs to be further confirmed by more trials.

https://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jas/article/download/0/0/38103/38593

Row arrangements of maize and soybean intercrop on silage quality and grain yield.

The success of maize+soybean intercrop depends on the correct synchronism between species phenological stages at the silage point. Due to it, the experiment was carried out to evaluate maize+soybean intercrop forage yield and silage quality using crops with different maturity cycle combination. The experiment used a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 3 factorial scheme. Treatments consisted of two maize hybrids (1: P1630YHR-early cycle and 2: middle cycle P30F53VYHR) and two soybean cultivars (P95R51-maturity cycle of 5.1; TMG7062-maturity cycle of 6.2) and one control represented by maize monocrop. Silage harvesting was performed when maize had reached 2/3 milk line stage. Intercropping soybean into maize did not affect its biomass yield. Both soybean cultivars present compatible cycles for ensiling together with maize hybrids, since they were in phenological stages from R5.3 to R7 by the time maize was at its optimum stage for ensiling. There was interaction between species for the soybean biomass yield. Maize hybrid P30F53 produced higher biomass yield than P1630 what also resulted in higher amount of total crude protein yield. Intercrop P1630-P95R51 produced 458 Kg ha-1 of crude protein more than maize monocrop. Maize+soybean intercropping system results in higher silage crude protein percentage and yield per area (Kg of CP ha-1).

/pdf/forage-yield-and-silage-quality-of-intercropped-maize-317n43zor0.pdf

Forage Yield and Silage Quality of Intercropped Maize+Soybean With Different Relative Maturity Cycle

A crescente demanda por fontes alternativas de energia tem se demostrado uma tendencia mundial. Diante do exposto, objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o poder calorifico das diferentes fracoes de biomassa de Eucalyptus grandis e E. urophylla aos 60 meses de idade e analisar a viabilidade economica do aproveitamento total ou parcial da biomassa, visando geracao de energia. Para isso determinaram-se o poder calorifico superior, poder calorifico inferior, teor de cinzas e carbono orgânico dos compartimentos madeira, galhos, casca e folhas. Quanto ao poder calorifico (PC), a folha apresentou valores superiores as demais fracoes avaliadas, com 4.904 kcal kg-1, seguidas dos galhos com 4.290 kcal kg-1, madeira com 4.126 kcal kg-1 e casca, com menor PC (3.641 kcal kg-1). Em relacao a eficiencia de uso dos nutrientes (EUN), a madeira apresentou os maiores valores, algo bastante desejavel e de grande interesse para a silvicultura. Nas folhas estao os menores valores do EUN, com excecao do Ca e Mg, cujos menores valores estao na casca, indicando a importância da manutencao destes componentes no solo apos a colheita. Em relacao ao custo para repor os nutrientes (NPK) exportados por tonelada de biomassa de madeira, o E. grandis apresentou valores de R$ 14,05 e E. urophylla de R$ 11,54, sendo a biomassa deste componente, a mais barata em termos de custo com reposicao de nutrientes. Por outro lado, as folhas apresentaram o maior custo de reposicao de NPK, enfatizando a baixa viabilidade economica da exportacao desta biomassa para geracao de energia.

/pdf/poder-calorifico-e-analise-economica-do-uso-total-ou-parcial-55cj1f80rq.pdf

Poder calorífico e análise econômica do uso total ou parcial da biomassa de eucaliptos

Maize silage is the main conserved roughage used in animal feed in Brazil and improving its quality has great relevance. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the characteristics of maize silage, containing different percentages of soybean biomass. In this way, different percentages of soybean green biomass added to maize ensilage (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% - experiment 1 and 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50% in experiment 2) were evaluated. Experiments were laid out as a completely randomized. Variables were submitted to analysis of variance and when it present significance was applied regression analysis. Silage ashes increased as soybean biomass increased. Regarding to the neutral and acid detergent fiber and the amount of total digestible nutrients, there was no effect of the treatments. At experiment 1, silage crude protein increased from 7.5 to 12.6% from sole maize silage to the silage with 39.2% of soybean dry biomass, which represent an increase of 67.24%. At experiment 2, it increased from 6.77 to 12.09%, which represent 78.58% more protein at the treatment with 50% of soybean green biomass (41% dry matter of soybean) in relation to the sole maize silage. At experiment 2, for every 1% increase in soybean dry matter biomass addition, there was an increase of 0.1% of maize silage crude protein. The addition of soybean biomass to corn silage increases the ashes and crude protein content of silage.

Can soybean biomass addition optimize corn silage quality

A canola (Brasica napus) e uma das principais culturas oleaginosas do mundo. O trabalho tem objetivo de avaliar o desempenho de canola em diferentes densidades, sendo com 10, 14 e 18 plantas por metro linear. Foi utilizado um delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com tres repeticoes com parcelas subdivididas. O experimento foi conduzido no ano de 2017 na Universidade Tecnologica Federal do Parana, com as avaliacoes de populacao final, numero de siliquas, numero de ramificacoes, massa de mil graos, produtividade e altura de planta. Nao foram observadas diferencas entre as variaveis analisadas, exceto para a populacao final de plantas. A canola cv. Hyiola 571 apresentou produtividade 1.646 kg ha-1, valor superior a media nacional.

Cleverson Luiz Giacomel

Papers

Row arrangements of maize and soybean intercrop on silage quality and grain yield.

Forage Yield and Silage Quality of Intercropped Maize+Soybean With Different Relative Maturity Cycle

Poder calorífico e análise econômica do uso total ou parcial da biomassa de eucaliptos

Can soybean biomass addition optimize corn silage quality

POTENCIAL PRODUTIVO DE CANOLA HYOLA 571 (Brasica napus) EM DIFERENTES DENSIDADES DE SEMEADURA