Harnessing Biomass Cultivation on Degraded Land | 22 May 2024

Source: PIB

Why in News?

The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India recently convened the first meeting to discuss biomass cultivation on degraded land for green biohydrogen production and bioenergy generation.

• This significant meeting gathered key stakeholders, and research institutes, to explore the potential of utilising degraded, barren, and uncultivated lands for biomass cultivation.

What are the Key Highlights of the Meeting?

• Biomass Cultivation Prospects:
  • Seaweed Cultivation: Highlighted prospects for seaweed cultivation as biomass for bioenergy production and fostering a marine biomanufacturing start-up ecosystem.
  • Plant-Based Biomass: Discussed biomass production using various plants, including algae, molasses, and sugarcane.
• Government Programs and Data Utilisation:
  • Highlighted one of the objectives of the National Green Hydrogen Mission is to initiate focused pilots for biomass-based green biohydrogen production.
  • The Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE) highlighted the various programs at the Ministry for Bioenergy and also talked about the National Biomass Atlas for agri-residue surplus data.
• Economic and Strategic Frameworks:
  • Data on Biomass: The National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), presented the Bhuvan portal for biomass availability from agri-residue and degraded Land Mapping and emphasised the need for data on the characterisation of biomass for understanding the potential of biomass.

What is Biomass Cultivation on Degraded Land?

• About: Biomass cultivation on degraded land refers to the practice of growing organic matter, such as crops or trees, on land that has been rendered unsuitable for conventional agriculture due to factors like soil erosion, salinisation, or deforestation.
  • Biomass is renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals. Biomass contains stored chemical energy from the sun that is produced by plants through photosynthesis.
• Benefits:
  • Soil Restoration and Erosion Prevention:
    • The cultivation of energy crops helps rebuild the soil on degraded land and helps improve soil quality, fertility, and structure.
    • It prevents soil erosion and creates a habitat for native plant species.
    • This restoration process improves overall biodiversity and provides additional carbon sinks, aiding in the fight against climate change.
  • Carbon Sequestration: Biomass plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, contributing to climate change mitigation.
  • Sustainable Biohydrogen Production: Biomass can be used as a feedstock for green biohydrogen production through a process called thermochemical or biochemical conversion.
    • Green biohydrogen is a clean-burning fuel that produces water vapour as its only emission.
  • Bioenergy Generation: By growing specific bioenergy crops on previously degraded or barren land, we can harness their biomass for energy production.
    • These crops include fast-growing trees, grasses, and other plants that have high energy content.
    • The biomass can be converted into various forms of energy, such as biofuels, biogas, or solid biomass.
  • Enhancing Food Security: By focusing biomass cultivation on degraded or marginal lands, it avoids using fertile agricultural land, which is better suited for food crops.
    • This approach helps prevent the diversion of food grains and improves food security while also promoting agri-export.

What are the Challenges in Biomass Cultivation on Degraded Land?

• Soil Quality: Degraded land often lacks essential nutrients and organic matter. Rehabilitating soil quality is crucial for successful biomass cultivation.
• Species Selection and Adaptation: Selecting appropriate biomass crops that can thrive in harsh conditions is challenging. Research is needed to identify resilient species and improve their adaptability.
  • Degraded land may experience extreme temperatures, droughts, or floods.
• Water Availability and Management: Degraded land often lacks adequate water resources. Developing efficient irrigation methods for biomass crops is essential.
  • Exploring rainwater harvesting techniques can enhance water availability.
• Economic Viability and Market Demand: Initial investments in land preparation, seedlings, and infrastructure can be high.
  • Biomass crops must align with market demand for bioenergy or other products.
  • Governments can encourage farmers through financial incentives. Ensuring economic viability while rehabilitating land is complex.
• Biodiversity and Ecological Impact: Introducing biomass crops may affect local ecosystems and biodiversity. Some biomass crops may become invasive and disrupt native flora and fauna.
  • Implementing cultivation methods that minimise ecological impact is essential.

Way Forward

• Cultivation Techniques: Implement strategies to improve degraded soil fertility. This could involve incorporating organic matter like compost, and biochar, or using techniques like biofloculation (harnessing microbial processes) to improve soil health.
• Biomass Cultivation with Agroforestry: Implement a multi-tiered cropping system on degraded land, integrating fast-growing tree species with native grasses and legumes.
  • Trees like Pongamia pinnata (Karanj) can fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility for companion crops like drought-resistant grasses suitable for biofuel production.
  • This strategy not only helps in biofuel production but also creates a habitat for native fauna, promoting biodiversity.
• Drones for Degraded Land Diagnostics: Use drones with multispectral sensors to quickly assess large areas of degraded land, map soil composition, identify potential biomass cultivation areas, and evaluate existing biodiversity.
• Market Development: Develop markets for biomass and its by-products to ensure economic viability and create a value chain that supports rural livelihoods.