Greenhouse gas balance due to the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest in Brazil

Strategies for the reduction of greenhouse gas emission in agriculture have been debated for some time, especially in Brazil, where the agricultural sector is an important contributor to the national emission balance. The present study focuses on the change in greenhouse gas balance from the conversion of sugarcane areas from burned to green harvest, considering both agricultural and mobile sources. The results are presented in terms of CO2 equivalent, using the gases CO2, CH4 and N2O, and indicate that N synthetic fertilizer and burning of residues are responsible for the higher emissions observed in green and burned areas, with 1167.6 and 941.0 kg CO2equiv. ha−1 y−1, respectively. The sugarcane burning plot presented the highest emissions in our scope, with 3103.9 kg CO2equiv. ha−1 y−1. Our estimates indicate that conversion from burned to green plot could save from 310.7 (not considering soil carbon sequestration) to 1484.0 kg CO2equiv. ha−1 y−1 (considering soil carbon sequestration). The development of ethanol and sugar production in Brazil should certainly move towards the reduction of burning practice and diesel use, avoiding some tillage operations and should also adopt more efficient fertilization practices to reduce N fertilizer inputs, attaining reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the sugarcane agricultural sector.

Estimations of GHG emission (in kg CO2equiv. ha−1 y−1) due to each agricultural emission sources considering 1 ha converted from burned to green harvest.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights
► The sugarcane sector in Brazil in under debate due its potential to mitigate greenhouse gases.
► Sugarcane harvest system can change greenhouse gases balance.
► Burning harvest system from sugarcane areas is still widely practiced.
► Adoptions of better agricultural practices in sugarcane could avoid greenhouse gases emissions.
► Results from this study will contribute to improve the capability to account greenhouse gases from sugarcane areas in Brazil.