Webbläsaren som du använder stöds inte av denna webbplats. Alla versioner av Internet Explorer stöds inte längre, av oss eller Microsoft (läs mer här: * https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Var god och använd en modern webbläsare för att ta del av denna webbplats, som t.ex. nyaste versioner av Edge, Chrome, Firefox eller Safari osv.

Default user image.

Yahia Mahmoud

Universitetslektor

Default user image.

Biochar from cookstoves reduces greenhouse gas emissions from smallholder farms in Africa

Författare

  • Cecilia Sundberg
  • Erik Karltun
  • James K Gitau
  • Thomas Kätterer
  • Geoffrey M. Kimutai
  • Yahia Mahmoud
  • Mary Njenga
  • Gert Nyberg
  • Kristina Roing de Nowina
  • Dries Roobroeck
  • Petra Sieber
Visa allt

Summary, in English

Biochar produced in cookstoves has the potential to contribute to negative carbon emissions through sequestration of biomass carbon while also providing other benefits for sustainable development, including provision of clean renewable energy and increased yields in tropical agriculture. The aim of the reported research was to estimate effects on food production, household energy access and life cycle climate impact from introduction of biochar-producing cookstoves on smallholder farms in Kenya. Participatory research on biochar production and use was undertaken with 150 Kenyan smallholder farming households. Gasifier cookstove functionality, fuel efficiency and emissions were measured, as well as biochar effects on agricultural yields after application to soil. Cookstoves provided benefits through reduced smoke, fuel wood savings and char production, but challenges were found related to labour for fuel preparation, lighting and refilling. On-farm trials with varying rates of biochar inputs, in combination with and without mineral fertilizers, have led to a sustained increase of maize yields following one-time application. The climate impact in a life cycle perspective was considerably lower for the system with cookstove production of biochar and use of biochar in agriculture than for current cooking practices. Climate benefits from biochar production and use are thus possible on smallholder farms in sub-Saharan Africa, through reduced use of biomass in cooking, reduced emissions of products of incomplete combustion and sequestration of stable biochar carbon in soils. Biochar-producing cookstoves can be implemented as a climate change mitigation method in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Successful implementation will require changes in cooking systems including fuel supply, as well as farming systems, which, in turn, requires an understanding of local socio-cultural conditions, including power relations and gender aspects.

Avdelning/ar

  • Institutionen för kulturgeografi och ekonomisk geografi
  • CIRCLE

Publiceringsår

2020-06-21

Språk

Engelska

Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change

Dokumenttyp

Artikel i tidskrift

Förlag

Springer

Ämne

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt

  • ISSN: 1573-1596