Carbon Management

Haider, Salman; Akram, Vaseem

doi: 10.1080/17583004.2019.1640135pmid: N/A

AbstractThis study examines the convergence hypothesis of per capita ecological footprint (PCEF) and per capita carbon footprint (PCCF) for a sample of 77 countries covering the period 1961–2014. In particular, we study whether countries are moving toward a common steady-state equilibrium condition or converging into different groups. To do so, this study used the Phillips and Sul technique. The results do not support the convergence of full sample or similar environmental quality; instead, we find two different steady-state (or club convergence) equilibriums for PCEF and PCCF. Further, our results show that countries which have the lowest PCEF and PCCF are converging (growing) faster than those countries which have the highest PCEF and PCCF. Finally, the speed of convergence of PCEF for club 1 is noted at around 0.126% while for club 2, it is 0.165%. Hence, the climate change policies need to be designed by following the club convergence of the sample countries. AbbreviationsCO2Carbon dioxideEKCEnvironmental Kuznets curveEUEuropean UnionEFEcological footprintG20Group of twentyGHGsGreenhouse gasesIPCCIntergovernmental panel on climate changeOECDOrganization for economic co-operation and developmentPCEFPer capita ecological footprintPCCFPer capita carbon footprintPSPhillips and SulUNDPUnited Nations development programme

Poornachandra, K. T.; Malik, P. K.; Dhali, A.; Kolte, A. P.; Bhatta, R.

doi: 10.1080/17583004.2019.1640136pmid: N/A

AbstractThe study aimed to compare the effect of individual or combined supplementation of condensed tannins (Tamarindus indica) and saponins-containing (Sapindus mukorossi) phyto-sources on enteric methane emission in crossbred cattle. Twenty-four animals were divided into four groups of six each and fed on a finger millet straw and concentrate (70:30) based diet as follows: C (no tannins/saponins), T (tamarind seed husk supplemented group), S (soapnut supplemented group) and TS (tamarind seed husk and soapnut combined supplementation in 60:40). Individual (T, S) or combination (TS) of tamarind seed husk and soapnut constituted 51 g/kg of the basal diet. Present in vivo study revealed a significant reduction (∼20%) in enteric methane emission (g/d) with tamarind seed husk (T) or combined supplementation of tamarind seed husk and soapnut (TS). Furthermore, the comparison of methane emission on uniform basis (g/kg dNDF) also revealed a significant decrease with the individual supplementation of tamarind seed husk or combined supplementation. Therefore, tamarind seed husk alone or in combination with soapnut at above level can be used to formulate low methane emission diet. However, the efficacy of such diet in reducing enteric methane emission should be confirmed by conducting long duration trials in ruminants.

Naik, S. K.; Sarkar, P. K.; Das, B.; Singh, A. K.; Bhatt, B. P.

doi: 10.1080/17583004.2019.1642043pmid: N/A

AbstractA study was conducted on mango orchards with different collar diameter in the age group 2–10 years old with the objective of finding out the best growth model for prediction of biomass and carbon stock. The biomass components of mango trees in the orchard were measured and fitted to various growth models, namely Linear, Allometric, Logistic, Gompertz, Richard’s, Negative exponential, Monomolecular, Mitcherlich and Weibull to find out the parameter estimates of the models and validated the best fitted model. Among the models, Gompertz was found best suited for prediction of biomass and carbon stock in mango orchards. The various criteria selected for best fitted model having lowest Akaike information criteria (AICc) of 90.62, lowest root mean square error (RMSE) of 1.56 kg tree−1 and highest adjusted R2 of 0.973. The predicted total biomass varied from 0.53 to 10.5 Mg ha−1 with mean annual increment of 0.26–1.05 Mg ha−1 in 2–10-year-old mango orchards. The highest predicted total biomass carbon in a 10-year-old mango orchard with an average collar diameter of 14.33 cm was 3.87 Mg ha−1. The carbon mitigation potential of a 10-year-old mango orchard was highest with 3.0 Mg ha−1 with a corresponding carbon dioxide mitigation of 11.04 Mg ha−1 in hot and sub-humid climate.

Fagodiya, Ram Kishor; Pathak, Himanshu; Bhatia, Arti; Jain, Niveta; Gupta, Dipak Kumar; Kumar, Amit; Malyan, Sandeep K.; Dubey, Rachana; Radhakrishanan, Sheetal; Tomer, Ritu

doi: 10.1080/17583004.2019.1650579pmid: N/A

AbstractDue to its lower water requirement, methane emission and soil degradation, a maize–wheat rotation (MWR) may be a more attractive alternative to rice–wheat rotation (RWR), in the upper Indo-Gangetic plains (IGP) of India. However, N2O emission from MWR needs to be quantified to propose management practices for N2O mitigation. A field experiment was conducted at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi, to assess the impacts of various N sources on N2O emission and its mitigation from the MWR. Six treatments –N0 (control), urea, urea + farmyard manure (FYM), FYM, urea + nitrification inhibitor (NI) and neem oil coated urea (NOCU) were investigated during 2012–2014. Results show ranges of N2O-N emissions from MWR of 0.59–0.69, 1.82–1.86, 1.81–1.85, 1.71–1.77, 1.38–1.52, 1.57–1.61 during 2012–2013, and of 0.62–0.68, 1.86–1.90, 1.78–1.84, 1.72–1.76, 1.40–1.46, 1.52–1.60 during 2013–2014, for N0, urea, urea + FYM, FYM, urea + NI and NOCU treatments, respectively. The 2-year pooled N2O-N emission of MWR decreased by 23% in urea + NI and by 16% in NOCU with higher grain yield as compared to conventional urea application. Application of FYM with urea and FYM alone also reduced N2O-N emission; however, the grain yields of these treatments were decreased. Thus, the study suggests that the application of NOCU and NI with urea can mitigate N2O-N emissions from the maize and wheat crops. Hence, the use of NOCU and application of NI with urea could be a better option to mitigate N2O-N emissions from MWR of the upper IGP of India.

Mendoza-Flores, Rubén; Quintero-Ramírez, Rodolfo; Ortiz, Irmene

doi: 10.1080/17583004.2019.1642042pmid: N/A

AbstractThe Cuajimalpa campus of the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) is located in the western region of Mexico City. In 2016, its global average population (students, faculty and staff) was around 2750 people. Campus policies include sustainability as one of its main aims. To evaluate and eventually reduce the environmental impact of the campus, its greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory was assessed and the carbon footprint was calculated, using the GHG protocol (GHGP): Scope 1: direct GHG emissions; Scope 2: indirect GHG emissions; and Scope 3: other indirect GHG emissions, on a calendar year basis. Scope 1 includes mobile and stationary sources and leakage of refrigerants; Scope 2 includes electrical energy usage; Scope 3 includes consumption of paper, food, water, gases, cleaning products, solvents, wastewater treatment, municipal and hazardous wastes and academic travel. In 2016, the campus produced around 3000 tons of CO2 equivalent, with Scope 1, 2 and 3 accounting for 4%, 24% and 72%, respectively. Emissions analysis by activity indicated 51% for commuting; 24% for electricity usage; 14% for academic travel; 11% for other activities. The inventory will aid the establishment of policies for reduction and mitigation of GHG, resulting in environmental and potential economic benefits.