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Energy Use Efficiency in Biomass Production Systems

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Economics of Sustainable Energy in Agriculture

Part of the book series: Economy & Environment ((ECEN,volume 24))

5. Conclusion

Fossil energy use efficiency is higher in low-input crop production systems than in high-input systems. This is caused by the fact that in low-input systems, a relatively large amount of the used nitrogen originates from non-fossil resources. In energy crop production systems, solar energy is converted into plant material (with the aid of fossil energy). The net (output-input) energy yield of high-input systems is much higher than the net yield from the low-input systems. The choice of a particular production system will thus have significant consequences for the energy yields that can be obtained.

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© 2002 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Nonhebel, S. (2002). Energy Use Efficiency in Biomass Production Systems. In: van Ierland, E.C., Lansink, A.O. (eds) Economics of Sustainable Energy in Agriculture. Economy & Environment, vol 24. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48018-2_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48018-2_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-0785-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-306-48018-8

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