Assessment of straw use for energy purposes in selected farms

Abstract

This article assesses the biological, technical, energy, environmental and economic potential of straw on farms in Leżajsk Municipality, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, Poland. The analysis included selected farms of non-livestock, crop-only, and crop and livestock production types. The research shows that farms with a vegetable and animal production (average 513.0 and 471.7 t.ha-1) had a higher biological and technical potential of straw than non-livestock farms (average 344.4 and 321.6 t.ha-1). The energy potential of straw on the farms examined was 47,598.0 GJ and varied between 1,618.5 and 11,979.0 GJ, and was 31.8% higher on farms with both vegetable and animal production than on farms only. Switching from traditional fuel (coal) to straw can reduce CO2 emissions on the farms studied by 4,336.7 tons. For all farms (except farm No. 8) the investment in the purchase of a biomass boiler, financed by the sale of surplus straw left after its use for energy purposes, is profitable.