LAPSE:2023.14964v1
Published Article
LAPSE:2023.14964v1
Potential Use of Pruning Residues from Avocado Trees as Energy Input in Rural Communities
March 2, 2023
Abstract
The global need to transition to renewable and decentralized systems entails agricultural systems as producers of residual biomass. Avocado trees (Persea americana Mill.) are one of the main woody crops cultivated in Mexico, with over 150,000 hectares grown in the country. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the use of avocado pruning residues as an energy input, focusing on the revalorization of biomass and the generation of economic benefits for small producers in the region. For that purpose, we developed allometric equations to calculate biomass availability from pruning residues, evaluated their thermochemical properties, and proposed technological alternatives for their energy use. Two allometric equations for pruning residues as a function of tree height and crown diameter were obtained: one for light and minor maintenance pruning (R2 = 0.63) and one for rejuvenation pruning (R2 = 0.86). From these equations, we estimate the mean amount of biomass generated from light and rejuvenation pruning to be 42.7 and 25.1 kg per tree and year, respectively, which amounts to 1324 and 780 kg ha−1 DM (dry matter), with an energy potential of 26.2 and 15.4 GJ ha−1. The thermochemical analysis shows that a higher proportion of leaves generates a higher ash content, which reduces the quality of the residues as a fuel. Avocado pruning residues have high potential for energy use and could be implemented in the industrial and residential sectors, generating a complementary source of income for producers.
The global need to transition to renewable and decentralized systems entails agricultural systems as producers of residual biomass. Avocado trees (Persea americana Mill.) are one of the main woody crops cultivated in Mexico, with over 150,000 hectares grown in the country. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the use of avocado pruning residues as an energy input, focusing on the revalorization of biomass and the generation of economic benefits for small producers in the region. For that purpose, we developed allometric equations to calculate biomass availability from pruning residues, evaluated their thermochemical properties, and proposed technological alternatives for their energy use. Two allometric equations for pruning residues as a function of tree height and crown diameter were obtained: one for light and minor maintenance pruning (R2 = 0.63) and one for rejuvenation pruning (R2 = 0.86). From these equations, we estimate the mean amount of biomass generated from light and rejuvenation pruning to be 42.7 and 25.1 kg per tree and year, respectively, which amounts to 1324 and 780 kg ha−1 DM (dry matter), with an energy potential of 26.2 and 15.4 GJ ha−1. The thermochemical analysis shows that a higher proportion of leaves generates a higher ash content, which reduces the quality of the residues as a fuel. Avocado pruning residues have high potential for energy use and could be implemented in the industrial and residential sectors, generating a complementary source of income for producers.
Record ID
Keywords
avocado, Biomass, energy transition, pruning residues, rural communities
Suggested Citation
Tauro R, Velázquez-Martí B, Manrique S, Ricker M, Martínez-Bravo R, Ruiz-García VM, Ramos-Vargas S, Masera O, Soria-González JA, Armendáriz-Arnez C. Potential Use of Pruning Residues from Avocado Trees as Energy Input in Rural Communities. (2023). LAPSE:2023.14964v1
Author Affiliations
Tauro R: Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES), Unidad Morelia, Laboratorio de Contaminación y Salud Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Exhacienda de San José de la Huerta, Morelia 58190, Me
Velázquez-Martí B: Red de Iberomasa, Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo (CYTED), Departamento de Ingeniería Rural y Agroalimentaria, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain [ORCID]
Manrique S: Red Iberoamericana de Tecnologías de Biomasa y Bioenergía Rural (ReBiBiR-T), Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo (CYTED), Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía No Convencional (INENCO), Consejo Nacional de Investigacio
Ricker M: Departamento de Botánica, Circuito Zona Deportiva s/n, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, Alcaldía Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico [ORCID]
Martínez-Bravo R: Laboratorio de Bioenergía, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Mexico [ORCID]
Ruiz-García VM: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT). Av. Insurgentes Sur 1582, Col. Crédito Constructor, Alcaldía Benito Juárez, Mexico City 03940, Mexico; Laboratorio de Innovación y Evaluación en Bioenergía (LINEB), Laboratorio de Bioenergía y Gr [ORCID]
Ramos-Vargas S: Laboratorio de Innovación y Evaluación en Bioenergía (LINEB), Laboratorio de Bioenergía y Grupo de Innovación Ecotecnológica y Bioenergía (GIEB), Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma d [ORCID]
Masera O: Laboratorio de Bioenergía, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Mexico [ORCID]
Soria-González JA: Facultad de Ingeniería en Tecnología de la Madera, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), Morelia 58040, Mexico
Armendáriz-Arnez C: Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES), Unidad Morelia, Laboratorio de Contaminación y Salud Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Exhacienda de San José de la Huerta, Morelia 58190, Me
Velázquez-Martí B: Red de Iberomasa, Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo (CYTED), Departamento de Ingeniería Rural y Agroalimentaria, Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, Spain [ORCID]
Manrique S: Red Iberoamericana de Tecnologías de Biomasa y Bioenergía Rural (ReBiBiR-T), Programa Iberoamericano de Ciencia y Tecnología para el Desarrollo (CYTED), Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía No Convencional (INENCO), Consejo Nacional de Investigacio
Ricker M: Departamento de Botánica, Circuito Zona Deportiva s/n, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, Alcaldía Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico [ORCID]
Martínez-Bravo R: Laboratorio de Bioenergía, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Mexico [ORCID]
Ruiz-García VM: Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT). Av. Insurgentes Sur 1582, Col. Crédito Constructor, Alcaldía Benito Juárez, Mexico City 03940, Mexico; Laboratorio de Innovación y Evaluación en Bioenergía (LINEB), Laboratorio de Bioenergía y Gr [ORCID]
Ramos-Vargas S: Laboratorio de Innovación y Evaluación en Bioenergía (LINEB), Laboratorio de Bioenergía y Grupo de Innovación Ecotecnológica y Bioenergía (GIEB), Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma d [ORCID]
Masera O: Laboratorio de Bioenergía, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ecosistemas y Sustentabilidad (IIES), Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Morelia 58190, Mexico [ORCID]
Soria-González JA: Facultad de Ingeniería en Tecnología de la Madera, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo (UMSNH), Morelia 58040, Mexico
Armendáriz-Arnez C: Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores (ENES), Unidad Morelia, Laboratorio de Contaminación y Salud Ambiental, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Antigua Carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, Exhacienda de San José de la Huerta, Morelia 58190, Me
Journal Name
Energies
Volume
15
Issue
5
First Page
1715
Year
2022
Publication Date
2022-02-25
ISSN
1996-1073
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PII: en15051715, Publication Type: Journal Article
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LAPSE:2023.14964v1
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