title: Greenhouse gas emissions during plantation stage of palm oil-based biofuel production addressing different land conversion scenarios in Malaysia.
abstract: The environmental impacts with regard to agro-based biofuel production have been associated with the impact of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In this study, field GHG emissions during plantation stage of palm oil-based biofuel production associated with land use changes for oil palm plantation development have been evaluated. Three different sites of different land use changes prior to oil palm plantation were chosen; converted land-use (large and small-scales) and logged-over forest. Field sampling for determination of soil N-mineralisation and soil organic carbon (SOC) was undertaken at the sites according to the age of palm, i.e. <5 years (immature), 5-20 and >21 years (mature oil palms). The field data were incorporated into the estimation of nitrous oxide (N2O) and the resulting CO2-eq emissions as well as for estimation of carbon stock changes. Irrespective of the land conversion scenarios, the nitrous oxide emissions were found in the range of 6.47-7.78 kg N2O-N/ha resulting in 498-590 kg CO2-eq/ha. On the other hand, the conversion of tropical forest into oil palm plantation has resulted in relatively higher GHG emissions (i.e. four times higher and carbon stock reduction by >50%) compared to converted land use (converted rubber plantation) for oil palm development. The conversion from previously rubber plantation into oil palm plantation would increase the carbon savings (20% in increase) thus sustaining the environmental benefits from the palm oil-based biofuel production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia. faradiella@upm.edu.my.|Environmental Forensics Research Centre, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia. faradiella@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Faradiella Mohd
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Kusin
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Nurul Izzati Mat
authors.initials: NIM
authors.lastname: Akhir
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia.|Environmental Forensics Research Centre, Faculty of Environmental Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia UPM, 43400, Serdang, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ferdaus
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mohamat-Yusuff
authors.affiliation: SEGi University, Kota Damansara, 47810, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Muhamad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Awang
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000379:methods; D028023:Arecaceae / Q000254:growth & development; D056804:Biofuels; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D000069599:Crop Production; D065928:Forests; D008296:Malaysia; D009609:Nitrous Oxide; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D010938:Plant Oils; D012987:Soil; D000073878:Palm Oil; D002244:Carbon; D009609:Nitrous Oxide
keywords: Carbon stocks; Greenhouse gases; Nitrous oxide; Oil palm; Soil organic carbon, biofuel