Crop residues: Difference between revisions

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''Biomass waste'' refers to the ''parts of food crops'' that humans '''can't''' eat. This material is mostly fibre (cellulose).
Nearly every food crop has some parts that are too fibrous for people to eat. These are called '''crop residues''', also known as '''biomass waste.'''
 
__NOTOC__
'''Examples:'''
==Examples==
* banana leaves
* banana leaves
* peanut shells
* peanut shells
* coconut shells
* coconut shells
* empty corn cobs with no kernels.
* empty corn cobs with no kernels
* rice husks
* sunflower seed husks
* [[straw]]
* [[straw]]


'''Abundance:'''
==Uses==
* Production is roughly equal to food production, because about half of the average food crop is biomass waste (the other half is food).
* This page needs more precise numbers.
 
'''Uses:'''
# All biomass waste can be burned for [[energy]].
# All biomass waste can be burned for [[energy]].
# ''Some'' kinds of biomass waste can be converted into [[packaging]].
# ''Some'' kinds of biomass waste can be converted into [[packaging]].
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3 and 4 are both ways to convert fiber into human-edible protein & calories. Help figure out which of these processes is more efficient overall. This page doesn't have enough information yet - join the {{talk}}.
3 and 4 are both ways to convert fiber into human-edible protein & calories. Help figure out which of these processes is more efficient overall. This page doesn't have enough information yet - join the {{talk}}.


==Supply==
{{sum|Major limitation|bad}}
'''Global [[fossil fuel]] consumption far exceeds what can be produced by crops.'''
<!--
<!--
==Supply==
Production is roughly equal to food production, because about half of the average food crop is biomass waste (the other half is food).
-->
 
===Mass===
{{dp
{{dp
|crop_residues
|crop_residues
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|4 kalorie/gram
|4 kalorie/gram
}}
}}
{{dp
|power_plant.efficiency
|33%
|How much of the fuel combustion heat becomes electricity
|This applies to any power plant that runs on biomass, coal, nuclear fission, or in some cases natural gas. The fuel heats water which generates steam to drive a turbine that generates electricity.
}}
How much does the world produce:
{{calc
{{calc
|crop_residues / world.population
|crop_residues / world.population
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|dry_mass
|dry_mass
}}
}}
If this could be converted into [[packaging]], it would probably be more than enough to '''replace all disposable plastic.'''
===Energy===
If all of it was burned for [[energy]], it would be equivalent to burning:
{{calc
{{calc
|dry_mass * fiber.energy_by_mass
|dry_mass * fiber.energy_by_mass
|cups gasoline/day per capita
}}
If it was burned in a power plant, the electricity generated would be:
{{calc
|dry_mass * fiber.energy_by_mass * power_plant.efficiency
|watts per capita
|watts per capita
}}
}}
-->
 
<!--
'''Biomass energy is nowhere near enough to power the world.'''
How much biomass waste is produced ''per capita'' worldwide? Here are some ways to visualize it:
 
_ grams/day (fiber dry mass)
<!--But it's still better than nothing, and at least it's not the same as [[biofuel|burning edible food]].-->
_ mL gasoline/day (equivalent energy)
==See also==
_ [[Term:kalories|]]/day
Other [[energy]] sources:
_ watts
* [[Solar]]
-->
* [[Wind]]
* [[Hydro]]
* [[Nuclear]]
 
 
[[Category:Energy sources]]