This thesis is focused on a survey whether the production of greenhouse gases by cultivation of vegetable, concretely garlic, is higher in a conventional way of cultivation or in an organic way of cultivation of garlic (from view of the environment). The study is composed on the base of all system processes which are used during cultivation of garlic. It was clear from collection of input data (which were obtained by questionnaire or telephone survey) that main processes for calculation would be mainly agricultural processes. An emission load of CO2 equivalent to a kilogram of individual product was calculated from obtained data and information from a database Ecoinvent. The purpose of this work is making information about possibility of choice of food and its influence on the environment available to people. It should help them to choose which food they want to eat. The conclusion of this thesis is the result which shows that organic cultivation of garlic is more sparing to the environment because it produces less emission than conventional agriculture.

This thesis deals with a quantity of CO2 emissions produced during breeding of pigs. Two systems of farming (conventional and organic) were compared between each other. With help of questionnaire survey the data were obtained ? they were needed for a calculation of CO2 emissions in software program SIMA PRO which calculates emissions produced in agricultural phase: the breeding of animal from its birth to the end of fattening and converts them into CO2 equivalent. The aim of this work was to find out, which system of farming produces more CO2 emissions.

Large areas of northern peatlands have been drained and afforested in the second half of the 20th century with significant impacts on important ecosystem services, including loss of biodiversity and potential changes in C storage. A considerable effort is currently invested into restoring original peatland function and ecosystem services, with an increasing area of newly restored peatland areas over recent years. However, the effect of restoration on the greenhouse gas (GHG) budget is unknown. This study is the first quantification of CO2, CH4 and N2O fluxes from forest-to-bog restoration sites spanning 0 to 17 years in age. Further, the impact of afforestation on peat decomposition is measured in situ, and the impact of afforestation on the biochemical composition of the peat in relation to CO2 and CH4 fluxes is investigated. Results show that forest-to-bog restoration is successful from a GHG perspective, since all three major GHG fluxes of the restoration sites are changing along the chronosequence towards the fluxes from near pristine bog sites. The peat decomposition rate under the forest plantations is a big part of the total soil respiration at 126.8 ± 14.7 g C m-2 y-1 (44% of total soil CO2 efflux) and our results indicate a slowing down of peat decomposition towards the near pristine bog. CH4 fluxes increase with restoration age, whilst all sites remain a small sink for N2O. I observed changes in peat quality and nutrient availability in the pore water under forests. Different CO2 fluxes between vegetation-free peat cores from different sites for the same temperature and water level show that these differences in peat quality and nutrient availability shape the biogeochemical processes in the peatlands. However only small differences in CH4 fluxes between sites were evident, suggesting that on its own (and in absence of biotic interactions under field conditions), forestry effects on CH4 flux are limited.

Doctor of Philosophy / Agronomy / Charles W. Rice / Substitution of cellulosic biofuel in place of gasoline or diesel could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation. However, emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) and changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) could have a large impact on the GHG balance of cellulosic biofuel, thus there is a need to quantify these responses in cellulosic biofuel crops. The objectives of this study were to: (i) measure changes in yield, SOC and microbial communities in potential cellulosic biofuel cropping systems (ii) measure and characterize the temporal variation in N₂O emissions from these systems (iii) characterize the yield and N₂O response of switchgrass to N fertilizer and to estimate the costs of production. Sweet sorghum, photoperiod-sensitive sorghum, and miscanthus yielded the highest aboveground biomass (20-32 Mg ha⁻¹). The perennial grasses sequestered SOC over 4 yrs, while SOC stocks did not change in the annual crops. Root stocks were 4-8 times higher in the perennial crops, suggesting greater belowground C inputs. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundance and aggregate mean weight diameter were higher in the perennials. No consistent significant differences were found in N₂O emissions between crops, though miscanthus tended to have the lowest emissions. Most N₂O was emitted during large events of short duration (1-3 days) that occurred after high rainfall events with high soil NO₃₋. There was a weak relationship between IPCC Tier 1 N₂O estimates and measured emissions, and the IPCC method tended to underestimate emissions. The response of N₂O to N rate was nonlinear in 2 of 3 years. Fertilizer induced emission factor (EF) increased from 0.7% at 50 kg N ha⁻¹ to 2.6% at 150 kg N ha⁻¹. Switchgrass yields increased with N inputs up to 100-150 kg N ha⁻¹, but the critical N level for maximum yields decreased each year, suggesting N was being applied in excess at higher N rates. Yield-scaled costs of production were minimized at 100 kg N ha-1 ($70.91 Mg⁻¹). Together, these results show that crop selection and fertilizer management can have large impacts on the productivity and soil GHG emissions biofuel cropping systems.

abstract: Constructed treatment wetlands (CTW) have been a cost-efficient technological solution to treat different types of wastewater but may also be sources of emitters of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). Thus, my objective for this dissertation was to investigate CH4 and N2O fluxes via multiple pathways from the Tres Rios CTW located in Phoenix, AZ, USA. I measured gas fluxes from the CTW along a whole-system gradient (from inflow to outflow) and a within-marsh gradient (shoreline, middle, and open water sites). I found higher diffusive CH4 release in the summer compared to spring and winter seasons. Along the whole-system gradient, I found greater CH4 and N2O emission fluxes near the inflow compared to near the outflow. Within the vegetated marsh, I found greater CH4 emission fluxes at the vegetated marsh subsites compared to the open water. In contrast, N2O emissions were greater at the marsh-open water locations compared to interior marsh. To study the plant-mediated pathway, I constructed small gas chambers fitted to Typha spp. leaves. I found plant-mediated CH4 fluxes were greater near the outflow than near the inflow and that CH4 fluxes were higher from lower sections of plants compared to higher sections. Overall, Typha spp. emitted a mean annual daily flux rate of 358.23 mg CH4 m-2 d-1. Third, using a 30-day mesocosm experiment I studied the effects of three different drydown treatments (2, 7, 14 days) on the fluxes of CH4 and N2O from flooded CTW soils. I found that CH4 fluxes were not significantly affected by soil drydown events. Soils that were dry for 7 days shifted from being N2O sources to sinks upon inundation. As a result, the 7-day drydown soils were sinks while the 14-day drydown soils showed significant N2O release. My results emphasize the importance of studying ecological processes in CTWs to improve their design and management strategies so we can better mitigate their greenhouse gas emissions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Biology 2017

abstract: The State of California has made great strides in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through mandated, rate-payer funded Investor Owned Utility (IOU) electricity Demand Side Management (DSM) programs. This study quantifies the amount of reduced GHG emissions in Arizona that result from DSM in that state, as well as the DSM reductions within Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E;), and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E;) during the 2010 through 2012 California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) DSM program cycle. To accomplish this quantification, it develops a model to allocated GHG emissions based on "operating margin" resources requirements specific to each utility in order to effectively track, monitor, and quantify avoided emissions from grid-based utility resources. The developed model estimates that during the 2010-2012 program cycle, 5,327.12 metric tons (MT) of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) in GHG reductions (or 1.8 percent of total reductions) can be attributed to reduced demand from Arizona--based resources by California IOUs. By focusing on the spatial context of GHG emission reductions, this study models and quantifies the spill-over effect of California's regulatory environment into neighboring states. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Geography 2013

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar a participação do setor elétrico brasileiro nas emissões de gases de efeito do país durante o período de 2005 a 2021, de acordo com o Plano Decenal de Energia PDE 2021, documento oficial do governo elaborado pela Empresa de Pesquisa Energética. Para isso, inicialmente é feita uma contextualização sobre a importância internacional da discussão sobre as emissões à luz das mudanças climáticas. A dissertação prossegue com a apresentação de um breve sumário da evolução do setor elétrico brasileiro, desde 1960, a partir da criação da Eletrobras, até sua trajetória recente, configurando a matriz elétrica brasileira de forma tão distinta da matriz média mundial. Adicionalmente são apresentadas as projeções oficiais do governo para a oferta e a demanda de eletricidade até 2021. Com base no passado recente e na formatação de matriz brasileira projetada até 2021, é feito um levantamento dos dados de emissões de gases de efeito estufa, no contexto da discussão sobre mudança do clima, seus marcos históricos e paradigmas conceituais. Por fim, é feita uma análise das emissões oriundas da geração de eletricidade, a fim de avaliar as tendências do setor para 2021 e os planos de ação para mitigação e redução das emissões. Os principais resultados dessa análise indicam que a preocupação em torno das emissões do setor elétrico vai além da questão quantitativa. Ela abrange também um dos pilares do atual modelo regulatório do setor, que é a segurança energética do país. A matriz elétrica fundamentada em fontes hídricas, como é a brasileira, é excelente do ponto de vista de emissões, mas desperta preocupação em relação às escolhas para sua complementaridade. / This study aims to analyze the participation of the Brazilian electric sector greenhouse gases emissions in the country during the period 2005-2021, according to the Ten Year Energy Plan - PDE 2021, official government document prepared by the Energy Research Company. For this, we contextualize about the global importance of the discussion of issues in the light of climate change. The paper continues with a literature review on the Brazilian electricity sector since 1960 with the creation of Eletrobras until its recent trajectory, and also compares the Brazilian energy matrix with the global electric matrix. Also featured are official government projections for the sector (supply and demand of electricity) by 2021. Then an overview of emissions of greenhouse gases in the discussion on climate change, its landmarks and conceptual paradigms is presented. The Brazilian total emissions, as well as the specific of the electricity sector, and their projections through 2021 are also presented. Finally, we make a brief analysis of emissions from electricity generation in order to evaluate industry trends for 2021 and action plans to mitigate and reduce emissions. The major findings indicate that concerns over emissions from the electricity sector goes beyond the quantitative question. It also covers one of the pillars of the current regulatory framework of the sector, which is the country\'s energy security. The energy matrix based on water sources, as is Brazilian, is excellent in terms of emissions, raising concern about choices for their complementarity

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:51:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T13:56:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Dissertacao (Mestrado) / IPEN/D / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN/CNEN-SP / FAPESP:04/04148-3

O objetivo do presente estudo foi identificar entre 10 óleos essenciais, os dois com maior capacidade mitigadora das emissões de metano proveniente da fermentação in vitro da microbiota ruminal de bovinos da raça Nelore (Etapa I), e o subsequente impacto da adoção destes dois óleos essenciais como estratégia nutricional para mitigação das emissões de metano in vivo por bovinos Nelore (Etapa II). Na primeira etapa, pela técnica de produção de gases in vitro foram avaliados a produção de gases acumulada, a degradabilidade, o fator de partição, a concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal, a produção de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta e a produção de metano com o uso dos óleos essenciais extraídos das seguintes plantas: anis estrelado (Illicium verum), citronela (Cymbopogon winterianus), cravo botão (Eugenia caryophyllus), eucalipto staigeriana (Eucalyptus staigeriana), eucalipto globulus (Eucalyptus globulus), gengibre (Zingiber officinale), ho wood (Cinnamomum camphora), melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia), orégano (Origanum vulgare) e tomilho branco (Thymus vulgaris). Todos os óleos essenciais foram testados em quatro doses; 0, 50, 250 e 500 mg/l de meio de incubação. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, com quatro blocos, 10 tratamentos, quatro doses e duas réplicas dentro de cada bloco. Os procedimentos estatísticos foram obtidos com auxílio do programa SAS 9.3. Os resultados foram submetidos a análise de variância e regressão, com graus de liberdade desdobrados em efeitos linear e quadrático. A produção de gases acumulada sofreu efeito linear negativo (P<0,05) com o aumento dos níveis de inclusão dos óleos essenciais de citronela, ho wood, orégano e tomilho. A degradabilidade do substrato, a produção total de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta e a concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal não foram afetadas (P>0,05) por nenhum dos tratamentos. As menores produções líquidas de metano estiveram associadas às menores produções acumuladas de gases, nas quais os óleos essenciais de orégano e de tomilho tiveram maior poder mitigador de metano em doses acima de 250 mg/l. Esses mesmos óleos essenciais (tomilho e orégano) mostraram ser os mais promissores para o uso em dietas de bovinos por apresentarem as maiores eficiências na mitigação da produção de metano sem afetar a degradação do substrato, sugerindo provável efeito inibitório sobre a população de arqueias metanogênicas. Na etapa II, os óleos essenciais de orégano e de tomilho foram avaliados através de um delineamento experimental em quadrados latinos 3x3 replicados com três períodos de 21 dias cada, no qual seis bovinos da raça Nelore foram alimentados com dieta total composta de 70% silagem de milho e 30% concentrado a base de milho e farelo de soja. Os óleos essenciais foram inclusos na dieta na quantidade de 3 ml por kg de concentrado. Foram mensurados o consumo, a digestibilidade aparente total (da MS, da FDN e da FDA), os parâmetros ruminais (pH, concentração de nitrogênio amoniacal e de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta) e a emissão de metano (através da técnica do gás traçador SF6). As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com auxílio do programa SAS 9.3, utilizando o procedimento MIXED. O efeito de tratamento foi separado pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. A inclusão dos óleos essenciais de orégano ou de tomilho na dosagem avaliada in vivo, não foi suficiente para promover mudanças significativas (P>0,05) em nenhum dos parâmetros avaliados. / The objective of this study was to identify two out of 10 essential oils with the greatest capacity to mitigate methane emissions through an in vitro fermentation assay using ruminal microorganisms of Nellore cattle (Step I), and the subsequent impact of the use of these two essential oils as a nutritional strategy to mitigate methane emissions in vivo trial with Nellore cattle (Step II). In the step 1, it was evaluated through in vitro gas production technique the accumulated gas production, degradability, partitioning factor, ammoniacal nitrogen concentration, short chain fatty acid production and methane production, with the use of essential oils extracted from the following plants: anise (Illicium verum), citronella (Cymbopogon winterianus), clove (Eugenia caryophyllus), eucalyptus staigeriana (Eucalyptus staigeriana), eucalyptus globulus (Eucalytus globulus), ginger (Zingiber officinale), melaleuca (Melaleuca alternifolia), oregano (Origanum vulgare) and white thyme (Thymus vulgaris). All essential oils were tested in four doses; 0, 50, 250 and 500 mg / l of incubation solution. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with four blocks, 10 treatments, four doses and two replicates within each block. The statistical procedures were done with the help of the SAS 9.3 program. The results were analyzed by analysis of variance and regression, with degrees of freedom unfolded in linear and quadratic. Accumulated gas production had a linear negative effect (P <0.05) with increasing the inclusion level of the essential oils of citronella, ho wood, oregano and thyme. Substrate degradability, total short chain fatty acid production and ammoniacal nitrogen concentration were not affected (P> 0.05) by treatments. The lower liquid methane yields were associated with lower accumulated gas production, in which oregano and thyme essential oils were the more potent at doses greater than 250 mg / l. These essential oils (thyme and oregano) were the most promising for use in cattle diets because they were the most effective for methane mitigation without affecting substrate degradation, suggesting a probable inhibitory effect on the methanogenic arqueas. In step II, the essential oils of oregano and thyme were evaluated through an experimental design in replicate 3x3 Latin squares with three periods of 21 days each, in which six Nellore cattle were distributed in the control, oregano oil and thyme oil treatments, were fed a total diet composed of 70% corn silage and 30% of concentrate based on ground corn and soybean meal. The essential oils were included in the diet 3 ml per kg of concentrate. Intake, total apparent digestibility (DM, NDF and ADF), ruminal parameters (pH, concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen and short chain fatty acids) and methane emission (through SF6 tracer gas) were measured. The inclusion of the essential oils of oregano or thyme in the dosage evaluated was not sufficient to promote significant changes (P> 0.05) in any of the outcomes evaluated.

A Amazônia armazena em sua floresta na ordem de 95 a 120 PgC de biomassa viva e mais 160 PgC no solo, que podem ser rapidamente liberados para a atmosfera por meio da queima de biomassa e, também, pela mudança do uso da terra. Este estudo foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de elucidar a contribuição da Bacia Amazônica nas emissões de carbono no ano de 2010. A quantificação do CO2 foi realizada por meio da coleta do ar atmosférico utilizando aviões de pequeno porte que descreveram um perfil vertical em quatro locais, estrategicamente posicionado na Bacia Amazônica, e utilizando sistemas semiautomáticos de coleta de ar em 17 ou 12 altitudes diferentes. O Fluxo de emissão/absorção foi calculado pelo método de integração de coluna, que consiste na determinação da concentração de CO2 no perfil vertical, subtraído da concentração de entrada no continente, levando-se em conta o tempo que a massa de ar despende entre a costa e o local de amostragem. Para a determinação da concentração de entrada, foram utilizadas as concentrações medidas pela NOAA nas Ilhas de Ascencion e Barbados e, como traçador de massas de ar, o SF6. Foi encontrado um caráter emissor da Amazônia em território brasileiro para o ano de 2010, em torno de 0,41 PgC, considerando a média ponderada das quatro regiões estudadas, sendo a queima de biomassa a principal responsável. Para a determinação da emissão proveniente da queima de biomassa foi utilizado o CO, como traçador, e a razão CO:CO2. Apesar de possuir um perfil emissor neste ano anormalmente seco, foi possível observar um caráter sumidor de carbono. / The Amazon forest contains on the order of 95-120 PgC in living biomass and additional 160 PgC in soils, which can be quickly released into the atmosphere through the biomass burning and also by the land use change. This study was developed with the aim to elucidate the contribution of the Amazon Basin in carbon emissions. The quantification of CO2 was performed by collecting atmospheric air using small airplanes that described a vertical profile at four locations strategically positioned in the Amazon and using semi-automatic sampling systems in 17 or 12 different heights. The emission / absorption flux was calculated by column integration method, which consists in determining the vertical profile concentration, subtracted from the background concentration, taking into account the time that the air mass spends between coast and sampling site. To determine the background concentration, were used the concentrations measured by NOAA at the Ascencion and Barbados islands and, as an air mass tracer, the SF6. Was found a emission behavior at the Amazon in Brazil for the year 2010, around 0.41 PgC considering the weighted average of the four regions studied, being the biomass burning mainly responsible. To determine the biomass burning emission, was used the CO as a tracer and, the CO:CO2 ratio. Despite having an emitter profile at this abnormally dry year, it was possible to observe it behavior of carbon sink.