Index Water requirements for crops for biofuelsAccording to Food and AgricultureLincoln Way EnergyWater supply for cultivation has become a major problem in terms of increasing scarcity in many countries due to the increasing competition with domestic or industrial markets uses. This issue could also contribute to the negative effects of climate change in terms of reduced rainfall in some key producing regions, which will put further pressure on local water supplies. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2008) As for the main topic, the production of biofuels requires water supply both in the expansion of raw materials which include food crops such as corn, sugarcane , soya, oil palm and many others and also in the transformation of raw materials to produce biofuels. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In the 21st century, biofuels are currently owned by approximately 100 km3, which is equivalent to 1% of all water used for crops worldwide. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2008) Since most crops currently used for biofuel production require high water consumption to achieve the required yield levels that are best suited to the areas high rainfall topics. The following table illustrates the water requirements for biofuel crops. Water needs for biofuel crops Furthermore, water is needed not only for raw materials, but also for production facilities, especially in biorefineries. Plants that produce biofuels require high-purity water, which is largely drawn from confined aquifers. (Pool, 2014) This can clearly have a further impact on unsustainable pumping that eventually the future generation will not be able to use that aquifer. Furthermore, the transformation of raw materials into biofuels requires enormous quantities of water, mainly for cleaning plants and seeds. Evaporation loss from cooling towers and evaporators during ethanol distillation and followed by fermentation could also contribute to high water consumption. (Water Implications of Biofuel Production in the United States, 2008). Therefore, this will have the greatest impact on local water balances. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2008), the growth prospect of irrigated areas may seem high in In some sectors based on water supply and land, the possibility of increasing the production of biofuels under irrigation conditions on existing or new irrigated land is limited by infrastructure needs. This is to ensure water supply and land tenure systems that will not adapt to commercialized production systems. Figure 1 below illustrates the potential for expansion of the irrigated area. Producing more biofuel crops will affect water quality as well as quantity. For example, converting pastures or woodlands to corn fields can exacerbate problems such as soil erosion, sedimentation, and excess nutrients resulting from fertilizer use. (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2008) Since fertilizers are necessary for crops to grow better, the downside of this can contribute to harmful effects on the surrounding environment and can cause contamination.
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