Ecologic index of Ecological Charcoal Based on Mix Prosopis juliflora_Eichhornia crassipes and their carbon sequestration potential

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the ecological quality of charcoal based on Prosopis juliflora linked to Eichhornia crassipes and to determine its index ecological value. The collection and preparation of 1.05±0.32 Ton of mixed dry biomass of Prosopis juliflora and Eichhornia crassipes, made it possible to obtain on average 0.918±0.234 Ton of ecological charcoal without binder and 1.267±0.342 Ton ecological coal with binder. The local combustion of ecological coal for energy use releases on average approximately 0.193±0.011 Ton CO2/day, or 1194.31±1512.21 Ton CO2/year, inducing an average environmental compensation of 155.72±20.01 at 196.59±31.09 plants/Ha/month, or between [467.16±60.03; 598.50±93.27] plants/Ha/year to be planted during the good season. The Ecological Value Index of carbonized and ground Prosopis juliflora (100/0%) (3.759) is less than that of carbonized and ground Eichhornia crassipes (100/0%) (71.284). The most interesting Ecological Value Index of Prosopis juliflora linked to carbonized and ground Eichhornia crassipes (75/25%) is 48.971, which makes it ecologically viable for the production of ecological charcoal, following Prosopis juliflora.

Keywords: Ecological Value Index, Charcoal, Environmental compensation, Eichhornia crassipes, Prosopis juliflora