Replacing silage maize for biogas production by sugar beet – A system analysis with ecological and economical approaches

摘要: Abstract In a holistic methodological approach, we linked field trial data with different modeling approaches to answer the question if sugar beet roots offer an ecological and economical efficient alternative silage maize as substrate for biogas production. Field trials were conducted at highly productive sites in Germany, representative Central Europe, tested both biomass crops continuous cultivation crop rotations winter wheat. these trials, estimated methane yield of was generally higher (6837 8782 Nm 3  ha − 1 ) than (3206 7861 Nm reached highest rotations. Under nonobservance technical effects, production costs (€ per Nm methane) nationwide showed that, most German districts, it would need be reduced by 10 25% order reach competitiveness maize. However, farm level, economically advantageous when introduced share 16% into individual farm's program mainly due high stability reducing risk. decrease gross margin ha likely occur. impacts assessed but did not highlight one two comparison. evident that cultivating them three years long wheat provoked lower risks loss soil organic matter (− 122 − 20 kg humus-C or N-leaching (40 62 kg N ha years) cultivation. contrast, greenhouse gas emission (7652 11,074 kg C-dioxide-equivalents Overall, conclude can raise beet's competitiveness, dry yields should increased without increasing impacts.