Researchers from the Michigan State University said that their recent study on the land use change for biofuel reduction suggest that previous analyses may have been based on incorrect bases and assumptions.
In the online January issue of the Environmental Science & Technology journal, Professor Bruce Dale and his co-authors at the Michigan State University have said that most of the recent studies on greenhouse gas emission have not considered possible important factors that could affect the previous analyses.
Based on their new study, the estimation of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions connected with land use change could be best measured through cropping management. The study says that if there are consistent no-till and no-till plus cover crop practices, the required payback period for the land would substantially be reduced to three shorter years.
The recent development on the topic has caused experts to go on a debate. The issue is deemed to be crucial as it plays a big impact on the biofuel industry in the country.
The MSU professors noted that the recent studies have caused the country to set higher greenhouse gas standards compared to those that are in the local industry. Dale, supported by his co-authors, also said that the calculated time, by which biofuels would give environmental benefits, has many discrepancies. The MSU professors insist that the proposed timeframe of the earlier studies might not work right as the models used for the studies were not based on all the potential factors crucial for the formulation of the said time estimation.