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The influence of waterlogging on agricultural monitoring from space: Observations from an irrigated sugarcane plantation

den Besten, N.I. (author)

Waterlogging is the accumulation of excess water in the rootzone. When soils are waterlogged the rootzone is either saturated or submerged with water. As a result, waterlogging prevents aeration of the rootzone which has adverse effects on crop growth. Waterlogging is an issue in both irrigated and rain-fed agriculture and crop productivity...

doctoral thesis 2023

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Understanding Sentinel-1 backscatter response to sugarcane yield variability and waterlogging

den Besten, N.I. (author), Steele-Dunne, S.C. (author), Mahmud, Ashfak (author), Jackson, Daniel (author), Aouizerats, Benjamin (author), de Jeu, Richard (author), Burger, Rogier (author), Houborg, Rasmus (author), McGlinchey, Mark (author), van der Zaag, P. (author)

Sentinel-1 observes the whole globe every 12 days (6 days when both satellites were operational) and provides a wealth of data relevant to agriculture. Sugarcane cultivators could potentially benefit from these data by using them to assist operational and management practices. However, first, thorough understanding is needed of Sentinel-1...

journal article 2023

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A yield gap analysis to assess vulnerability of commercial sugarcane to climatic extremes in southern Africa

Ngcobo, S. I. (author), Hill, T. R. (author), Jewitt, G.P.W. (author), Archer, E. (author)

Sugarcane yields have steadily declined across southern Africa for the past 25 years and, despite research into the causes, there has been limited progress in addressing these trends. This study developed a methodology of assessing yield declines and performed a yield gap analysis to assess and develop recommendations to assist in combating...

journal article 2023

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Valorization of sugarcane bagasse through biofuel and value-added soluble metabolites production: Optimization of alkaline hydrothermal pretreatment

Soares, L.A. (author), Garcia Solano, M.S. (author), Lindeboom, R.E.F. (author), van Lier, J.B. (author), Silva, Edson L. (author), Varesche, Maria B.A. (author)

Sugarcane bagasse (SCB) is increasingly considered as a potential source for bioenergy or bulk chemicals production. However, efficient pretreatment techniques need to be developed to make full use of its potential. A central composite design was employed to evaluate the effect of temperature (146.4–213.6 °C), NaOH concentration (0.7–2.3 M)...

journal article 2022

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Aqueous two-phase systems applied to the enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse: Screening methodology, thermodynamic modelling and process design

Consorti Bussamra, B. (author)

Targeting to improve the utilization of lignocellulosic residues in the ethanol processing industry, this work aimed to test if the product inhibition of the enzymatic hydrolysis could be relieved by extractive reaction using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS). The performance of enzymatic hydrolysis in ATPS is not well defined in literature. In...

doctoral thesis 2021

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Observing Sucrose Accumulation With Sentinel-1 Backscatter

den Besten, N.I. (author), Steele-Dunne, S.C. (author), Aouizerats, Benjamin (author), Zajdband, Ariel (author), de Jeu, Richard (author), van der Zaag, P. (author)

In this study the impact of sucrose accumulation in Sentinel-1 backscatter observations is presented and compared to Planet optical observations. Sugarcane yield data from a sugarcane plantation in Xinavane, Mozambique are used for this study. The database contains sugarcane yield of 387 fields over two seasons (2018-2019 and 2019-2020). The...

journal article 2021

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Anaerobic digestion of palm oil, ethanol, and tequila production by products: Effects of alkaline hydrothermal pre-treatment on sugars release and biogas composition

Garcia Solano, Magnolia (author)

This study explored the interactions between alkaline hydrothermal pretreatment (AHPT) operational conditions temperature (°C), NaOH concentration (M) and residence time (min) on the compositional characteristics of the solid (SH) and liquid hydrolysate (LH) obtained from AHPT of sugarcane bagasse (SCB), empty fruit bunch (EFB) and agave bagasse...

master thesis 2020

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An assessment on field-scale spatial variability of sugarcane yield with satellite derived vegetation indices and evapotranspiration products: A case study on sugarcane fields in Mozambique

Beenen, Kathelijne (author)

Due to increasing global population and increasing food demand, crop yield needs to be improved to forestall potential food shortages. To achieve optimal crop yield, irrigation is applied to replace water losses due to evapotranspiration (ET). Information on ET should be applied to optimize water allocations and water use. In this study, the...

master thesis 2020

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Space-based SAR and optical remote sensing for productivity monitoring and mapping of sugarcane

Molijn, R.A. (author)

In this study, research on productivity and land cover monitoring is presented, with a focus on sugarcane, based on space-based remote sensing observations that were collected by Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and optical sensors. The study aims to provide new insights into techniques and methodologies that allow for cost-efficient monitoring of...

doctoral thesis 2020

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Techno-economic assessment of heterotrophic microalgae biodiesel production integrated with a sugarcane bio-refinery

Sano Coelho, Renato (author), Cuellar Soares, M.C. (author), Franco, Telma T. (author), van der Wielen, L.A.M. (author)

The use of diesel fuel in crop and transportation operations is responsible for one third of the carbon emissions in sugarcane biorefineries. A possible solution is to replace it with biodiesel from lipids, directly produced from sugarcane by highly productive heterotrophic microalgae. In this study a heterotrophic microalgae biodiesel plant,...

journal article 2020

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Understanding the failures in developing domestic ethanol markets: Unpacking the ethanol paradox in Guatemala

Cutz, L. (author), Tomei, J. (author), Nogueira, L. A.H. (author)

Fostered by environmental and economic drivers, liquid biofuels are expanding in the global energy matrix. However, many countries with biofuel potential, such as Guatemala, have yet to develop domestic biofuels markets. During the last decade, ethanol production in Guatemala has increased significantly, yet a domestic market does not appear...

journal article 2020

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Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Sugarcane Bagasse in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (ATPS): Exploration and Conceptual Process Design

Consorti Bussamra, B. (author), Meerman, Paulus (author), Viswanathan, V. (author), Mussatto, Solange I. (author), Carvalho da Costa, Aline (author), van der Wielen, L.A.M. (author), Ottens, M. (author)

The enzymatic conversion of lignocellulosic material to sugars can provide a carbon source for the production of energy (fuels) and a wide range of renewable products. However, the efficiency of this conversion is impaired due to product (sugar) inhibition. Even though several studies investigate how to overcome this challenge, concepts on...

journal article 2020

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Environmental trade-offs of renewable jet fuels in Brazil: Beyond the carbon footprint

Silva Capaz, R. (author), Magalhaes de Medeiros, E. (author), Falco, Daniela G. (author), Seabra, Joaquim E.A. (author), Osseweijer, P. (author), Posada Duque, J.A. (author)

The use of renewable jet fuels (RJFs) is an option for meeting the greenhouse gases (GHG) reduction targets of the aviation sector. Therefore, most of the studies have focused on climate change indicators, but other environmental impacts have been disregarded. In this paper, an attributional life cycle assessment is performed for ten RJF...

journal article 2020

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Optimal Control for Precision Irrigation of a Large‐Scale Plantation

Kassing, R.C. (author), De Schutter, B.H.K. (author), Abraham, E. (author)

Distributing water optimally is a complex problem that many farmers face yearly, especially in times of drought. In this work, we propose optimization‐based feedback control to improve crop yield and water productivity in agriculture irrigation for a plantation consisting of multiple fields. The interaction between soil, water, crop (sugarcane...

journal article 2020

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Towards enhanced second-generation n-butanol production from sugarcane

Zetty Arenas, A.M. (author)

Nowadays, the biotechnology industry is facing the challenge of producing suitable equivalents for petroleum-based products from renewable resources in a sustainable and economically feasible way. Finding cleaner alternatives for gasoline, fuels, and chemicals, has been the subject of research worldwide, whether for economic, geopolitical, or...

doctoral thesis 2019

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Improving water efficiency and crop yield on a sugarcane plantation in Xinavane, Mozambique: An analysis of irrigation practices, yield variability and the potential of a decision support system

Koenders, David (author), van den Munckhof, Gijs (author), van Egmond, Jessie Lynn (author), Brummelkamp, Judith (author), van Dongen, Kirsten (author), Schurer, Sten (author)

This report contains the findings of a multidisciplinary project in Mozambique which ran from mid-November 2018 to mid-January 2019. This study is part of the IWACA-TECH project, which is an abbreviation for “Improved Water efficiency Control based on remote sensing TECHnologies. The goal is to increase water efficiency and crop yield without...

student report 2019

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Economic performance and GHG emission intensity of sugarcane- and eucalyptus-derived biofuels and biobased chemicals in Brazil

Jonker, Jan G.G. (author), Junginger, Martin (author), Posada Duque, J.A. (author), Ioiart, Carla S. (author), Faaij, Andre P.C. (author), van der Hilst, Floor (author)

Biomass feedstock can be used for the production of biofuels or biobased chemicals to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Earlier studies about the techno-economic performance of biofuel or biobased chemical production varied in biomass feedstock, conversion process, and other techno-economic assumptions. This made a fair...

journal article 2019

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Agricultural Solid Waste as Source of Supplementary Cementitious Materials in Developing Countries

Paul, Suvash Chandra (author), Mbewe, Peter B. K. (author), Kong, Sih Ying (author), Šavija, B. (author)

Concrete production utilizes cement as its major ingredient. Cement production is an important consumer of natural resources and energy. Furthermore, the cement industry is a significant CO2 producer. To reduce the environmental impact of concrete production, supplementary cementitious materials such as fly ash, blast furnace slag, and silica...

review 2019

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Sugarcane productivity mapping through C-band and L-band SAR and optical satellite imagery

Molijn, R.A. (author), Iannini, L. (author), Rocha, Jansle Vieira (author), Hanssen, R.F. (author)

Space-based remote sensing imagery can provide a valuable and cost-effective set of observations for mapping crop-productivity differences. The effectiveness of such signals is dependent on several conditions that are related to crop and sensor characteristics. In this paper, we present the dynamic behavior of signals from five Synthetic...

journal article 2019

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Integrated 1st and 2nd generation sugarcane bio-refinery for jet fuel production in Brazil: Techno-economic and greenhouse gas emissions assessment

Neves Ferreira dos Santos, C.I. (author), de Magalhaes Cornélio da Silva, M.C. (author), Mussatto, Solange I. (author), Osseweijer, P. (author), van der Wielen, L.A.M. (author), Posada Duque, J.A. (author)

This study presents a techno-economic analysis and an environmental assessment, of the whole production chain (biomass production, sugar extraction, biomass pretreatment, sugars fermentation, and products recovery and purification), of a fully autarkic sugarcane-based biorefinery for biojet fuel production. All scenarios considered correspond...

journal article 2017