Forest and Agricultural Biomass

Abstract

There are many biomass sources throughout the world. Biomass sometimes referred to as lignocellulosic materials, can be obtained from the virgin forest, plantation forests, or by-products of agricultural activities. Biomass extraction from natural forest resources has contributed to the rapid depletion of forest cover. Therefore, alternatives should be identified, such as plantation forests, manufacturing, and agricultural by-products. A suitable biomass source should be determined based on the final product’s raw material characteristics. This chapter will cover the species and biomass availability from forest sources worldwide. The biomass resources from the temperate and tropical forests will be explained, together with the non-timber species. As for plantation forests, the commonly chosen species, mainly from fast-growing trees, will be described and compared. The biomass from the agricultural sector will also be discovered, primarily the by-products of plantation crops such as sugarcane, wheat, cocoa, pineapples, palm oil, and many more.