TY - JOUR T1 - Economic viability of phytoremediation of a cadmium contaminated agricultural area using energy maize. Part I: effect on the farmer's income. JF - Int J Phytoremediation Y1 - 2010 A1 - T Thewys A1 - N Witters A1 - S Van Slycken A1 - Ann Ruttens A1 - E Meers A1 - F M G Tack A1 - J Vangronsveld KW - Agriculture KW - Animal Feed KW - Animals KW - Biodegradation, Environmental KW - Biomass KW - Cadmium KW - Environmental Restoration and Remediation KW - Metals KW - Metals, Heavy KW - Plant Leaves KW - Plant Shoots KW - Soil KW - trees KW - Zea mays AB -

This paper deals with the economic viability of using energy maize as a phytoremediation crop in a vast agricultural area moderately contaminated with metals. The acceptance of phytoremediation as a remediation technology is, besides the extraction rate, determined by its profitability, being the effects it has on the income of the farmer whose land is contaminated. This income can be supported by producing renewable energy through anaerobic digestion of energy maize, a crop that takes up only relatively low amounts of metals, but that can be valorised as a feedstock for energy production. The effect on the income per hectare of growing energy maize instead of fodder maize seems positive, given the most likely values of variables and while keeping the basic income stable, originating from dairy cattle farming activities. We propose growing energy maize aiming at risk-reduction, and generating an alternative income for farmers, yet in the long run also generating a gradual reduction of the pollution levels. In this way, remediation is demoted to a secondary objective with sustainable risk-based land use as primary objective.

VL - 12 CP - 7 M3 - 10.1080/15226514.2010.493187 ER -