Biomass and Energy Assessment of Different Natural and Agricultural Systems in Brazil

Biomass and energy evaluation was carried out in the Municipality of Teresópolis - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The following agricultural and natural systems were considered: (i) vegetables systems (leaf, fruit and mixed vegetables); (ii) citrus; (iii) ecological agro-forestry; (iv) cattle ranching, (v) silvopastoril systems, (vi) forest fragments and, (vii) forest in regeneration stage (1, 2 and 3 years old). The main primary agricultural production systems have in general low energy conversion ratio (6:1), and store only small quantities of biomass in the system (2.1 Mg C ha–1). The ecological system has the most efficient use of energy (2:1), and saves great biomass quantity in the system (1.80E11 J ha–1 yr–1). The cattle system presents the lowest values for all energy and biomass parameters causing largest environmental damage (aboveground biomass (AGB) = 0.49 ton DM ha–1; Energy Ratio 461:1).