Fragrant grasses offer profitable path to restore degraded land and capture carbon
A new analysis shows cultivating aromatic plants like lemongrass and vetiver on marginal lands can generate hundreds of millions in revenue, improve soil health, and sequester vast amounts of atmospheric carbon
image: Cultivation of aromatic plant for nature-based sustainable solutions for the management of degraded/marginal lands: techno-economics and carbon dynamic
Credit: Deepika Yadav, Anisha Yadav & Mayank Singh
A comprehensive review by scientists at the CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in India presents a compelling case for using aromatic grasses to restore degraded and marginal lands. The research indicates this nature-based approach is not only effective for environmental remediation but is also a highly profitable venture that aligns with global sustainable development goals. With over one-fifth of the world's land area classified as degraded, finding economically viable restoration methods is of great importance for food security and soil health.
The Economic Potential of Aromatic Agriculture
The analysis, led by corresponding author Puja Khare, calculates the substantial economic benefits of this practice. By cultivating aromatic plants such as lemongrass, palmarosa, and vetiver on India's 38,600 hectares of available degraded land, the net profitability could range from 22 million to 629 million USD. This income is generated from the high market demand for essential oils used in food, cosmetics, and aromatherapy industries. This method provides an additional income stream for farmers and landowners without competing with food crops for fertile land.
A Powerful Tool for Carbon Sequestration
Beyond the direct economic gains, the cultivation of these hardy grasses serves as a significant carbon sink. The study estimates that planting these aromatic crops on degraded lands could sequester between 0.32 and 0.81 million tonnes of carbon in the plants and soil. The economic value of this carbon capture is estimated to be between 16 million and 45 million USD. This process directly contributes to climate action by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and locking it into the terrestrial ecosystem.
From Waste to Wealth in a Circular System
The process becomes even more sustainable when considering the byproducts of essential oil extraction. After distillation, a large volume of solid biomass is typically left over. The researchers show this "distilled waste" is a valuable resource. It can be converted into organic amendments like compost, vermicompost, and biochar. These products can then be used to further enrich the very lands they were grown on, creating a self-sustaining, circular system.
Creating Value-Added Soil Boosters
The conversion of distilled waste into biochar, a charcoal-like substance, offers immense environmental and economic advantages. The analysis suggests this process could sequester an additional 0.02 to 335 hundred thousand tonnes of carbon, valued at up to 1.9 billion USD. Applying biochar to soil improves its fertility, water retention, and microbial activity, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This turns a potential waste problem into a solution for both soil health and climate management.
Liquid Byproducts with Added Benefits
The distillation process also generates liquid byproducts, such as aromatic hydrosol and smoke water from biochar production, which possess their own unique value. These liquids contain organic compounds that can act as natural plant growth promoters, antibacterial agents, and preservatives. Utilizing these liquids for agricultural purposes further reduces the carbon footprint of the overall process and provides farmers with low-cost, natural alternatives to synthetic products, saving up to an additional 0.42 million USD in carbon costs.
A Sustainable Path Forward
This review by Deepika Yadav, Anisha Yadav, Mayank Singh, and Puja Khare demonstrates a multi-faceted strategy for land management. By cultivating aromatic plants on degraded lands, communities can restore ecosystems, generate substantial income, and actively participate in carbon sequestration. The authors suggest that for broader implementation, further work is needed to map the suitability of specific plants to different agro-climatic regions and to conduct detailed life cycle assessments of the entire process.
Corresponding Author:
Puja Khare
Original Source:
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44246-023-00055-3
Contributions:
Deepika Yadav: investigation, formal analysis, and preparing the original draft, Anisha Yadav: formal analysis, Mayank Singh: formal analysis and editing; Puja Khare: conceptualization, replying reviewers and editing. The authors read and approved the final manuscript.