S.B. Chavan, D.S. Chauhan, A. Keerthika, A.R. Uthappa, Ankur Jha and Ram Newaj
Abstract
Domestic biomass energy demand and crisis is negative relationship with the countries forest area. However, the huge tract of wasteland and degraded forest must be planted with trees of suitable firewood properties to reduce the degradation of forest. To enable choice of species for such energy plantations in the Central India, a study was conducted to evaluate different fuelwood properties viz. moisture, density, ash, volatile matter, calorific value, heat value and fuel value index (FVI). Out of various laboratory tests, the FVI emerged as tool for screening desirable tree species for future energy plantation program to fulfill the increasing demand of fuelwood. Based on this study, Acacia catechu, Acacia senegal, Anogeissus pendula and Prosopis juliflora possess superior fuelwood characteristics and they may be considered for inclusion in energy plantation programme in the region.