Soybeans: An Alternative
Energy Source
By Jared Smith and Sabra Warren
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Overview
Purpose
Soybean Usage
Soybean Biofuel Information
Growth Conditions
– Water Requirements
– Soil Conditions
• Potential New York State Soybean Growing Locations
• Potential Biofuel Production
Purpose
• To determine suitable locations for growing
soybeans in NY
• Soybeans will be used for the production of
biofuel
• Used Arc Map for analysis of possible growing
locations and potential yield
Current Uses of Soybeans
• World’s most widely used editable oil
• According to USDA Economic Research Service, soybean oil
represents 71.3% of U.S. fats and oils consumption
Feed & Animal Food (77%)
Salad / Cooling Oil (11%)
Baking / Frying Fats (6%)
Biodiesel (3%)
Margarine (1%)
Human Food Protein (1%)
Other (1%)
Source (5,4)
Soy as Biodiesel
• Biofuel - non-petroleum based alternative fuels
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Plants: Corn, Soy, Hemp, Switch Grass
• One bushel of soybeans produces about 1.5 gallons of biodiesel
• Produced in simple refining process - trans esterification.
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Mix methanol with sodium hydroxide into solution
Mixing solution with soybean oil
Final products: Methyl Esters (Biodiesel) and glycerin
• Positive energy balance of 3:1
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Ester-based feedstock
Low-energy requirements of conversion process
Nitrogen-fixing characteristics of soybeans
• Returns 93 percent more energy than is used to produce it
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Source (2)
Corn grain ethanol provides only 25 percent more energy
Benefits of Soybeans as Biofuel
• Soybean biodiesel uses only soybean oil
• 80% of the plant remains for animal and
human consumption
• Only 3% of domestically consumed
soybean crop needed for biofuel
• Ethanol requires ~20%)
• Eliminates emission of sulfur oxides and
sulfates: components of acid rain
• Reduces CO2 emissions by up to 78%
• Biodiesel is biodegradable and nontoxic
when used in its pure form (B100)
Source (3)
http://www.our-energy.com/biofuels.html
Growing Requirements
• Water:
• Yields between 40 to 50 bushels/acre
• Requires 20 to 25 inches of soil moisture (rainfall)
• Produces approximately 2 bushels/acre for every inch of water used
• Soil:
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Source (1,6)
Fertile and well drained
pH of 6.5 or higher
No sand or gravel
Best results on:
sandy silt loams
silt loams
clay silt loams
General Soybean Growth and Water Use
Crop Development
Water Use
(in/day)
Germination and seeding
0.05 - 0.10
Rapid vegetative growth
0.10 - 0.20
Flowering to pod fill
0.20 - 0.30
Maturity to harvest
0.05 - 0.20
• Water requirements
vary depending on
development period
• The length of the
total growing period
is 100 to 130 days or
more
http://www.fao.org/docrep/S2022E/s2022e02.htm
Source (6)
Select Locations
• map
Potential Biodiesel Output From
Select Locations
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21,577,849 acres of suitable land
766,376 acres of current soybean crops
Average rainfall: 34.8 inches
Potentially 69.6 bushels per acre yield
Yield dependent on other growing conditions, and
amount of land planted
• Potentially 1,448,478,521 bushels total yield
• Would produce 2,172,717,781 gallons of biofuel per
growing season
Environmental Benefits
• New York Oil Consumption:
• 12.9 Trillion gallons per year
• Soybeans provide 2.17 Trillion gallons per year
• OR 16.8% of New York’s Annual Oil Consumption
• Carbon Dioxide Reduction:
• 12.9 Trillion gallons = 172 Quadrillion kg CO2
• 2.17 Trillion gallons = 28.9 Quadrillion kg CO2 less
• OR 16.8% less CO2
• Global Warming Implications:
• 172 Quadrillion kg CO2 = 0.005 °C
• 28.9 Quadrillion kg CO2 less = 0.0009 °C less
• OR 16.8% less temperature increase
• Soybean production to biofuels is a profitable
resource with environmentally friendly benefits
• NY State has the potential to grow and produce
soybean biofuel to significantly offset fossil fuel
demand
• The use of Arc Map enhances the ability for such
analysis to be done
Conclusion
Thank You!
Questions?
Bibliography
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Source (1)
Cox, William J.. “Fact Sheet #1 in a Series on Soybeans.” Northern New York Agricultural Development Program.
April 2004. 17 April 2011. <http://www.nnyagdev.org/PDF/NNYSoybeansFS.pdf>.
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Source (2)
Inside Indiana Business. “Soybean Processing, Biofuels Plant Opens in Northern Indiana.” Claypool. 2007. 17 April
2011. < http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?id=25053>.
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Source (3)
Iowa State University. “Soybean Uses.” Soybean Extension of Research Program. 2011. 17 April 2011.
< http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/soybean/uses_biodiesel.html>.
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Source (4)
Soy Connection. “Soybean Oil Overview.” Soybean Oil. 2011. 17 April, 2011.
<http://www.soyconnection.com/soybean_oil/soybean_oil_overview.php>.
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Source (5)
United Soybean Board. “Food and Fuel: Meeting the Challenges of Feeding the World and Creating Renewable Fuels.”
Food Versus Fuel: The Debate. 2009. 17 April, 2011.
<http://www.soyconnection.com/soybean_oil/pdf/foodvsfuel_soy_biofuels.pdf>.
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Source (6)
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. “Soil and Water Management Soybeans – Crop Irrigation.” Cooperative Extension
Service. 2006. 17 April 2011. <http://www.aragriculture.org/soil_water/irrigation/crop/soybeans.htm>.
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Source (7)
University of Minnesota. “Soybean biodiesel has higher net energy benefit than corn ethanol.” Mongabay. July 11, 2006. 17
April 2011. <http://news.mongabay.com/2006/0711-umn.html>.