Briquette Fuel - An Option for Management of Mikania micrantha

Mikania micrantha (mile- a-minute in English) is assessed as one of the six high risks posed IAS in terrestrial ecosystem in Nepal and is as a considered second biggest threat after deforestation to biodiversity conservation. It is becoming pervasive and estimated to have covered over 20% of the Chitwan National Park. A survey was conducted jointly with NTNC, TCN and NAST to establish the estimates of available Mikania biomass raw material. After being cut, it can even regenerate by old rootstocks, runners and suckers. It does not have much use after manual removal. So, using dried biomass for briquetting to get fuel may be an option for its utilization. Different types of briquettes using biomass as well as char were made from its raw materials. Various physical and fuel characteristics of the briquette fuels and combustion tests were performed and studied as an alternative fuel. Different test results show that the use of this weed to produce briquette fuel will generate a potential source of alternative energy and will also help in conserving biodiversity in long run. Nepal Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 14, No. 1 (2013) 109-114 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/njst.v14i1.8930