Biomass is fuel that is developed from organic materials. It is a renewable and sustainable source of energy used to create electricity or other forms of power. Scrap lumber, Forest debris, certain crops manure and some types of waste residues are few examples of Biomass sources. Biomass can generate electricity in a number of ways, but the most common is combustion – burning agricultural waste or woody materials to heat water and produce steam, which spins turbines. Some of the most important factors that influence biomass production are: i) soil humidity, ii) soil and air temperature, iii) air humidity, iv) photoperiod, v) light intensity, vi) soil fertility, i.e. soil nutrient availability, and vii) genotype, and are fully analyzed below. Biomass is commonly used as a fuel in underdeveloped countries for cooking and heat, but even in developed countries like Canada, biomass is used to create electricity. At times, Alberta generates more than 3% of its electricity from biomass. one examples of biomass fuels are wood, crops, manure, and some garbage. When burned, the chemical energy in biomass is released as heat.
