Biomass is a basic term in ecology, and in the energy production industry. In ecology, it refers to the cumulation of living matter. Organic waste such as dead plant and animal material, animal dung and kitchen waste can be converted into a gaseous fuel called biogas. That is, it is the total living biological material in a given area or of a biological community or group. The organic waste is decomposed by bacteria in biogas digesters to emit biogas which is essentially a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. It refers to the mass of living organisms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, or, from a biochemical perspective, cellulose, lignin, sugars, fats, and proteins. It may be quantified as the total amount of mass in an ecosystem or as an average amount of mass in a given area.
In ecology, biomass means the accumulation of living matter. It is one of the most fundamental efforts in biology is to describe the composition of the living world. It is the total living material in a given area or a biological community or group. Biomass is measured by weight, or by dry weight, per given area (per square meter or square kilometer). It has been used as a fuel source ever since humanity learned to make fire and served as the primary source of energy before fossil fuels became common in the twentieth century. In the energy industry, it refers to biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. It is fuel energy that can be derived directly
or indirectly from biological sources.
Biomass includes plant matter grown for use as biofuel and also includes plant or animal matter used for the production of fibers, chemicals or heat. The most common biomass materials used for energy are plants, wood, and waste. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes which can be burnt as fuel. It is the fuel that is developed from organic materials, a renewable and sustainable source of energy used to create electricity or other forms of power. It excludes organic material which has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum. It is usually measured by dry weight.
