Work

Identifying potential areas for biofuel production and evaluating the environmental effects: a case study of the J ames R iver B asin in the M idwestern U nited S tates

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: Biofuels are now an important resource in theUnitedStates because of theEnergyIndependence andSecurityAct of 2007. Both increased corn growth for ethanol production and perennial dedicated energy crop growth for cellulosic feedstocks are potential sources to meet the rising demand for biofuels. However, these measures may cause adverse environmental consequences that are not yet fully understood. This study 1) evaluates the long‐term impacts of increased frequency of corn in the crop rotation system on water quantity and quality as well as soil fertility in theJamesRiverBasin and 2) identifies potential grasslands for cultivating bioenergy crops (e.g. switchgrass), estimating the water quality impacts. We selected the soil and water assessment tool, a physically based multidisciplinary model, as the modeling approach to simulate a series of biofuel production scenarios involving crop rotation and land cover changes. The model simulations with different crop rotation scenarios indicate that decreases in water yield and soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3‐N) concentration along with an increase inNO3‐Nload to stream water could justify serious concerns regarding increased corn rotations in this basin. Simulations with land cover change scenarios helped us spatially classify the grasslands in terms of biomass productivity and nitrogen loads, and we further derived the relationship of biomass production targets and the resulting nitrogen loads against switchgrass planting acreages. The suggested economically efficient (planting acreage) and environmentally friendly (water quality) planting locations and acreages can be a valuable guide for cultivating switchgrass in this basin. This information, along with the projected environmental costs (i.e. reduced water yield and increased nitrogen load), can contribute to decision support tools for land managers to seek the sustainability of biofuel development in this region.

Source: GCB Bioenergy

DOI: 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2012.01164.x

Authors: Yiping Wu, Shuguang Liu, Zhengpeng Li

Institutions: United States Geological Survey, Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, South Dakota State University

Language: English

Topic: Bioenergy crop production and management

Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Clean water and sanitation, Life on land, Zero hunger

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Geological Survey