Interactions of Woody Biofuel Feedstock Production Systems with Water Resources: Considerations for Sustainability

Conference · Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2008

OSTI ID:1000072

Trettin, Carl C. ^[1]; Amatya, Devendra ^[2]; Coleman, Mark ^[2]

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1. US Forest Service Center for Forested Wetlands Research, Cordesville, SC (United States); USDA Forest Service, Savannah River
2. US Forest Service Center for Forested Wetlands Research, Cordesville, SC (United States)

Water resources are important for the production of woody biofuel feedstocks. It is necessary to ensure that production systems do not adversely affect the quantity or quality of surface and ground water. The effects of woody biomass plantations on water resources are largely dependent on the prior land use and the management regime. Experience from both irrigated and non-irrigated systems has demonstrated that woody biofuel production systems do not impair water quality. Water quality actually improves from conversion of idle or degraded agricultural lands to woody biomass plantations. Site water balance may be altered by cultivation of woody biomass plantations relative to agricultural use, due to increases in evapostranspiration (ET) and storage. Incorporation of woody biomass production plantations within the landscape provides an opportunity to improve the quality of runoff water and soil conservation. Finally, given the centrality of water resources to the sustainability of ecosystem services and other values derived, the experience with woody biofuels feedstock production systems is positive.

• Research Organization: US Forest Service Center for Forested Wetlands Research, Cordesville, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Environment, Safety and Health (EH)
• DOE Contract Number: AI09-00SR22188
• OSTI ID: 1000072
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
BIOFUELS
BIOMASS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
Biofuel
CULTIVATION
ECOSYSTEMS
FORESTS
Feedstock
GROUND WATER
HYDROLOGY
LAND USE
MANAGEMENT
PRODUCTION
ROTATION
RUNOFF
SOIL CONSERVATION
STORAGE
Sustainability
WATER QUALITY
WATER RESOURCES
WATERSHEDS
Water Resources
forest hydrology
hardwood plantation
short rotation woody crop
water quality