Watershed‐scale impacts of bioenergy crops on hydrology and water quality using improved SWAT model

Cibin, Raj; Trybula, Elizabeth; Chaubey, Indrajeet; Brouder, Sylvie M.; Volenec, Jeffrey J.

doi:10.1111/gcbb.12307

Watershed‐scale impacts of bioenergy crops on hydrology and water quality using improved SWAT model

Journal Article · Thu Jan 07 23:00:00 EST 2016 · Global Change Biology. Bioenergy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12307· OSTI ID:1256138

Cibin, Raj ^[1]; Trybula, Elizabeth ^[2]; Chaubey, Indrajeet ^[3]; Brouder, Sylvie M. ^[2]; Volenec, Jeffrey J. ^[2]

Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette 47907 IN USA
Department of Agronomy Purdue University West Lafayette 47907 IN USA
Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette 47907 IN USA

Abstract

Cellulosic bioenergy feedstock such as perennial grasses and crop residues are expected to play a significant role in meeting US biofuel production targets. We used an improved version of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool ( SWAT ) to forecast impacts on watershed hydrology and water quality by implementing an array of plausible land‐use changes associated with commercial bioenergy crop production for two watersheds in the Midwest USA . Watershed‐scale impacts were estimated for 13 bioenergy crop production scenarios, including: production of Miscanthus × giganteus and upland Shawnee switchgrass on highly erodible landscape positions, agricultural marginal land areas and pastures, removal of corn stover and combinations of these options. Water quality, measured as erosion and sediment loading, was forecasted to improve compared to baseline when perennial grasses were used for bioenergy production, but not with stover removal scenarios. Erosion reduction with perennial energy crop production scenarios ranged between 0.2% and 59%. Stream flow at the watershed outlet was reduced between 0 and 8% across these bioenergy crop production scenarios compared to baseline across the study watersheds. Results indicate that bioenergy production scenarios that incorporate perennial grasses reduced the nonpoint source pollutant load at the watershed outlet compared to the baseline conditions (0–20% for nitrate‐nitrogen and 3–56% for mineral phosphorus); however, the reduction rates were specific to site characteristics and management practices.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0004396

OSTI ID:: 1256138

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1363861
OSTI ID: 1256139

Journal Information:: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, Journal Name: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 8; ISSN 1757-1693

Publisher:: Wiley-BlackwellCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United Kingdom

Language:: English

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