Simulated Biomass Sorghum GHG Reduction Potential is Similar to Maize

Kent, Jeffrey; Hartman, Melannie D.; Lee, Do Kyoung; Hudiburg, Tara

doi:10.1021/acs.est.0c01676

Simulated Biomass Sorghum GHG Reduction Potential is Similar to Maize

Journal Article · Fri Aug 28 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Environmental Science and Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c01676· OSTI ID:1659404

^[1]; Hartman, Melannie D. ^[2]; Lee, Do Kyoung ^[3]; Hudiburg, Tara ^[4]

University of Idaho, Moscow, ID (United States); CABBI
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (United States)
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL (United States)
University of Idaho, Moscow, ID (United States)

Policy support for cellulosic biofuels is contingent on their achieving much greater reductions in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than corn starch ethanol. Biomass sorghum has been suggested as a genetically and agronomically tractable feedstock species to augment near-term cellulosic feedstock production. This study used DayCent modeling to investigate biomass sorghum production emissions relative to corn with and without stover utilization at 3,265 across the rainfed United States. Sorghum produced greater average feedstock dry matter (15.6±1.4 vs. 14.8±2.2 Mg ha^-1 yr^-1) and slightly lower estimated ethanol energy yields (10.6±1.0 vs. 11.8±2.9 MJ m^-2 yr^-1) as corn grain with 75% stover collection. The high biomass removals in both the sorghum and corn stover scenarios led to soil organic carbon losses on 90% and 100% of sites, respectively. Average feedstock production emissions intensities were similar between sorghum and corn with 75% stover removal (17.6±2.8 vs. 18.8±3.0 g CO₂e MJ^-1), but were notably lower under sorghum for sites in the southwestern study region (13.6±3.0 vs. 22.5±3.1 g CO₂e MJ^-1). Futhermore, these results suggest that biomass sorghum produces cellulosic feedstock with similar emissions to corn grain and at current yield levels is unlikely to meet the Renewable Fuel Standard emissions reduction threshold for cellulosic biofuels.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), Urbana, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0018420

OSTI ID:: 1659404

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1991882

Journal Information:: Environmental Science and Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology Journal Issue: 19 Vol. 54; ISSN 0013-936X

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Simulated Biomass Sorghum GHG Reduction Potential is Similar to Maize

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