Yield and Water Quality Impacts of Field‐Scale Integration of Willow into a Continuous Corn Rotation System
- Energy Systems Division, Argonne National Laboratory 9700 South Cass Ave. Argonne IL 60439
- The Climate Corporation 4 Cityplace Dr. St. Louis MO 63141
Agricultural landscape design has gained recognition by the international environmental and development community as a strategy to address multiple goals in land, water, and ecosystem service management; however, field research is needed to quantify impacts on specific local environments. The production of bioenergy crops in specific landscape positions within a grain‐crop field can serve the dual purpose of producing cellulosic biomass (nutrient recovery) while also providing regulating ecosystem services to improve water quality (nutrient reduction). The effectiveness of such a landscape design was evaluated by the strategic placement of a 0.8‐ha short‐rotation shrub willow ( Salix miyabeana Seemen) bioenergy buffer along marginal soils in a 6.5‐ha corn ( Zea mays L.) field in a 6‐yr field study in central Illinois. The impact of willow integration on water quality (soil water, shallow groundwater leaching, and crop nutrient uptake) and quantity (soil moisture and transpiration) was monitored in comparison with corn in the willow's first cycle of growth. Willows significantly reduced nitrate leachate in shallow subsurface water by 88% while maintaining adequate nutrient and water usage. Results suggest that willows offer an efficient nutrient‐reduction strategy and may provide additional ecosystem services and benefits, including enhanced soil health. However, low values for calculated willow biomass will need to be readdressed in the future as harvest data become available to understand contributing factors that affected productivity beyond nutrient availability. Core Ideas • We assessed impacts of shrub willow integration within an agricultural landscape. • Nitrate leachate was significantly reduced by willow buffers in an Illinois cornfield. • Willows used water resources differently than corn with time. • Improved soil health seen under willow will continue to be monitored. • Influencing factors contributing to low willow biomass will be assessed in the future.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 1787365
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1804978
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Environmental Quality, Journal Name: Journal of Environmental Quality Vol. 46 Journal Issue: 4; ISSN 0047-2425
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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