Management controls the net greenhouse gas outcomes of growing bioenergy feedstocks on marginally productive croplands

Jin, Virginia L.; Schmer, Marty R.; Stewart, Catherine E.; Mitchell, Robert B.; Williams, Candiss O.; Wienhold, Brian J.; Varvel, Gary E.; Follett, Ronald F.; Kimble, John; Vogel, Kenneth P.

doi:10.1126/sciadv.aav9318

Management controls the net greenhouse gas outcomes of growing bioenergy feedstocks on marginally productive croplands

Journal Article · Wed Dec 04 04:00:00 EST 2019 · Science Advances

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aav9318· OSTI ID:1836067

^[1]; ^[2]; Stewart, Catherine E. ^[3]; Mitchell, Robert B. ^[2]; ^[4]; ^[2]; Varvel, Gary E. ^[2]; Follett, Ronald F. ^[3]; Kimble, John ^[4]; Vogel, Kenneth P. ^[2]

US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Lincoln, NE (United States). Agricultural Research Service; Antares Group Inc.
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Lincoln, NE (United States). Agricultural Research Service
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Fort Collins, CO (United States). Agricultural Research Service
US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Lincoln, NE (United States). Natural Resources Conservation Service

Bio-based energy is key to developing a globally sustainable low-carbon economy. Lignocellulosic feedstock production on marginally productive croplands is expected to provide substantial climate mitigation benefits, but long-term field research comparing greenhouse gas (GHG) outcomes during the production of annual versus perennial crop-based feedstocks is lacking. Here, we show that long-term (16 years) switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) systems mitigate GHG emissions during the feedstock production phase compared to GHG-neutral continuous corn (Zea mays L.) under conservation management on marginally productive cropland. Increased soil organic carbon was the major GHG sink in all feedstock systems, but net agronomic GHG outcomes hinged on soil nitrous oxide emissions controlled by nitrogen (N) fertilizer rate. This long-term field study is the first to demonstrate that annual crop and perennial grass systems respectively maintain or mitigate atmospheric GHG contributions during the agronomic phase of bioenergy production, providing flexibility for land-use decisions on marginally productive croplands.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: US Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), Lincoln, NE (United States). Agricultural Research Service

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office

Grant/Contract Number:: EE0007088

OSTI ID:: 1836067

Report Number(s):: DOE-ANTARES--07088-1

Journal Information:: Science Advances, Journal Name: Science Advances Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 5; ISSN 2375-2548

Publisher:: AAASCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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