Rural and marginal land in the Great Lakes Region: Final report
The land resource considered most attractive for energy crop production systems in the Great Lakes region involves land considered marginal for conventional agriculture. Production of perennial herbaceous energy crops and short-rotation woody species has good potential for improved soil conservation compared to annual row-cropping. This study assessed the regional land resource involving rural acres in Land Capability Classes IV--VII (based on the SCS 1982 NRI). Data analyses were performed for both non-federal, public and private lands, with a focus on privately owned marginal land. The location, distribution, and characteristics of private, marginal land were examined at the regional, state, and MLRA level. The 47 million private acres of marginal land distributed within Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin were evaluated in terms of Land Capability Classes, present land uses, and Capability Subclasses. Data compilations include descriptive, tabular, and map presentations for the seven states. Land conversion to perennial energy crop production systems seems most feasible for the 5.8 million private, marginal acres of cropland in Classes V and VI, and pastureland in Class VI. Class VIII land is most likely inappropriate for energy crops. Class IV land has the potential to provide renewable biomass energy resources but competition with food crop production becomes a factor for this class. Ultimately, land use decisions must be based on site evaluations in the field if long-term resource conservation to be achieved. 8 refs., 14 figs., 18 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Illinois Univ., Urbana (USA). Dept. of Forestry
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG05-83OR21390
- OSTI ID:
- 6846652
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/OR/21390-T21; ON: DE88015073
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
CROPS
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
LAND USE
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
BIOMASS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EROSION
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION V
FORESTS
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PROGRESS REPORT
DATA
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ENERGY SOURCES
INFORMATION
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090400 - Solid Waste & Wood Fuels- (-1989)
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