Data from: Nitrogen fertilization challenges the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels

Ruan, Leilei; Bhardwaj, Ajay K.; Hamilton, Stephen K.; Robertson, G. Philip

doi:10.5061/dryad.f1b82

Title: Data from: Nitrogen fertilization challenges the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels

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Abstract

Cellulosic biofuels are intended to improve future energy and climate security. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is commonly recommended to stimulate yields but can increase losses of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) and other forms of reactive N, including nitrate. We measured soil N2O emissions and nitrate leaching along a switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) high resolution N-fertilizer gradient for three years post-establishment. Results revealed an exponential increase in annual N2O emissions that each year became stronger (R 2 > 0.9, P < 0.001) and deviated further from the fixed percentage assumed for IPCC Tier 1 emission factors. Concomitantly, switchgrass yields became less responsive each year to N fertilizer. Nitrate leaching (and calculated indirect N2O emissions) also increased exponentially in response to N inputs, but neither methane (CH4) uptake nor soil organic carbon changed detectably. Overall, N fertilizer inputs at rates greater than crop need curtailed the climate benefit of ethanol production almost two-fold, from a maximum mitigation capacity of −5.71 ± 0.22 Mg CO2e ha−1 yr−1 in switchgrass fertilized at 56 kg N ha−1 to only −2.97 ± 0.18 Mg CO2e ha−1 yr−1 in switchgrass fertilized at 196 kg N ha−1. Minimizing N fertilizer use will be an important strategy for fullymore »« less

Authors:

Ruan, Leilei; Bhardwaj, Ajay K.; Hamilton, Stephen K.; Robertson, G. Philip

Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States); OSTI
Michigan State Univ., East Lansing, MI (United States)

Publication Date:: Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 UTC 2019

DOE Contract Number:: FC02-07ER64494

Research Org.:: Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Madison, WI (United States); Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

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

Subject:: 09 BIOMASS FUELS; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

OSTI Identifier:: 1874128

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.f1b82

Citation Formats


                    Ruan, Leilei, Bhardwaj, Ajay K., Hamilton, Stephen K., and Robertson, G. Philip. Data from: Nitrogen fertilization challenges the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
        Web.  doi:10.5061/dryad.f1b82.

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                    Ruan, Leilei, Bhardwaj, Ajay K., Hamilton, Stephen K., & Robertson, G. Philip. Data from: Nitrogen fertilization challenges the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels.  United States.  doi:https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.f1b82

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                    Ruan, Leilei, Bhardwaj, Ajay K., Hamilton, Stephen K., and Robertson, G. Philip. 2019.  
"Data from: Nitrogen fertilization challenges the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels".  United States.  doi:https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.f1b82.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1874128. Pub date:Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 UTC 2019

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@article{osti_1874128,

  title        = {Data from: Nitrogen fertilization challenges the climate benefit of cellulosic biofuels},

  author       = {Ruan, Leilei and Bhardwaj, Ajay K. and Hamilton, Stephen K. and Robertson, G. Philip},

  abstractNote = {Cellulosic biofuels are intended to improve future energy and climate security. Nitrogen (N) fertilizer is commonly recommended to stimulate yields but can increase losses of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) and other forms of reactive N, including nitrate. We measured soil N2O emissions and nitrate leaching along a switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) high resolution N-fertilizer gradient for three years post-establishment. Results revealed an exponential increase in annual N2O emissions that each year became stronger (R 2 > 0.9, P < 0.001) and deviated further from the fixed percentage assumed for IPCC Tier 1 emission factors. Concomitantly, switchgrass yields became less responsive each year to N fertilizer. Nitrate leaching (and calculated indirect N2O emissions) also increased exponentially in response to N inputs, but neither methane (CH4) uptake nor soil organic carbon changed detectably. Overall, N fertilizer inputs at rates greater than crop need curtailed the climate benefit of ethanol production almost two-fold, from a maximum mitigation capacity of −5.71 ± 0.22 Mg CO2e ha−1 yr−1 in switchgrass fertilized at 56 kg N ha−1 to only −2.97 ± 0.18 Mg CO2e ha−1 yr−1 in switchgrass fertilized at 196 kg N ha−1. Minimizing N fertilizer use will be an important strategy for fully realizing the climate benefits of cellulosic biofuel production.},

  doi          = {10.5061/dryad.f1b82},

  journal      = {},

  number       = ,

  volume       = ,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 UTC 2019},

  month        = {Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 UTC 2019}

}

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.f1b82

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