Title: The impacts of four potential bioenergy crops on soil carbon dynamics as shown by biomarker analyses and DRIFT spectroscopy

Abstract

Perennial bioenergy crops accumulate carbon (C) in soils through minimally disturbing management practices and large root inputs, but the mechanisms of microbial control over C dynamics under bioenergy crops have not been clarified. Root-derived C inputs affect both soil microbial contribution to and degradation of soil organic matter resulting in differing soil organic carbon (SOC) concentrations, storage, and stabilities under different vegetation regimes. Here, we measured biomarker amino sugars and neutral sugars and used diffuse reflectance mid-infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to explore microbial C contributions, degradation ability, and SOC stability, respectively, under four potential bioenergy crops, M.9giganteus (Miscanthus 9 giganteus), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), a mixed prairie, and a maize (Zea mays L.)–maize–soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) (MMS) rotation over six growing seasons. Our results showed that SOC concentration (g/kg) increased by 10.6% in mixed prairie over the duration of this experiment and SOC storage (Mg/ha) increased by 17.0% and 15.6% in switchgrass and mixed prairie, respectively. Conversion of row crops to perennial grasses maintained SOC stability and increased bacterial residue contribution to SOC in M.9giganteus and switchgrass by 20.0% and 15.0%, respectively, after 6 years. Degradation of microbe-derived labile SOC was increased in M.9giganteus, and degradation of both labilemore » and stable SOC increased in MMS rotation. These results demonstrate that microbial communities under perennial grasses maintained SOC quality, while SOC quantity increased under switchgrass and mixed prairie. Annual MMS rotation displayed decreases in aspects of SOC quality without changes in SOC quantity. These findings have implications for understanding microbial control over soil C quantity and quality under land-use shift from annual to perennial bioenergy cropping systems.« less

Authors:

Zhu, Xuefeng ^[1]; Liang, Chao  ^[2];

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Masters, Michael D. ^[3]; Kantola, Ilsa B. ^[3]; DeLucia, Evan H. ^[4]

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1. Institute of Applied Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang Liaoning China, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
2. Institute of Applied Ecology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenyang Liaoning China
3. Energy Biosciences Institute University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois, Institute for Sustainability Energy and Environment University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois
4. Energy Biosciences Institute University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois, Institute for Sustainability Energy and Environment University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois, Department of Plant Biology University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois

Publication Date:

Fri May 11 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:

Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, Urbana, IL (United States); Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), Urbana, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

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

OSTI Identifier:

1437052

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1441075; OSTI ID: 1454860; OSTI ID: 1991829

Grant/Contract Number:  

DE‐SC‐18420; SC0018420

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Global Change Biology. Bioenergy

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy Journal Volume: 10 Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1757-1693

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Country of Publication:

United Kingdom

Language:

English

Subject:

09 BIOMASS FUELS; amino sugars, biomarker, diffuse reflectance mid-infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, maize–maize–soybean rotation, microbial residue, neutral sugars, perennial bioenergy crops, soil organic carbon decomposition, soil organic carbon stability