Title: Long‐term evapotranspiration rates for rainfed corn versus perennial bioenergy crops in a mesic landscape

Abstract

Abstract Perennial cellulosic crops are promoted for their potential contributions to a sustainable energy future. However, a large‐scale perennial bioenergy production requires extensive land use changes through diversion of croplands or conversion of uncultivated lands, with potential implications for local and regional hydrology. To assess the impact of such land use conversions on ecosystem water use, we converted three 22 year‐old Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) grasslands and three 50+ year‐old conventionally tilled corn‐soybean crop fields (AGR) to either no‐till continuous maize (corn) or perennial (switchgrass or restored prairie) bioenergy crops. We also maintained one CRP grassland without conversion. We measured evapotranspiration (ET) rates on all fields for 9 years using eddy covariance methods. Results show that: (a) mean growing‐season ET rates for perennial crops were similar to the ET rate of the corn they replaced at the previously cultivated (AGR) field but ET rates for perennial crops at CRP fields were 5–9% higher than ET rate for corn on former CRP fields; and (b) mean nongrowing season ET rates for perennial fields were 11–15% lower than those for corn fields, regardless of land use history. On an annual basis, mean ET rates for perennial crops tended to be lower (4–7%)more » than ET rate of the corn that they replaced at AGR fields but ET rates for perennial crops and corn at CRP fields were similar. Over 9 years, mean ET rates for the same crop across land use histories were remarkably similar for corn, whereas for the perennial crops they were 4–10% higher at former CRP than at former AGR fields, mainly due to differences in growing season ET. Over the 9 years and across all fields, ET returned ~60% of the precipitation back to the atmosphere. These findings suggest that large‐scale substitution of perennial bioenergy crops for rainfed corn in mesic landscapes would have little if any (0 to −3%) impact on terrestrial water balances.« less

Authors:

Abraha, Michael  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Abraha, Michael"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-8952-9477"

Chen, Jiquan  ^[2];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Chen, Jiquan"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-0761-9458"

Hamilton, Stephen K.  ^[3];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Hamilton, Stephen K."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-4702-9017"

Robertson, G. Philip  ^[4]

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Robertson, G. Philip"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9771-9895"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Center for Global Change and Earth ObservationsMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA; Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA; W.K. Kellogg Biological StationMichigan State University Hickory Corners Michigan USA
2. Center for Global Change and Earth ObservationsMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA; Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA; Department of Geography, Environment, and Spatial SciencesMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA
3. Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA; W.K. Kellogg Biological StationMichigan State University Hickory Corners Michigan USA; Department of Integrative BiologyMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA; Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies Millbrook New York USA
4. Great Lakes Bioenergy Research CenterMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA; W.K. Kellogg Biological StationMichigan State University Hickory Corners Michigan USA; Department of Plant, Soil, and Microbial SciencesMichigan State University East Lansing Michigan USA

Publication Date:

Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2019

Research Org.:

Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), Madison, WI (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

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

OSTI Identifier:

1582463

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1579329; OSTI ID: 1582464

Grant/Contract Number:  

FC02‐07ER64494; SC0018409

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Hydrological Processes

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Hydrological Processes Journal Volume: 34 Journal Issue: 3; Journal ID: ISSN 0885-6087

Publisher:

Wiley

Country of Publication:

United Kingdom

Language:

English

Subject:

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; eddy covariance; maize; perennial cellulosic bioenergy; restored prairie; seasonal evapotranspiration (ET); smooth brome grass; switchgrass