Advances in Miscanthus × Giganteus Planting Techniques May Increase Carbon Uptake in the Establishment Year

Aslan‐Sungur (Rojda), Guler; Boersma, Nic; Moore, Caitlin E.; Heaton, Emily; Bernacchi, Carl J.; Vanloocke, Andy

doi:10.1111/gcbb.70012

Title: Advances in Miscanthus × Giganteus Planting Techniques May Increase Carbon Uptake in the Establishment Year

Journal Article · 27 November 2024 · Global Change Biology. Bioenergy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.70012 · OSTI ID:2479105

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Iowa State University, Ames, IA (United States)
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States); University of Western Australia (Australia)
Iowa State University, Ames, IA (United States); University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States)
University of Illinois, Urbana, IL (United States)

Agricultural lands hold significant potential for CO₂ sequestration, particularly when utilizing biomass crops and agricultural residues. Among these, Miscanthus × giganteus (mxg) stands out due to its high productivity and carbon sequestration capabilities. Recognizing the importance of such biomass crops, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) as a crucial strategy for achieving net-zero CO₂ emissions by 2050. This study examines the carbon uptake potential of mxg during its establishment year at the Sustainable Advanced Bioeconomy Research (SABR) farm in Iowa, USA, where mxg was planted at a density exceeding previous studies. Using eddy covariance (EC) measurements, we quantified the net ecosystem carbon exchange (NEE), and derived gross primary productivity (GPP), and ecosystem respiration (R_eco). Our findings reveal that SABR's mxg exhibited a significant carbon uptake of –621 g C m^–2, a threefold increase compared to a similar EC site in the “corn-belt” (University of Illinois Energy Research Farm; UIEF), which was established with lower planting density and pre-commercial planting equipment. Favorable growing conditions and advanced planting technologies at SABR likely contributed to this high carbon uptake. Comparisons with other global EC studies indicated a strong correlation between higher planting densities and greater carbon uptake. These results suggest that increasing mxg planting density can enhance carbon uptake, but further studies are necessary to evaluate the impacts under varying environmental conditions and management practices. Additionally, economic analyses are essential to determine the viability of higher planting densities. Our study underscores the potential of optimized mxg management practices to contribute significantly to CO₂ uptake and supports the development of BECCS as a viable climate change mitigation strategy.

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Research Organization:: Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation (CABBI), Urbana, IL (United States)

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

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0018420

OSTI ID:: 2479105

Journal Information:: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy, Journal Name: Global Change Biology. Bioenergy Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 17; ISSN 1757-1693

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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09 BIOMASS FUELS
Miscanthus × giganteus
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Title: Advances in Miscanthus × Giganteus Planting Techniques May Increase Carbon Uptake in the Establishment Year

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