Introducing the GRACEnet/REAP Data Contribution, Discovery, and Retrieval System

Abstract

Difficulties in accessing high-quality data on trace gas fluxes and performance of bioenergy/bioproduct feedstocks limit the ability of researchers and others to address environmental impacts of agriculture and the potential to produce feedstocks. To address those needs, the GRACEnet (Greenhouse gas Reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network) and REAP (Renewable Energy Assessment Project) research programs were initiated by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS). A major product of these programs is the creation of a database with greenhouse gas fluxes, soil carbon stocks, biomass yield, nutrient, and energy characteristics, and input data for modeling cropped and grazed systems. The data include site descriptors (e.g., weather, soil class, spatial attributes), experimental design (e.g., factors manipulated, measurements performed, plot layouts), management information (e.g., planting and harvesting schedules, fertilizer types and amounts, biomass harvested, grazing intensity), and measurements (e.g., soil C and N stocks, plant biomass amount and chemical composition). To promote standardization of data and ensure that experiments were fully described, sampling protocols and a spreadsheet-based data-entry template were developed. Data were first uploaded to a temporary database for checking and then were uploaded to the central database. A Web-accessible application allows for registered users to query and download data including measurement protocols. Separate portals have been provided for each project (GRACEnet and REAP) at nrrc.ars.usda.gov/slgracenet/#/Home and nrrc. ars.usda.gov/slreap/#/Home. The database architecture and data entry template have proven flexible and robust for describing a wide range of field experiments and thus appear suitable for other natural resource research projects.

Multilocation Corn Stover Harvest Effects on Crop Yields and Nutrient Removal

“…To facilitate those types of activities, site-specific data from which these means were derived are currently being entered into the ARS REAPnet database [24]. The plan for the data contributed to that database is that following peer review and publication, it will be made publically available for further use and interpretation.…”

Dedicated Energy Crops and Crop Residues for Bioenergy Feedstocks in the Central and Eastern USA

“…Coordinated multi-site studies such as USDA-ARS's REAP and greenhouse gas reduction through Agricultural Carbon Enhancement network (GRACEnet) can provide both empirical data as well as soil, weather, and management data required to execute site-specific, regional, and national model simulations. Further, the GRACEnet/REAP data contribution, discovery, and retrieval system provides the capability of running models internally based on associated soils, management, and weather data [109]. The new USDA-ARS LongTerm Agroecosystem Research sites will contribute information as well.…”

Influence of Corn Residue Harvest Management on Grain, Stover, and Energy Yields

“…3). These decreases in stover biomass yields were less than those associated with a Rayne silt loam in Ohio with 100 % stover removal decreasing the biomass yield after two harvest cycles by roughly 25 % [16]. Further investigation of the ratio of each plant part to the WP revealed that stover removals greater than 50 % decreased the B/WP ratio (bottom to whole plant); conversely, T/WP ratio (top to whole plant) increased with removals approaching 75-100 %; Cob/WP ratio remained relatively steady.…”