Soil Management Implications of Producing Biofuel Feedstock

Johnson, Jane M. F.; Archer, David W.; Karlen, Douglas L.; Weyers, Sharon L.; Wilhelm, Wallace

doi:10.2136/2011.soilmanagement.c24

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 151 publications

(141 reference statements)

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“…These effects were only observed after 9 years, confirming the importance of NT management in minimizing negative impacts of bioenergy production. However, to maintain soil productivity with long-term residue removal, smaller removal rates are required (Johnson et al, 2011). Stover is essential in forming soil aggregates in surface soils which protects soils from erosion (Johnson et al, 2011).…”

Section: Soil Quality Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, to maintain soil productivity with long-term residue removal, smaller removal rates are required (Johnson et al, 2011). Stover is essential in forming soil aggregates in surface soils which protects soils from erosion (Johnson et al, 2011). Without this C input, soils under long-term stover removal are at risk for greater erosion.…”

Section: Soil Quality Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The primary feedstock for producing cellulosic bioethanol, corn stover, is attractive due to the large quantity of biomass available (Karlen et al, 2011a, b). However, concerns have been raised about the long-term annual removal of 50% or more of the crop residue and its potential to decrease both plant and soil productivity while also increasing the potential for soil erosion-ultimately reducing future yields and decreasing soil organic carbon (SOC) content (Johnson et al, 2011;Karlen et al, 2011a, b).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nitrogen and harvest effects on soil properties under rainfed switchgrass and no‐till corn over 9 years: implications for soil quality

et al. 2014

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Nitrogen fertilizer and harvest management will alter soils under bioenergy crop production and the long-term effects of harvest timing and residue removal remain relatively unknown. Compared to no-tilled corn (NT-C, Zea mays L.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is predicted to improve soil properties [i.e. soil organic C (SOC), soil microbial biomass (SMB-C), and soil aggregation] due to its perennial nature and deep-rooted growth form, but few explicit field comparisons exist. We assessed soil properties over 9 years for a rainfed study of N fertilizer rate (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg N ha À1 ) and harvest management on switchgrass (harvested in August and postfrost)and NT-C (with and without 50% stover removal) in eastern NE. We measured SOC, aggregate stability, SMB-C, bulk density (BD), pH, P and K in the top 0-30 cm. Both NT-C and switchgrass increased SMB-C, SOC content, and aggregate stability over the 9 years, reflecting improvement from previous conventional management. However, the soils under switchgrass had double the percent aggregate stability, 1.3 times more microbial biomass, and a 5-8% decrease in bulk density in the 0-5 and 5-10 cm depths compared to NT-C. After 9 years, cumulative decrease in available P was significantly greater beneath NT-C (À24.0 kg P ha À1) compared to switchgrass (À5.4 kg P ha À1). When all measured soil parameters were included in the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF), switchgrass improved soil quality index over time (DSQI) in all depths. NT-C without residue removal did not affect DSQI, but 50% residue removal decreased DSQI (0-30 cm) due to reduced aggregate stability and SMB-C. Even with best-management practices such as NT, corn stover removal will have to be carefully managed to prevent soil degradation. Long-term N and harvest management studies that include biological, chemical, and physical soil measurements are necessary to accurately assess bioenergy impacts on soils.Keywords: harvest timing, no-till corn, P, K, N fertilizer, residue removal, soil C sequestration, soil organic C, switchgrass IntroductionBioenergy production has increased exponentially over the past 30 years (U.S. Department of Energy, 2013) in part leading to a dramatic increase in US acreage planted to corn (Zea mays) USDA-NAAS, 2013 and consuming over 30% of the US corn production in 2009 (Robertson et al., 2011). The primary feedstock for producing cellulosic bioethanol, corn stover, is attractive due to the large quantity of biomass available (Karlen et al., 2011a, b). However, concerns have been raised about the long-term annual removal of 50% or more of the crop residue and its potential to decrease both plant and soil productivity while also increasing the potential for soil erosion-ultimately reducing future yields and decreasing soil organic carbon (SOC) content (Johnson et al., 2011; Karlen et al., 2011a, b).Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a perennial, native, C4 grass capable of growing on a broad range of soil types and under non-irrigated conditions (Sander...

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Section: Soil Quality Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Soil Quality Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nitrogen and harvest effects on soil properties under rainfed switchgrass and no‐till corn over 9 years: implications for soil quality

et al. 2014

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“…Historically, unless harvested as animal feed or bedding, crop residues were returned to the land (Johnson et al, 2006). On the land, crop residues provide surface cover, raw materials for building soil organic matter, and contribute directly and indirectly to aggregate formation (Blanco-Canqui et al, 2007;Pikul et al, 2009;Six et al, 2000), which in turn may interact with soil hydrological properties (Benjamin et al, 2008;Rawls et al, 2004) and other soil properties (e.g., Benjamin and Karlen, 2014;Blanco-Canqui and Lal, 2009;Johnson et al, 2011;Lal and Stewart, 2010). In 2014, commercial cellulosic-ethanol production became a reality (http://poet.com/pr/first-commercial-scale-cellulosicplant), which at least locally will increase the demand for cellulosic feedstocks and may result in potential environmental risk and soil degradation unless carefully managed to avoid overharvesting (Archer and Johnson, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Corn stover harvest changes soil hydrology and soil aggregation

Johnson

Strock

Tallaksen

et al. 2016

Soil and Tillage Research

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A B S T R A C TIn the United States, commercial-scale cellulosic-ethanol production using corn (Zea mays L.) stover has become a reality. As the industry matures and demand for stover increases, it is important to determine the amount of biomass that can be sustainably harvested while safe-guarding soil quality and productivity. Specific study objectives were to measure indices of soil hydrological and aggregate stability responses to harvesting stover; since stover harvest may negatively impact soil hydrological and physical properties. Responses may differ with tillage management; thus, this paper reports on two independent studies on a tilled (Chisel field) and untilled field (NT1995 field). Each field was managed in a corn/soybean (Glycine max [Merr.]) rotation and with two rates of stover return: (1) all returned (Full Return Rate) and (2) an aggressive residue harvest leaving little stover behind (Low Return Rate). Unconfined field soil hydraulic properties and soil aggregate properties were determined. Hydrological response to residue treatments in the Chisel field resulted in low water infiltration for both rates of residue removal. In NT1995 field, Full Return Rate had greater capacity to transmit water via conductive pathways, which were compromised in Low Return Rate. Collectively, indices of soil aggregation in both experiments provided evidence that the aggregates were less stable, resulting in a shift toward more small aggregates at the expense of larger aggregates when stover is not returned to the soil. In both fields, aggressive stover harvest degraded soil physical and hydrological properties. No tillage management did not protect soil in absence of adequate residue.2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.

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“…Several assessments examining the multiple roles that crop residues have for maintaining multiple ecological functions have been published since the 2005 BTS [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30]. Therefore, this chapter focuses on current corn stover and wheat straw research designed to address concerns raised by those previous reviews and to help ensure that commercial bioenergy develops in an economically, environmentally, and socially acceptable manner.…”

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confidence: 99%

Crop Residues

Karlen¹,

Huggins²

2014

Cellulosic Energy Cropping Systems

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Crop residues (e.g., corn stover and small grain straw) are sometimes excluded when discussing cellulosic energy crops per se, but because of the vast area upon which they are grown and their current role in the development of cellulosic energy systems, this chapter will review several important attributes of this "herbaceous" feedstock. Crop residues are potential feedstock sources for second-generation biofuel production. These materials, along with dedicated energy crops (e.g., switchgrass [Panicum virgatum L.], Miscanthus [Miscanthus × giganteus]), are considered to have greater potential for biofuel production than current first-generation feedstock (i.e., corn grain) [1][2][3]. Production of ethanol and other fuel sources from these lignocellulosic materials is receiving increased financial support for research and development [4][5][6]. Furthermore, biofuel production from crop residues provides a multipurpose land use opportunity where grain can be harvested to meet food and feed demands, while a sustainable portion of the residues provide a potentially available biofuel feedstock.Corn stover, the aboveground plant material left in fields after grain harvest, was identified as an important biomass source in the Billion-Ton Study (2005 BTS) [7]. The vast area from which this feedstock could potentially be harvested was confirmed by USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) data showing that between 2005 and 2011, corn was harvested in the U.S.A. from an average of 32 460 000 ha each year [8]. Wheat straw was the other dominant residue identified in the 2005 BTS, and from 2005 through 2011, wheat was harvested in the U.S.A. from an average of 20 037 000 ha each year. Based on these Cellulosic Energy Cropping Systems, First Edition. Edited by Douglas L. Karlen.

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Soil Management Implications of Producing Biofuel Feedstock

Cited by 5 publications

References 151 publications

Nitrogen and harvest effects on soil properties under rainfed switchgrass and no‐till corn over 9 years: implications for soil quality

Nitrogen and harvest effects on soil properties under rainfed switchgrass and no‐till corn over 9 years: implications for soil quality

Corn stover harvest changes soil hydrology and soil aggregation

Crop Residues

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