Biofuel Cropping System Impacts on Soil C, Microbial Communities and N2O Emissions

Biofuel Cropping System Impacts on Soil C, Microbial Communities and N2O Emissions PDF Author: Andrew R. McGowan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Substitution of cellulosic biofuel in place of gasoline or diesel could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation. However, emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) could have a large impact on the GHG balance of cellulosic biofuel, thus there is a need to quantify these responses in cellulosic biofuel crops. The objectives of this study were to: (i) measure changes in yield, SOC and microbial communities in potential cellulosic biofuel cropping systems (ii) measure and characterize the temporal variation in N2O emissions from these systems (iii) characterize the yield and N2O response of switchgrass to N fertilizer and to estimate the costs of production. Sweet sorghum, photoperiod-sensitive sorghum, and miscanthus yielded the highest aboveground biomass (20-32 Mg ha−1). The perennial grasses sequestered SOC over 4 yrs, while SOC stocks did not change in the annual crops. Root stocks were 4-8 times higher in the perennial crops, suggesting greater belowground C inputs. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundance and aggregate mean weight diameter were higher in the perennials. No consistent significant differences were found in N2O emissions between crops, though miscanthus tended to have the lowest emissions. Most N2O was emitted during large events of short duration (1-3 days) that occurred after high rainfall events with high soil NO3. There was a weak relationship between IPCC Tier 1 N2O estimates and measured emissions, and the IPCC method tended to underestimate emissions. The response of N2O to N rate was nonlinear in 2 of 3 years. Fertilizer induced emission factor (EF) increased from 0.7% at 50 kg N ha−1 to 2.6% at 150 kg N ha−1. Switchgrass yields increased with N inputs up to 100-150 kg N ha−1, but the critical N level for maximum yields decreased each year, suggesting N was being applied in excess at higher N rates. Yield-scaled costs of production were minimized at 100 kg N ha-1 ($70.91 Mg−1). Together, these results show that crop selection and fertilizer management can have large impacts on the productivity and soil GHG emissions biofuel cropping systems.

Biofuel Cropping System Impacts on Soil C, Microbial Communities and N2O Emissions

Biofuel Cropping System Impacts on Soil C, Microbial Communities and N2O Emissions PDF Author: Andrew R. McGowan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Substitution of cellulosic biofuel in place of gasoline or diesel could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from transportation. However, emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O) and changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) could have a large impact on the GHG balance of cellulosic biofuel, thus there is a need to quantify these responses in cellulosic biofuel crops. The objectives of this study were to: (i) measure changes in yield, SOC and microbial communities in potential cellulosic biofuel cropping systems (ii) measure and characterize the temporal variation in N2O emissions from these systems (iii) characterize the yield and N2O response of switchgrass to N fertilizer and to estimate the costs of production. Sweet sorghum, photoperiod-sensitive sorghum, and miscanthus yielded the highest aboveground biomass (20-32 Mg ha−1). The perennial grasses sequestered SOC over 4 yrs, while SOC stocks did not change in the annual crops. Root stocks were 4-8 times higher in the perennial crops, suggesting greater belowground C inputs. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) abundance and aggregate mean weight diameter were higher in the perennials. No consistent significant differences were found in N2O emissions between crops, though miscanthus tended to have the lowest emissions. Most N2O was emitted during large events of short duration (1-3 days) that occurred after high rainfall events with high soil NO3. There was a weak relationship between IPCC Tier 1 N2O estimates and measured emissions, and the IPCC method tended to underestimate emissions. The response of N2O to N rate was nonlinear in 2 of 3 years. Fertilizer induced emission factor (EF) increased from 0.7% at 50 kg N ha−1 to 2.6% at 150 kg N ha−1. Switchgrass yields increased with N inputs up to 100-150 kg N ha−1, but the critical N level for maximum yields decreased each year, suggesting N was being applied in excess at higher N rates. Yield-scaled costs of production were minimized at 100 kg N ha-1 ($70.91 Mg−1). Together, these results show that crop selection and fertilizer management can have large impacts on the productivity and soil GHG emissions biofuel cropping systems.

Linking Soil Microbiology and Environmental Conditions to Variability in Nitrous Oxide Production in Bioenergy Cropping Systems

Linking Soil Microbiology and Environmental Conditions to Variability in Nitrous Oxide Production in Bioenergy Cropping Systems PDF Author: David Sean Duncan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Agroecosystems may differ in multiple ecosystem properties, among them nitrous oxide (N2O) production and soil microbial community composition. We hypothesized that perenniality, plant species richness, and exogenous nitrogen inputs all influence N2O production directly through regulation of substrate concentrations and other environmental conditions and indirectly through changes to soil microbial functional characteristics. We studied the interplay among cropping systems, microbial communities, and N2O production in the context of an agronomic trial of potential bioenergy feedstock cropping systems. We measured N2O production from 2009-2014 and collected accompanying data on soil temperature, water-filled pore space, and inorganic nitrogen concentrations. Individual N2O fluxes and aggregate annual N2O emissions were lower in perennial systems relative to annual ones, but were not consistently influenced by plant species richness in perennial systems. Environmental variables defined upper limits for N2O fluxes, but did little to explain cropping system effects or their lack. We explored microbial community differences between continuous corn and prairie systems using membrane lipid profiling, amplicon sequencing, and functional gene annotations from shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The strength of cropping system effects differed among methods, with the strongest effects observed in lipid profiles. We used elastic net modeling to correlate community profiles to aggregate N2O emissions. Only the corn system could be effectively modeled, with the best models created from 16S rRNA amplicons and functional gene abundances. We used bacterial functional gene abundance profiles to characterize microbial communities across a broader range of cropping systems. The strength of cropping system effects varied among site years. Ecological factors such as perenniality and species diversity did not determine abundance patterns for either the full set of genes explored or for groups of genes with similar functions. Similarly, individual denitrification pathway genes did not systematically differ among cropping systems. Cropping system effects on N2O production and functional gene abundances were weaker than anticipated. Despite this, elastic net modeling linked gene abundance patterns to variation in N2O emissions with considerable accuracy. This indicates that within-cropping system variability in N2O production and functional genes are in some way connected.

Linking Soil Microbiology and Environmental Conditions to Variability in Nitrous Oxide Production in Bioenergy Cropping Systems

Linking Soil Microbiology and Environmental Conditions to Variability in Nitrous Oxide Production in Bioenergy Cropping Systems PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 285

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Book Description
Agroecosystems may differ in multiple ecosystem properties, among them nitrous oxide (N2O) production and soil microbial community composition. We hypothesized that perenniality, plant species richness, and exogenous nitrogen inputs all influence N2O production directly through regulation of substrate concentrations and other environmental conditions and indirectly through changes to soil microbial functional characteristics. We studied the interplay among cropping systems, microbial communities, and N2O production in the context of an agronomic trial of potential bioenergy feedstock cropping systems. We measured N2O production from 2009-2014 and collected accompanying data on soil temperature, water-filled pore space, and inorganic nitrogen concentrations. Individual N2O fluxes and aggregate annual N2O emissions were lower in perennial systems relative to annual ones, but were not consistently influenced by plant species richness in perennial systems. Environmental variables defined upper limits for N2O fluxes, but did little to explain cropping system effects or their lack. We explored microbial community differences between continuous corn and prairie systems using membrane lipid profiling, amplicon sequencing, and functional gene annotations from shotgun metagenomic sequencing. The strength of cropping system effects differed among methods, with the strongest effects observed in lipid profiles. We used elastic net modeling to correlate community profiles to aggregate N2O emissions. Only the corn system could be effectively modeled, with the best models created from 16S rRNA amplicons and functional gene abundances. We used bacterial functional gene abundance profiles to characterize microbial communities across a broader range of cropping systems. The strength of cropping system effects varied among site years. Ecological factors such as perenniality and species diversity did not determine abundance patterns for either the full set of genes explored or for groups of genes with similar functions. Similarly, individual denitrification pathway genes did not systematically differ among cropping systems. Cropping system effects on N2O production and functional gene abundances were weaker than anticipated. Despite this, elastic net modeling linked gene abundance patterns to variation in N2O emissions with considerable accuracy. This indicates that within-cropping system variability in N2O production and functional genes are in some way connected.

Biofuel Cropping Systems

Biofuel Cropping Systems PDF Author: Hans Langeveld
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1134624840
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 293

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Book Description
Choosing appropriate practices and policies for biofuel production requires an understanding of how soils, climate, farm types, infrastructure, markets and social organisation affect the establishment and performance of these crops. The book highlights land use dynamics, cultivation practices related to conversion and wider impacts. It explores how biofuel production chain development is steered by emerging technologies and management practices and how both can be influenced by effective policies designed to encourage sustainable biofuel production. The book highlights major biofuel production chains including: cane cultivation in Brazil corn ethanol in the USA wheat and rapeseed in Europe oil palm in the Far East cane in Asia and Africa SRC and other lignocellulosic crops. In each case the development, cropping systems and impacts are discussed, system dynamics are shown and lessons drawn for the way things could or should change. Biofuel Cropping Systems is a vital resource for all those who want to understand the way biofuels are produced and how they impact other elements of society and especially how improvements can be made. It is a handbook for students, biofuel producers, researchers and policymakers in energy and agriculture.

Plant Diversity and Nitrogen Addition on Belowground Biodiversity and Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Biofuel Cropping Systems

Plant Diversity and Nitrogen Addition on Belowground Biodiversity and Soil Organic Carbon Storage in Biofuel Cropping Systems PDF Author: Jennifer Butt
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Crops and nitrogen
Languages : en
Pages : 45

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Book Description
"Bioenergy production may reduce the emission of CO2 which contributes to climate change, particularly when management strategies are adopted that promote soil carbon (C) sequestration in bioenergy cropping systems. Planting perennial native grasses, such as switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) may be used as a strategy to enhance soil C accumulation owing to their extensive root systems. Fertilizer use may further promote soil C sequestration, because of its positive impacts on plant production and soil C input. However, the influence of fertilizer addition on soil C accumulation is variable across bioenergy cropping systems, and fertilizer can negatively impact the environment. Increasing plant diversity may be used as a strategy to enhance soil C accumulation while augmenting other ecosystem properties such as soil biodiversity. The present study evaluates how inter- and intra- specific plant community diversity and N addition influence soil C storage and soil biodiversity. Soil was collected from a long-term (9 growing seasons) field experiment located at the Fermilab National Environmental Research Park in Illinois, USA. Treatments included [1] three cultivars of big bluestem and three cultivars of switchgrass cultivars grown in monoculture, [2] plant community diversity manipulated at both the species- and cultivar level, and [3] nitrogen (N) applied annually at two levels (0 and 67 kg ha-1). The soil at the site was dominated by C3 grasses for 30 years before replacement with C4 bioenergy grasses, which enabled quantification of plant-derived C accumulation owing to the natural difference in isotopic signature between C3 and C4 grasses. Soil samples were analyzed for [1] soil C and its delta13C isotopic signature, and [2] nematode and soil bacterial diversity. Our results indicate that both plant diversity and N addition influence soil community structure but not soil C storage or soil nematode biodiversity. However, the addition of big bluestem to the plant species mixes enhanced plant-derived C storage. In summary, our findings suggest that plant species identity can control soil C accumulation in the years following land conversion, and that manipulating plant community structure in bioenergy cropping systems may have a greater positive impact on soil C accumulation than N fertilization."--Boise State University ScholarWorks.

Healthcare Simulation Research

Healthcare Simulation Research PDF Author: Debra Nestel
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030268373
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 356

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Book Description
This book provides readers with a detailed orientation to healthcare simulation research, aiming to provide descriptive and illustrative accounts of healthcare simulation research (HSR). Written by leaders in the field, chapter discussions draw on the experiences of the editors and their international network of research colleagues. This seven-section practical guide begins with an introduction to the field by relaying the key components of HSR. Sections two, three, four, and five then cover various topics relating to research literature, methods for data integration, and qualitative and quantitative approaches. Finally, the book closes with discussions of professional practices in HSR, as well as helpful tips and case studies.Healthcare Simulation Research: A Practical Guide is an indispensable reference for scholars, medical professionals and anyone interested in undertaking HSR.

Soil Health and Intensification of Agroecosystems

Soil Health and Intensification of Agroecosystems PDF Author: Mahdi M. Al-Kaisi
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128054018
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 420

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Book Description
Soil Health and Intensification of Agroecosystems examines the climate, environmental, and human effects on agroecosystems and how the existing paradigms must be revised in order to establish sustainable production. The increased demand for food and fuel exerts tremendous stress on all aspects of natural resources and the environment to satisfy an ever increasing world population, which includes the use of agriculture products for energy and other uses in addition to human and animal food. The book presents options for ecological systems that mimic the natural diversity of the ecosystem and can have significant effect as the world faces a rapidly changing and volatile climate. The book explores the introduction of sustainable agroecosystems that promote biodiversity, sustain soil health, and enhance food production as ways to help mitigate some of these adverse effects. New agroecosystems will help define a resilient system that can potentially absorb some of the extreme shifts in climate. Changing the existing cropping system paradigm to utilize natural system attributes by promoting biodiversity within production agricultural systems, such as the integration of polycultures, will also enhance ecological resiliency and will likely increase carbon sequestration. Focuses on the intensification and integration of agroecosystem and soil resiliency by presenting suggested modifications of the current cropping system paradigm Examines climate, environment, and human effects on agroecosystems Explores in depth the wide range of intercalated soil and plant interactions as they influence soil sustainability and, in particular, soil quality Presents options for ecological systems that mimic the natural diversity of the ecosystem and can have significant effect as the world faces a rapidly changing and volatile climate

Impacts of Biofuel Crops on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Ecosystems

Impacts of Biofuel Crops on Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agricultural Ecosystems PDF Author: Leilei Ruan
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biogeochemistry
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description


Evaluation of Corn-based and Perennial Bioenergy Cropping Systems

Evaluation of Corn-based and Perennial Bioenergy Cropping Systems PDF Author: Laura A. Lipps
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 132

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Book Description


Biofuel Feedstocks

Biofuel Feedstocks PDF Author: El Hadji Habib Sy Diop
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Biofuel feedstocks such as grains and cellulose are gaining increased attention as part of the U.S. portfolio of solutions to address climate change and improve energy security. As the future of biofuels unfolds, major concerns are emerging, including the sustainability of the soil resource in bioenergy cropping system. With a clear understanding of the sustainability risks that exist within the agricultural soil resources, it is now essential to develop metrics that document the soil health as well as the total biomass production of different cropping system. We tested the effectiveness of eight bioenergy plant species grouped between annual and perennial crops. Our main objective was to determine the sustainability of bioenergy cropping systems. There was significantly greater soil structural stability plus greater root biomass under the perennial crops but greater aboveground biomass in the annual crop. Differences in soil carbon measured to 1.2 m were not significant between energy crops after five years. A transparent, unbiased method to identify possible change in soil characteristics under bioenergy cropping practice was offered. Our next metrics were soil aggregate stability and microbial community structure as indicators of soil ecosystem health and environmental stability. The effects 24 years of differing levels of residue and fertilizer inputs on soil aggregate stability, aggregate C and microbial community structure were evaluated. A native, undisturbed prairie site, located nearby was used as a reference in this study. The results showed that greater inputs of inorganic N and increased returns of crop residues did not cause a proportionately greater increase in SOC. The abundance of microbial parameters generally followed their potential carbon pool in cultivated soils but a strong mismatch was observed in the native prairie site. Our results showed for the first time a clear disconnect between decomposers and macroaggregates; highlighting the role of soil structure in protecting organic matter. Soil carbon sequestration is one of the mechanisms that have been proposed as temporary measure to mitigate global climate change. However, there was a particularly large risk of negative effects of mitigation measures related to the increased removal of crop residues from cropping systems for use in bioenergy, if this means that soil carbon is reduced. Effective measurement of soil C at the field scale requires an understanding of the spatial variability of soil C on a landscape scale. Recent technological advances in soil C measurement offer new opportunities in this area. Our surface measurements of soil C by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provided a quick assessment of soil C and, soil C predicted by NIRS and measured by dry combustion laboratory measurements was correlated with and R-squared of 0.84.